Created in 1996, the Programa Andes Tropicales (PAT) is a non-profit organization established in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela. PAT's mission is to conserve the natural capital of the tropical Andean region in a participatory manner. To achieve its purpose, the PAT works with public and private actors in the promotion and development of community business networks in tourism and hospitality that generate dignified productive alternatives for families and base their success on the quality of local natural and cultural resources. PAT is funded by the European Union, UNDP, CAF, and other international cooperation agencies. For more than 25 years, the PAT has focused its efforts on the inclusion of women and youth in the tourism and hospitality sectors. More recently, a particular focus has been given to the role of tourism as a key sector in the adaptation of rural communities to the impacts generated by climate change and as a means of raising awareness of these impacts at both the visitor and community levels.