Preserving Biodiversity via Ecotourism

Preserving Biodiversity via Ecotourism

“The last word in ignorance is the person who says of an animal or plant: “What good is it?”

- Aldo Leopold

Preserving Biodiversity through Ecotourism

Biodiversity and ecotourism* Why is ecotourism considered, when

implemented effectively, an ideal solution for preserving biodiversity?

Biodiversity and ecotourism * Ecotourism begins to holistically address the

primary causes of biodiversity loss…

Poverty, irresponsible resource consumption, lack of ecological accountability

Ecotourism and biodiversity *

Successfully implemented ecotourism can:

Provide economic alternatives to consumptive use of resources for vulnerable biodiversity rich hotspots

Engage and empower local communities Encourage sustainable use of resources Promote positive social, economic, cultural and

environmental partnerships and solutions

Biodiversity Hotspots (deforestation) *

What do you think of when you envision Ecotourism?

Ecotourism

What is ecotourism and have you visited or participated in it?

What is the difference in mass tourism and ecotourism?

Ecotourism Defined *

What is a good definition for ecotourism? United States Ecotourism Society “Responsible travel that conserves the environment and sustains the

well-being of the local people”

How shall we define ecotourism?

Ecologically sustainable tourism to natural areas which facilitates greater understanding of local culture and environmental conservation through education

The ecotourism phenomenon is complex and while definitions may vary, it consists of local communities, education, environmental conservation and economics

Ecotourism Defined

Origin of ecotourism term Arguably in 1976 with Budowski’s Tourism and Conservation

article, only since the 1980s Negative impacts of tourism prompted interest

Several definitions of ecotourism list “benefits to local communities” as a requisite characteristic. What constitutes a “local community”?

Ecotourism falls under the umbrella of nature-based tourism Overlaps with other tourism segments like cultural, adventure,

indigenous, agri-tourism

Ecotourism and biodiversity preservation

Developing ecotourism to preserve biodiversity in Africa

Ecotourism – mountain gorillas

Saving Coral Reefs Becomes a Tourism Priority (NY Times)

Economic impacts of reef based ecotourism “Australia’s Great Barrier Reef alone draws about

1.9 million visitors a year, supporting a $4.2 billion industry”

“According to the Nature Conservancy, the annual economic value of coral reefs to world tourism is $9.6 billion”

Ecotourism & Biodiversity in the News

The world’s second-largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Reef in the Caribbean, is seriously endangered by coastal development, runoff and pollution

“The cruise industry is a particular area of concern, since ships regularly disgorge crowds of passengers into fragile coastal areas that strain to absorb the impact”

“The nonprofit group Conservation International began a program called the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative, which aims to address the threat that mass tourism poses to the Mesoamerican Reef by engaging hoteliers, developers, cruise lines and local governments in Mexico, Belize and Honduras”



Buzzword of the Year: Eco-tourism (NY Times 2006) “Impressed by the success of countries like Costa Rica and

Ecuador a growing number of regions across the globe are turning to eco-tourism as a strategy for economic growth”

“Omar Bongo, the president of Gabon has set aside about 10 percent of the country's landmass for 13 national parks”

Over the last four years, at least 48 countries have created or started to define a national strategy for eco-tourism development

Wisconsin Department of Tourism will begin testing a new certification program designed to encourage hotels and tour operators to reduce their environmental impact – ISSUE?

Four Questions on Ecotourism (CNN 2006) Are the destinations you’re patronizing doing their part

to “protect the environment, aid the local community and educate travelers”

As of 2006 – nearly 100 groups offer various "eco" certifications and memberships – ISSUE?

Author encourages vacationers looking to spend time and money in an environmentally conscious manner should ask: How do you conserve resources? How do you protect plants and animals? What do you do to help the community? What ecotourism activities do you offer?



Indigenous Group in Amazon Bans Logging, Mining (FoxNews)

Wai Wai group has 200 members located in remote southern Guyana, near the border with Brazil, on 2,400 square miles of tropical forest and savanna — nearly half the size of Connecticut

The Wai Wai group in Guyana, backed by government decree and a U.S.-based conservation organization, has banned miners and loggers from its section of the Amazon jungle”

“Pursue an economic strategy based on ecotourism, research and traditional crafts”

“It is habitat to rare animals including the jaguar, blue poison frog, and scarlet macaw”

1 million dollar trust set up by Washington based conservation International (TREND)

The Wai Wai were the first indigenous group to receive ownership of traditional lands through a government program in the former Dutch and British colony

Native groups now hold a total of 93 titles, accounting for 14 percent of Guyana's land mass, said Carolyn Rodrigues, the country's minister of Amerindian affairs

The Wai Wai became the first group to declare their territory a Community Owned Conservation Area, as recognized by government legislation


Ecotourism Concepts

How is ecotourism different from nature-based tourism?

Why are benefits to local communities an essential characteristic of ecotourism?

Experiential degradation

Can cause the loss of novelty, seekingnew areas

What is the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum?

Issues in Ecotourism *

How will global warming affect the ecotourism industry, and vice versa? What responsibilities do we have as ecotourists with regard to minimizing our carbon footprint? ISSUE – The very act of ecotourism can harm the

biodiversity it seeks to protect

Do you see the proliferation of the ecotourism industry in ecologically sensitive areas (i.e. Antarctica) as a troubling trend? Why?

Ecotourism on the Ground

Problems facing ecotourism

Promotes preservation of natural resources but also “threatens to destroy the resources on which it depends”

Greening of the marketplace

Is sustainable ecotourism possible?

Will access to fragile natural areas eventually be prohibitedto preserve the ecological integrity of a region?


What is the problem with successful ecotourism?

Will ecotourism be a cure-all for preserving biodiversity in developing countries?


Global tourism struggles to shrink environmental footprint (Fox)

Tourism executives are urgently trying to shrink tourism's oversized environmental footprint

International travelers are expected to nearly double to 1.6 billion by 2020

By 2020, International travel will spawn 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide, the main "greenhouse" gas blamed for global warming up from 506 million tons in 1990

"Voluntary initiatives don't work," said Anita Pleumaron with the Bangkok-based Tourism Investigation and Monitoring Team. "Governments will have to take responsibility and enforce regulations."

Ecotourism on the Ground *

Lessons from Ni’ihau Where is Ni’hau deep ecotourism – very tightly

controlled Retained culture Sustainable, only leave

island for medical treatment Endangered species of

plants and animals

Biodiversity and ecotourism * Ecotourism begins to holistically address the primary

causes of biodiversity loss…

Poverty, irresponsible resource consumption, ecological accountability

Remember the components of ecotourism…

People (operators, local community, tourists) Environment (preservation, sustainability,

management) Economics (profitable, shared, local investment) Educational (instill conservation ethic in stakeholders)

Good *

Alternative to ecologically consumptive activities Raises conservation awareness in local community Economic infusion of foreign revenue Money over ecological carrying capacity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeynzQz4SXk Ecotourism may play a critical role in biodiversity

and habitat preservation via education

Bad *

Unregulated nature tourism leads to overexploitation of resources

Unsustainable destination practices Perceptions – fear loss of land Leakage – foreign capital bankrolls infrastructure and Exploitation of local workforce, poor paying jobs Tourism can be unstable

War, crime, recession, terrorism, disease Greenwashing Affects on indigenous cultures Commodification of culture

Ecotourism – pros v. cons *

How could the development of ecotourism in the Amazon create impacts in the following categories?

Economically Environmentally Culturally Socially

Ecotourism – cons *

Economically Leakage – foreign capital, money leaves area Exploitation of local workforce, poor paying/menial jobs Tourism can be unstable (can be unstable source of

income) War, crime, recession, terrorism, disease, natural disaster

Uneven distribution of benefits

Environmentally Unregulated - leads to overexploitation of resources Money over ecological carrying capacity Unsustainable destination practices – green, local Greenwashing

Ecotourism – cons *

Culturally Commodification of culture, loss of language Affects on indigenous cultures – loss or dilution of authenticity Acculturation Homogenization of cultures (increased cultural globalization) Locals continue previous resource consumption activities

(could be in economic and environmental as well) Socially

Perceptions – fear loss of land, takeover by tourists Conspicuous consumption Distribution of benefits (not everyone participates) Community strife (classes, money)

Ecotourism – cons

Are indigenous cultures being taken advantage of in ecotourism scenarios?

Is the demise of cultural identity inevitable or the fault of ecotourism or is it inevitable?

Ecotourism – pros *

Economically Infusion of foreign revenue Employment, actual money Provides other economic opportunities – purchase power,

ability to sell wares, other financial opportunities, entrepreneurship

Environmentally Protects habitat, ecosystems, BIODIVERSITY Slows down deforestation, fragmentation Alternative to ecologically consumptive activities Raises conservation awareness in local community, tourists Altruism

Ecotourism – pros *

Culturally Places a value on the preservation of culture,

language, customs Community and cultural pride

Socially Education, health care, opportunities Gain status in community Provide for family, ease hardships of day-to-day

existence Develop infrastructure (buildings, roads, electricity)

Ecotourism and biodiversity

Do you think most developing countries aspire to have the way of life of developed countries?

Ecotourism examples

Cavo Sidero, Crete

Ecotourism examples *

Cavo Sidero, Crete – $1.6 billion “Eco Lodge” 6000 acres of pristine island coast, year-round resort 5, five star hotels (approx 2,500 beds), 474 villas

495 townhouses and apartments 45-hole golf complex, water sports facilities athletics

stadium, tennis and equestrian centers, Theatre and arts complex, retail facilities, conference and exhibition facilities Independent restaurants

2 million Euros on an environmental study desalination and wastewater treatment plants golf courses will be filled with local grasses

Ecotourism examples

Greek government strongly supports the project, Built environment minus the trails, nature areas and 3

golf courses will only take up 1% of the 6000 acres Scientists say Greece's water reserves could dwindle

by a quarter by 2030 because of rising temperatures and a decrease in rainfall

Situation is especially sensitive in Crete, which faces chronic droughts and where half of the island is at risk of desertification

Is there confusion of ecotourism vs. green practices How do we determine eco-authenticity of

destination?

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E4DC163FF93AA2575BC0A9619C8B63&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=2

Ecotourism examples

Example of successful implementation of an ecotourism scenario - Next lecture…

Things to Remember

The ecotourism phenomenon is complex and while definitions may vary, it consists of local communities, sustainability, environmental conservation and economics

Ecotourism may play a critical role in biodiversity and habitat preservation via education

Any Questions?

“Humanity is exalted not because we are so far above other living creatures, but because knowing them well elevates that very concept of life”

- E.O. Wilson

Preserving Biodiversity via Ecotourism

Documents

Transcript of Preserving Biodiversity via Ecotourism