About Fermata Inc.
You must be able to see more and understand more
than most folks or you’re never going to be able to explain
what you do see to most folks. - Molly Ivins
 Gifford
Pinchot once stated: "Conservation means the greatest good for the
greatest number for the longest time." Conservation in this next
century will be driven by social, political, and cultural concerns,
far more than simple biological arguments. Economics is the lingua
franca of the world in which we live, and economic
conservation is an important means of communicating important
conservation messages that heretofore have been largely ignored
by the general public. Through nature tourism and recreation, conservation
is provided a means of paying for itself.
Fermata Inc., a consortium of economists, biologists, educators,
and business people, is committed to uncovering natural, cultural,
and historical resources that represent the foundation for the one
of the world’s most rapidly growing industries — experiential
tourism. Our firm compiles inventories
of nature and cultural resources, and develops strategic
plans for the development of tourism initiatives dependent upon
these resources. Fermata’s staff works with governments, states,
agencies, organizations, communities, landowners, and individuals
wishing to implement experiential tourism strategies. We train
guides, organize marketing plans, develop interpretive materials,
and assess the impacts of such efforts.
Through our years of experience, we have learned that the greatest
obstacles to implementing a nature-tourism plan are developing an
inventory of resources (why would
anyone want to visit our town?), training the personnel necessary
to operate a nature lodge or
festival (you would like to see
a what?), and assessing the economic
and social impacts (was it worth
the effort after all?). Fermata is prepared to assist in overcoming
the challenges, and converting what seem to be insurmountable obstacles
into valuable assets.
We have developed this Web site as a peek into the inner workings
of our firm, and to invite you to contact
us about the possibilities of implementing a nature tourism
plan in your country, state, agency, community, or on your property.
To a person, we believe that resource conservation, social stability,
and quality of life are intertwined. Our goal is to develop innovative
business and conservation strategies that address the needs of both
these irreplaceable nature and cultural resources, and the people
who depend upon these resources for their livelihood and prosperity.
Contrasting with attraction-based tourism, limited to a few cities
that have the capital to invest in casinos, professional sport arenas,
multi-million dollar carnivals, and theatres, experiential tourism
allows even the smallest of communities to benefit from tourism.
The resources upon which experiential tourism depend are literally
under foot, and simply must be preserved and interpreted to invite
the public to visit. Fermata Inc. invites you to contact us about
the possibilities of our assisting you in your efforts to develop
a sustainable and diverse economic strategy that stands to conserve
both your resource base as well as your way of life.
Ted Lee Eubanks
President
 back
to top
|
