The Namche Conference: May 24-26, 2003 People, Park, and Mountain Ecotourism Participants and Presentations: Aníbal Manzur

Dr. Aníbal Manzur and Jorge Gonnet, Natural Renewal Resource Administration, Mendoza Government, Argentina. Email: aconcagua@mendoza.gov.ar Abstract Strategies for the management of Aconcagua Mountain Reserve in the highest Andean Chain, Mendoza Province, Argentina Aconcagua Provincial Park mainly represents an identification symbol or a trade mark for Mendoza Province. The Park is mainly known by the mountain activities such as climbing and trekking. Each year, more than 4000 persons from a lot of countries around the world visit the Park to reach the high summit of America. Moreover, around 60000 visitors arrive to the lower parts of the park to enjoy the views to the mountain from the Horcones Creek. Three main closed related strategies destined to the planning and regulation of the public use are resumed as follow: Regulation of visitors activities, including risk sports such as ascencion and climbing in one of the most difficult mountain. This includes planning and logistic, security, waste management and mule transport of baggage among others. Development of a Centre for Visitor Attention and educate trials destined to visitors that arrive to the lowland parts of the Park, including the planning of the Natural Monument of "Puente del Inca". Creation of administration and financial instruments: Economic and financial regulation regime for the Protected Areas Net of Mendoza Province, and creation of the Participative Administration Commission of Aconcagua Park.

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