The Town Council voted unanimously to work with the Tourism Council on a Social and Environmental Sustainability Plan for Block Island Tourism. Executive Director of the Tourism Council, Jess Willi, appeared before the council to explain that Dr. Megan Epler Wood, a world-renowned researcher in the field of sustainable tourism, and her company, EplerWood International, have agreed to work with Dr. Jack Spengier at the Harvard School of Public Health, to prepare a Social and Environmental Sustainability Action Plan for Block Island Tourism. As part of the study, two master’s research students will come for a two-semesterinternship to study tourism on Block Island under the supervision of Dr. Epler Wood.According to the proposal by Epler Wood, the goal is “create a data-enriched, illustrated overview of the key issues raised for managing tourism on Block Island. The goal of the report would be to help the island ensure that tourism does not overburden the island’s infrastructure, cause environmental harm, or drive social and cultural damage to the local population.” Epler Wood goes on to say in her proposal that the report can be used to guide decision making on managing tourism, “based on understanding what pressures can be alleviated,
