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That guy
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Ecotourism is evil?!?
October 6, 2006 - 01:11 PM
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I found this fascinating article at http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060930/bob9.asp
that discusses ecotourism's effects on local environments and economies.
"There comes a time when you have so much interference through ecotourism that you affect the thing you're trying to protect," to quote the article. Some places attract tourists in such huge numbers that they destroy the environment, even if they are all well-meaning. For example, there is a tiny fishing village in Costa Rica with beaches that sea turtles use to lay their eggs. All the tourists leave behind garbage, which the local government can't afford to get rid of (its separated by miles of swampy rainforest and logging canals from the nearest landfill). The inevitable garbage pollutes the area and kills turtles.
Although it was not mentioned in the article, the presence of tourists means there is a demand for local souveniers. The locals often make carvings out of poached turtles and endangered trees (know this because I went there when I was younger and saw such things in a local gift shop. My dad bought me this beautiful carved alligator...)
Is ecotourism getting out of hand in some places? Can the desire for tourist dollars and the desire for ecological preservation coexist? I think sustainable use might be possible, but pressure needs to be exerted to make some of these places change.
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Erick Ochieng Otieno
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
October 9, 2006 - 12:16 AM
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Indeed, just as you have pointed out sustainable use of our ecological resources is possible and their is a very good example seen in our Kenyan coastal beaches such as Malindi Marine Park. If you go there, you will find many local population gaining through offering services to tourism.They inturn protect the coral reefs that are a major attraction to the tourist.I was omongg those who were there in 2005 during our University Academic tour to study the coral reef ecology and I was perplexed to see how knowledgable they were even though most of them never went to school.This showed me that if proper legislation ad involvement of the locals are put in place where the locals are tought the benefits of conserving these important resouces, then there will be possitive developments.Maybe what should be done in Costa-Rica should be the replacement of non-tangible economic values such as vewing the organisms at the sea rather than selling the resources from the sea.
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Hayk
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
October 9, 2006 - 12:31 PM
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Quote from Wikipedia
"Ecotourism means ecological tourism, where ecological has both environmental and social connotations. It is defined both as a concept-tourism movement and as a tourism (specifically sustainable tourism) section.
Born in its current form in the late 1980's, Ecotourism came of age in 2002, when the United Nations celebrated the "International Year of Ecotourism". The meeting was a watershed event, but it was not created with those who had pioneered the niche.
There are various definitions as this is a vibrant movement and ecotourism may be defined by its lack of definition.
Generally speaking, ecotourism focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet. It is typically defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, initiatives by hospitality providers to promote recycling, energy efficiency, water re-use, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities are an integral part of ecotourism.
...
"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism
From the definition above the major most obvious difference is that ecotourists are not as ignorant and careless as the tourists.
In case of Armenia, where I come from originally, ecotourism is undertaken by people who not only are nature-conscious and nature-aware btu also have will for action. Common thing many ecotourists do, at least in Armenia, is to aim for destinations which are too touristic and "clean up" and make "sustainable" so-called "crowded" tourist detinations, which usually lack the governmental attention and means. For example, garbage collection, planting new trees, caring for flowers, etc. are but some activities ecotourists involve in.
H.
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Rajesh
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
November 11, 2006 - 04:25 PM
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Everything has two sides and eco-tourism is not exceptional. But to minimize the negetive impact some code of conducts are essential.
For instance, limiting the number of tourists according to the carrying capacity. Besides this, enhancing quality tourists in the site may helps to minimize the impact. If we look the Bhutan, they are checking the negative impact of tourism by strict rule. You have to show your capacity of spending at least US$200 per day, to enter Bhutan. In some area of Nepal, there is limit quota for the entrance. Also fixing some rules that is harmony with nature as well as local culture 
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Anu maheshwari
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
November 12, 2006 - 06:07 AM
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Ecotourism has opened up avenues for many countries ,such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nepal, Kenya, Madagascar and Antarctica , to earn a good revenue and employment for the local population.
Ecotourism is not evil if the emphasis is on encouraging sustainable ecotourism.
for example the revenue derived from eco tourism could be utilised for strenthening the eco system.
check out the UNEnvironment Programme 's principles for more info on how to promote sustainable eco tourism
UNEP Principles
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Chris Williams
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
November 12, 2006 - 01:11 PM
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Sustainable ecotourism almost concludes the discussion because that is what's most important!
However, I would like to add the example of Botswana...there, ecotourism is the focus in the Okavango Delta in the north of the country. The tours are deliberately made very expensive, hotels are secluded and expensive and there are very few tourists there, which reduces the impact on the environment. The lack of tourists attracts rich people who want to do something "different" or exclusive and protecting the environment at the same time.
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Erick Ochieng Otieno
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
November 12, 2006 - 10:55 PM
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chriswilliams wrote:
Sustainable ecotourism almost concludes the discussion because that is what's most important!
However, I would like to add the example of Botswana...there, ecotourism is the focus in the Okavango Delta in the north of the country. The tours are deliberately made very expensive, hotels are secluded and expensive and there are very few tourists there, which reduces the impact on the environment. The lack of tourists attracts rich people who want to do something "different" or exclusive and protecting the environment at the same time.
I agree with you that sustainable ecoturism is the answer to all the questions raised in this thread. However many of us don't understand what is meant with sustainable ecotourism simply becaouse what may be sustainable to me may be unsustainble in your view.So what we may say is that there should be worldwide standard regarding what is sustainable use or what is not.This is to aliviate any loophole on the issue of sustainbler use of the environment.I am an expert in aquatic resources and my studies have shown that many locals bewlieve taht their rights are being depriviated when we tell them that they should stop using their ancestral resources simply because we want to conserve whatever it is we are conserving. So the issue of sustainable use should also be acompanied with proper compestaion for those who are affected.
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That guy
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
November 12, 2006 - 11:39 PM
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Lots of ecotourism programs claim to be sustainable, but are not truly sustainable. For example, part of the money spent at Tortuguero in Costa Rica goes to preventing sea turtle poaching but it happens anyway. I also recently went on a cruise in the Galapagos that was supposedly ecofriendly but I found out that the toilets emptied into the sea. Ever bumped into a used wad of toilet paper while snorkeling on a coral reef?
It is not enough to choose programs that advertise as sustainable, one must choose programs that really are sustainable.
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sarah
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
November 20, 2006 - 11:55 AM
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No not all ecotourism is evil. I worked with a sea turtle conservation program in Mexico last year. This ecotourism program was an exciting opportunity to help protect eggs from being poached off the beaches along the pacific coast. We collected eggs at night and transferred them to safe corrals where they stayed for a few months until hatching. Then we counted and released the hatchlings into the ocean. I believe it takes a group of committed people to make a difference, and this group is doing just that by helping to save this endangered species.
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Robert Margolis
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Re: Ecotourism is evil?!?
November 21, 2006 - 02:56 PM
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Would that sea turtle program be based in Baja California? I recall a great documentary (GlobalTribe/Mexico) that featured the work done in BC to help the sea turtles.
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