‘Planning & Development’Lecture
Friday 21 September, 2012
Commercial and philanthropic opportunities for
enhancing wildlife conservation through ecotourism
Angus M Robinson, Adjunct Lecturer
School of Marketing, Tourism
& Leisure
Car
ing
for
Aus
tral
ia’s
Nat
ural
and
Cul
tura
l Her
itage
sin
ce 1
970
Car
ing
for
Aus
tral
ia’s
Nat
ural
and
Cul
tura
l Her
itage
sin
ce 1
970
Lecturer –Angus M Robinson
�Certified ecotourism
operator.
�Board m
ember, Foundation for National Parks
& W
ildlife (FNPW.
�Chair, Geotourism
Sub Committee, Geological
Society of Australia.
�Varied career background in a range of
industries, including in tourism
, executive
roles at Taronga Zoo, Earth Exchange
Museum, and M
t Hotham Alpine Resort.
Lecture Points
�A question of definitions and principles
�Foundation for National Parks & W
ildlife
�Current Ecotourism
related partnerships
�Australian National Landscapes
�Philanthropy Opportunities and Vision
�Summary of Lecture Points
National Estate
�The term
(‘N
ational Estate’) w
as incorporated into
the Australian Heritage Commission Act and is used
to describe a collection of buildings and sites that
are w
orthy of preservation for a variety of reasons.
It covers natural environments
as well as European
history and Aboriginal culture.
�The National Estate includes national parksand
other lands reserved for public usage i.e.
‘protected areas’.
Understanding Natural Heritage
Natural heritageis the legacy of natural objects
and intangible attributes encompassing the
countryside and natural environment, including
flora and fauna, scientifically known as
biodiversity, and geology, landform
s and soil
landscapes i.e. geodiversity.
‘Geotourism
’incorporating
all types of ‘place-based’tourism
Boley, B.B. after Thompson, S. 2009
Sightseeing
Cuisine
Agritourism
Indigenous
Tourism
Heritage
Tourism
Cultural
Tourism
ECOTOURISM
i.e.
i.e.
‘‘ experiential
experiential
tourism
tourism
’’
A Q
ues
tio
n o
f D
efin
itio
ns
Recreation activities:
�Nature tourism
–involves travel to unspolied places to
experience and enjoy nature
�Wildlife tourism
involves travel to observe anim
als,
birds and fish in their native habitats.
�Adventure tourism
is nature tourism
‘on steroids’
�Ecotourism
–responsible travel to natural areas that
conserves the environment and improves the w
ell-being
of local people, defined by a set of principles
Source: Honey, 2008: Ecotourism
and Sustainable Development and The International
Ecotourism
Society, 1990
Seven Principles of Ecotourism
1.
Involves travel to natural destinations
2.
Minim
ises im
pact
3.
Builds environmental awareness
4.
Provides financial benefits
and empowerm
entfor
local people
5.
Respects local culture
6.
Supports human rights
and democratic m
ovements,
AND
7.
Provides direct financial benefits for conservation
Source: Honey, 2008: Ecotourism
and Sustainable Development
Seven Principles of Ecotourism
1.
Involves travel to natural destinations
2.
Minim
ises im
pact
3.
Builds environmental awareness
Seven Principles of Ecotourism
1.
Involves travel to natural destinations
2.
Minim
ises im
pact
3.
Builds environmental awareness
4.
Provides financial benefits and empowerm
ent for
local people
Bo
rneo
Eco
tou
rs
�For every tour that is purchased, travellers w
ill
help m
ake a difference to the local community
and natural environment in North Borneo.
�A portion of tour revenue is set aside to fund
various projects
in Kudat, Kinabatangan and
Kundasangthrough a non-profit organisation,
Borneo Ecotourism
Solutions and Technologies
Society.
�A sister company, Su
kauRainforest Lodge also
contributes RM4.00 since 2000 for every
international guest w
ho stays at the lodge.
Seven Principles of Ecotourism
1.
Involves travel to natural destinations
2.
Minim
ises im
pact
3.
Builds environmental awareness
4.
Provides financial benefits and empowerm
ent for
local people
5.
Respects local culture
Seven Principles of Ecotourism
1.
Involves travel to natural destinations
2.
Minim
ises im
pact
3.
Builds environmental awareness
4.
Provides financial benefits and empowerm
ent for
local people
5.
Respects local culture
6.
Supports human rights and democratic m
ovements
Seven Principles of Ecotourism
1.
Involves travel to natural destinations
2.
Minim
ises im
pact
3.
Builds environmental awareness
4.
Provides financial benefits and empowerm
ent for
local people
5.
Respects local culture
6.
Supports human rights and democratic m
ovements
7.
Provides direct financial benefits for conservation
Source: Honey, 2008: Ecotourism
and Sustainable Development
Au
stra
lian
Def
init
ion
of
Eco
tou
rism
�Ecotourism
is ecologically sustainable tourism
with a
primary focus on experiencing natural areas that
fosters environmental and cultural understanding,
appreciation and conservation.
�Ecotourism
Australiabelieves that the ultim
ate
definition of ecotourism
is compliance w
ith the core
criteria stated w
ithin the Eco Certification Program.
Eco
Cer
tifi
cati
on
Cri
teri
a
�In Australia, ECO Certification has three levels of
achievement which have been developed to
accommodate for a range of businesses and,
•their level of commitment to sustainability,
dedication/applicability to social and cultural
responsibilities,
and
•the level of interpretationand educationinvolved
in the product(s).
�Currently no specific focus on philanthropyand
funding of wildlife conservation research.
Definition of Philanthropy
�the desire to promote the w
elfare of others,
expressed especially by the generous
donation of money to good causes.
�a philanthropic institution; a charity.
Source: Oxford Dictionary
The Foundation
�When then Premier of NSW, the Hon Tom Lewis M
P, first
established the NSW National Parks & W
ildlife Service,
he had a vision of establishing a complementary
organisation, constituted m
ainly from the corporate
sector , to acquire parks for the Service. Hence the birth
of the Foundation for National Parks & W
ildlife
in 1970.
�Today the Foundation continues the tradition of growing
parksand caring for them and the species that inhabit
them.
Volunteering Land for Conservation
�The Foundation for National Parks & W
ildlife is
the only organisation in Australia w
hose
philanthropy is an investment in our public
estate, for all to enjoy.
�There are tax incentives for landholders
donating landbut the real value is the growth
of our national parksand the protection given
to our plants and anim
als cared for under their
management.
1. Foundation Achievements
�Over its history the FNPW has added over
500,000 hectaresto Australia’s national
reserve system, for the enjoyment of all.
�The FNPW funds threatened species recovery
programs. The FNPW has saved anim
als such
as the Lord Howe Island w
oodhen, Gould’s
Petrel and the Yellow-footed Rock-w
allaby
from extinction.
2. Foundation Achievements
�The Foundation protects our heritage icons as
sources of inspiration for future generationsof
Australians and visitors from across the w
orld.
Some examples of cultural heritageFNPW has
helped protect include the W
orld Heritage Old
Great North Road, Kosciuszko Historic Huts,
Fort Denison, and Mungo.
�Finally, the FNPW involvesthe community in
the conservation of Australia's native plants and
anim
als through environmental education.
Willandra Lakes
World Heritage
Area and M
ungo
National Park
Pleistocene dune system
& ancient lake highlighting
50,000 years of continuous
human habitation
FNPW and Philanthropy
�Since its inception in 1970, the Foundation
has been funding scientifically based projects
for the benefit of Australian native species.
�To date the Foundation has saved four species
from extinction and funded projects to
research and conserve over 30 other
Australian plant and anim
al species.
Growing Our National Parks
�Growing our parks is essential to safeguard
our natural heritagefor future Australians.
�National Parks remain the core of our
protected land system.
�The Foundation continues to purchase
suitable land to add to and extend our
national reservesfor future generations.
Strategic Partnership Opportunities
Eco
tour
ism
& W
ildlif
e C
onse
rvat
ion
–E
aste
rn Q
uoll,
Tas
man
ia
Philanthropy Vision
Now:
�To act ‘on call’as an interested sponsor of threatened
species wildlife conservation projects w
hich have as
their principal objective, the m
aintenance and/or
regeneration of wildlife habitat. These projects can be
located either within national parks or within public or
private lands in any location in Australia.
Future:
�To undertake these projects in the area in w
hich the
ecotour is being undertaken.
Earthwatch Great Otway NP, Victoria
Koala Research Program for Volunteers
�Help scientists study the response of koalas to climate
change to conserve their habitats and population.
�Traverse the Great Otw
ay NP w
hile conducting valuable
research on koala habitats to understand the impact of
climate change on population and behaviour.
�During organised expeditions, volunteers w
ill get the
chance to w
ork closely w
ith koalas and be involved in
all aspects of the research.
�Leisure Solutions®
is a current year sponsor.
Koala ‘Tree Choice’Gunnedah, NSW
Wildlife Conservation
�Koalas are dependent on selecting the right
treein the right placeat the right time.
�The project seeks to explore the direct effect
of climate change on koalasby examining w
hich
parts of the landscape and w
hich tree species
koalas use, and w
hat condition they are in
during a heat wave.
Koala Tree Choice Participants
�National Parks & W
ildlife Service
�Gunnedah Research Centre
�Landcare NSW Inc
�University of Sydney School of Biological
Sciences & Veterinary School
�Foundation for National Parks & W
ildlife
Gunnedah Natural Heritage
�Gunnedah Basin Perm
ian Coal Measures and covered by
Triassic sedim
ents and rich volcanic derived soils –
broad flood plains with class 1 to 5 soils.
�Mixed dry land eucalypts and Pilliga Scrub varieties
e.g. Cypress Pine, Casuarinas etc.
�Macropods, koalas, profilic birdlife common –Koala
Capital of Australia!
�European farm
ing settlements, Dorothy M
ackellar, and
indigenous culture (Kamilaroi peoples etc.)
National Landscape/GSA Protocol
�The Geological Society of Australia and Parks
Australia have recently concluded a protocol to
enable the input of geoscience inform
ationinto
National Landscapes programs.
�This protocol has already seen the inclusion of a
geotrailproject as an endorsed program of the
Experience Development Strategy (EDS)for the
Green CauldronNational Landscape.
Travelers Philanthropy -Ethiopa
�The USAID-funded Ethiopia Sustainable Tourism
Alliance,
with support from Sustainable Travel International, is
proud to introduce the Ethiopia Travelers Philanthropy
Fund.
�The fund opens the door for travelers to give back to
Ethiopia, ensuring their visits leave a positive impact.
�The program supports sustainable tourism
development
by connecting travelers to projects that im
prove the
environment, boost local incomes, andenhance the
destination for future visitors.
Travelers Philanthropy -Ethiopa
�Tour operators are including visits to conservation and
community development projects
in their itineraries.
�Travelers can donate to and visit local communitiesthat
are w
orking hard to protect their forests and rehabilitate
degraded land. Visitors can book a trip through one of
their partnering tour operators
and request that the
itinerary includes a visit to one/both of the project sites.
�There are two w
ays to give–directly to the responsible
non-profits
that have been vetted through the fund or on
the Global Giving w
ebsite. e.g. plant a tree in a village
or provide an energy saving stove to a family.
Philanthropy Opportunities linked to Ecotourism
�Royalty payments from tour operators on prorata
basis.
�Corporate sponsorship of part or full project costs.
�Per unit donations for research costs e.g. pathology
tests, GPS collars.
�Sponsorship of vehicle leases.
�‘voluntourists’
e.g. Earthwatch, Conservation
Volunteers Australia, World Expeditions etc.
http
://w
ww
.eco
tour
ism
.org
/vol
unto
uris
m-g
uide
lines
�Field Research ‘experiential’tourism
-‘ecotourists’.
Tauern National Park, Austria and the Endangered
Rock Partridge Case Study
�The 'two-edged' e
ffect of ecotourism
, whereby visitors provide
revenues for costly conservation efforts,
whilst at the same tim
e
potentially affecting endangered species, can be m
anaged to
ensure species' population levels are not affected.
�Three types of measureswere specifically highlighted by the
mathematical model:
�visitor control limiting visitors
�habitat conservation m
easures, i.e. expanding buffer zo
nes
or creating quiet zo
nes with the help of signposts, and
�species conservation m
easures, such as species restocking.
Source:
Bed
nar-
Frie
dl, B
., B
ehre
ns, D
.A. a
nd G
etzn
er,
M. (
2012
) O
ptim
al D
ynam
icC
ontr
ol o
f Vis
itors
an
d E
ndan
gere
d S
peci
es in
a N
atio
nal P
ark.
Env
ironm
enta
l and
Res
ourc
e E
cono
mic
s. 5
2: 1
-
22. D
OI 1
0.10
07/s
1064
0-01
1-95
15-5
.
Lecture Points Summary
�By definition, ecotourism
requires a commitment by tour
operators and accommodation providers
to contribute to
providing direct financial benefits for conservation.
�Demonstrated opportunitiesare now readily available for
industry participation.
�With an increasing level of promotion of ‘nature based’tourism
into both established protected areas and National Landscapes,
more opportunities will arise.
�In tim
e, it is predicted that eco-certification w
ill directly
embrace w
ildlife conservation support.
�TheFNPW
is one leading ‘not for profit’
NGO w
hich can provide
a vehicle for ecotourism
driven philanthropy.
For more Inform
ation about FNPW
Visit our website
www.fnpw.org.auand sign up for our new
sletter!
Become our friend on Facebook
www.facebook.com/fnpw.1970
www.facebook.com/backyardbuddies
Follow us on twitter
http://twitter.com/fnpw
Call us
(02) 9221 1949
angus@
leisuresolutions.com.au
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