20 



But, I think it would also be important if people are talking 

 about a stronger or expended partnership between international 

 NGO's and U.S. agencies as a model, which has been mentioned, 

 that we should try to follow-up on the idea given that there are 

 glitches in the system, we will have to work through some of the 

 mechanisms. We have been at this now for 5 years and we have 

 learned some lessons; what might work from what we know. 



Mr. Gejdenson. One of the incidents here, and since I am al- 

 ways correct, is that tourism will solve problems. Tourism is an 

 economic rational for preserving various environments and natural 

 states; it blends in economic confidence of the community that are 

 readily visible. We are not just talking about Africa: in my own dis- 

 trict people see tourism as employing people. Is that realistic for 

 Africa as well? Will it be able to develop an adequate interest, so 

 that the main matters of environmentally important areas then 

 have economic benefits as well? 



Mr. Nsanjama. Yes, I think tourism could be a possible solution, 

 providing most of the money we ask remain in Africa. In most of 

 the cases that I know, tourism comes from outside Africa and the 

 bulk of the money does not, say, talk of the government, but even 

 getting down to the local communities 



Mr. Gejdenson. It is all flown in if I remember. 



Ms. McMeekin. Well, that does not — Mr. Chairman, I would say 

 that does not have to be the case. 



Mr. Gejdenson. Fine. 



Ms. McMeekin. But, as Mr. Nsanjama said, that is often the 

 case. But this is something entirely within the control of a sov- 

 ereign state to regulate against that sort of- 



Mr. Gejdenson. To make sure that these are important 



Ms. McMeekin. That is right. 



Mr. Gejdenson [continuing]. — and local services. 



Ms. McMeekin. That is right. And although I must confess hav- 

 ing heard it and used it myself several dozen million times, I still 

 do not know exactly what ecotourism is. But tourism 



Mr. Gejdenson. Probably some place 



Ms. Mcmkeen. That is right. So, you do not have a toilet. But 

 there is a 



Mr. Gejdenson. But it is not so popular. 



Ms. McMeekin. Absolutely. Absolutely. But in any case, the fun- 

 damental — the premise behind all of this is that multiple uses of 

 the natural resources can bring in revenues. Some types lend them- 

 selves to tourism; others don't. East Africa has a very user-friendly 

 kind of atmosphere and charismatic megafauna — and all the serv- 

 ices that make it very easy to go and pay a few thousand dollars, 

 and come back and be able to go. West Africa is far more subtle 

 and it has entirely different charms which will meet the needs for 

 a different type of player. Southern Africa, again, has its own spe- 

 cialties. 



So, it is something that can be developed for each country in a 

 certain way. But, there is not one template we can lay down and 

 say, OK, that is it. But it is certainly being developed. 



Mr. Gejdenson. And your group generally find local participants 

 in adequate number? Or is that still a big challenge? 



