Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 April 2009
In 1972 the Tayrona National Park, on Colombia's Caribbean coast, was suddenly threatened with a multi-million-dollar tourist complex to be built within the park boundaries. But Colombians in thousands objected to the plan–over 50,000 signed a petition to the Government. Eventually, in 1976, a presidential decree permanently excluded the proposed tourist development from Tayrona, a victory for conservation that the author believes could have resounding effects in Latin America.