Palm Springs Task Force Appointed Group Will Advise on Development of Local Strategy

Contact: Amy Blaisdell Director of Communications City of Palm Springs (760) 323-8250

Oct. 14, 2008

The City of Palm Springs today announced formation of an Ecotourism Task Force charged with helping the City develop a strategy to enhance nature- based and for Palm Springs.

Ecotourism refers to travel to destinations where the flora, fauna and cultural heritage are primary attractions.

“Palm Springs is a natural,” stated Mayor Steve Pougnet. “We will be looking to the task force to help us ensure that we develop sustainable strategies that maximize the economic benefit of ecotourism while also protecting the natural assets that are the attraction.”

Palm Springs offers miles of accessible hiking trails, the rich cultural history of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians with its close ties to Palm Springs history, the beauty and natural setting of the Indian Canyons, and abundant open space. In addition, the City is a gateway to three natural jewels in the form of the San Jacinto National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument.

The new task force will help the City inventory existing assets, review best practices, and evaluate options for strengthening, expanding and enhancing the existing tourism based businesses along with new opportunities to develop and enhance the City’s ecotourism efforts for the future, and consider partnerships and collaborations for implementation.

“We have assembled some of the best and brightest minds in the environmental community, the tourism and and the business world to advise us on the steps to take in order to make Palm Springs an ecotourism capital ,” Pougnet stated.

Ecotourism Task Force members include:

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• Margaret Park, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians • Joan Taylor, Sierra Club Tahquitz Chapter • Keith McCormick, McCormick Auto Auctions, BID Chairman • Chuck Nesbitt, Coachella Valley Hiking Club and CV Trails Coalition • Mary Jo Ginther, Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism • Jim Dunn, General Manager, Palm Springs Center • Todd Hooks, Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce President • Sharon Heider, Palm Springs Parks and Recreation

The creation of an ecotourism strategy is one of the City’s 20 first steps on the Palm Springs Path to a Sustainable Community adopted by the City Council in May 2008. In mid-September 2008 the council approved contracts with outside consultants who will guide development of an overall Master Plan for Sustainability for the City.

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