The U.S. Green Building Council is an organization committed to sustainable design, construction, and operation of structures. The Cape Fear Branchof the national organization holds its annual gathering this Friday, April 28 at the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach, 11:30am-2:00pm. The theme this year is Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality: Balancing Economics & Ecosystems. We spoke with Dr. Hans Vogelsong, a scientist with the Institute for Coastal Science and Policy at ECU. Vogelsong is one of the keynote speakers for the event; he'll talk about Positive Economic Impact as an Ecosystem Service.
Vogelsong is a strong supporter of ecotourism; he says it's typically much more sustainable than other resource use because in ecotourism, natural resources generate money without being extracted. Extraction leads to resource depletion, like mining.
Topics & Speakers on Friday:
- Tenants of Sustainable Tourism and Local Market Research from Home Owners. Dr. Huili Haoe, Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at UNC Wilmington
- Positive Economic Impact as an Ecosystem Service: Perspectives on Sustaining Green Economic Development. Dr. Hans Vogelsong, Associate Professor, Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies and Associate Scientist with the Institute for Coastal Science & Policy at East Carolina University
- Tourism-oriented Businesses in NC & the Marketability of Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism in NC. Tom Rhodes, Developer and Manager of the NC Green Travel Initiative, a program of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
- Sustainable Hospitality at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort: A Local Case Study. Feletia Lee, Envoronmental Coordinator at the Blockade Runner
Panelists: Tim Owens, Town Manager of Wrightsville Beach; Michael Cramer, Town Manager of Carolina Beach; Larry Bergman, Town Manager of Surf City