Eco-tourism's role in biodiversity conservation

ECOTORURISM’S ROLE IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

INTRODUCTION

Sustainable tourism has begun to emerge in 70-80ies of the 20th century as a local idea to create a balance between the economic benefits of recreation in nature and environmental safety of the recreational areas in the global ideas - conservation of the planet as the basis of life on it. On our planet, many governments have stepped up their efforts, with the legislative support of environmental protection, the development of recommendations on the organization of tourist activities in these countries through creation of new protected areas (Harrison 1992).

Whilst there is no single definition of ecotourism, there are many definitions, similar in meaning, but differ in wording and context. One way to describe Sustainable Tourism is where an activity has a soft impact on the local community receive benefits from the activity but it also does not have negative impact on nature or the cultural attraction of the area (Wood 1991). In short Ecotourism promotes conservation and helps in developing the welfare of local people. On the basis of these definitions there are the following features of ecotourism, which are formulated as a set of principles:

• stimulating and satisfying the desire to communicate with nature;
• journey into the wild, with the main content of such a journey is familiarity with nature, as well as local customs and culture;
• prevention of negative impacts on nature and culture;
• minimization of the opposing effects of environment and socio-cultural nature
• promoting conservation of nature and local socio-cultural environment;
• promoting protection of nature and natural resources;
• environmental education and awareness;
• involvement of local people and receiving income from tourism, which creates for them economic incentives to protect nature;
• economic efficiency and ensuring socio-economic development of the Territories;
• promote the sustainable conservation and the development of regions that people visit

Sustainability is meant to promote a positive balance overall in terms of ecological, cultural economically and to the people living there. The benefits to ecotourism related businesses have seen a positive effect on income and welfare of people living in these areas of sustainable tourism (Peeters, Dubois 2010).

BODY

The belief is that sustainable tourism is that tourism based on both natural or man-made enhance sustainable development" (Pizam 2009). Such travel, in which only certain principles of ecotourism are held, and the direct result of which is not the improving of the protection of the natural environment cannot be considered eco-tourism. Although participants of some adventure tours are enthusiastic to deepen their knowledge of the natural areas visited, it does not guarantee a positive impact of their travels (Mader 1996).

As an example of the negative effects of eco-tourism, the number of tourists that visit the Himalayas have increased year after year. The number of Sharepas taking visitors to the dizzy heights of the mountain has increased in number from the late 1960’s. They are paid much higher than standard wages in other parts of the surround villages and have greatly improved the livelihoods with the higher incomes they receive. However, to meet the demands of this alternate type of tourism, people native to the area have been actively cut down the forest as fuel for camping and there have been numerous accommodation / hotel developments in the region to accommodate the visitors. Evidence of the effects on biodiversity in the region are seen in the ridges, which were once buried in thickets of rhododendron a few years ago are now turned into a barren wasteland, the trails are littered and the populations of many animals and birds decreased. This process that occurred was not only the destruction to flora and fauna but also that of traditional culture and the existing system of employment, social stratification. Thus, although the visitors considered themselves to be eco-tourists, in fact, they were not because the natural areas are being degraded and it has affected their culture. (Croall 1995).

The Rise of the Eco-tourist

Back in 1989, American researchers on the basis of surveys of tour operators and tourists marked both the rapid growth of the number of tours taken with cognitive aims, and that among them eco-tourism or sustainable tourism was the most popular. The increased demand for ecotourism is determined by three main factors: the overall growth of tourism; the increasing popularity of "Travel by Special Interest"; the rise of public attention to the problems of environmental conservation. As a result tourism is expected to the grow in world population as incomes increase and the reduction of the working week in many parts of the world continues on trend followed by increasing globalization of the world economy and of social processes, respectively. At the heart of the demand for "travel by special interest" is an important trend: the industrialized countries of the West have reached a stage where the driving force of economic growth is no longer the people's desire to consume more goods and their desire for "living experience and expertise." In recent years, tourists from developed countries are increasingly looking to the form of travel, which would contribute to their personal growth and enrichment of their knowledge of nature and man. Hence, there is an unprecedented popularity of tours with "educational component" - from “cooking classes” in France to "spiritual tracks" in Tibet (Brohman 2005).

In recent years, many people want not just to be "bystanders", but to make a personal contribution to the preservation of wildlife. The idea of the relationship between the income from tourism and nature protection is spreading wider and wider, allowing people to experience the satisfaction of knowing that their visit will promote the protection of the unique natural landscape and will help maintain the specificity of local settlements. In this context, the "host" country has a responsibility to create opportunities and conditions that would promote such a new perception.

Effect on Biodiversity

Biodiversity conservation and the lives of local people are significantly affected by the growth and development of tourism. Tourism will also affect the future of conservation of biodiversity. “Tourism and Biodiversity: Mapping Tourism’s Global Footprint” is one of the two years investigational projects that was performed along with the help of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). This project developed out of the feelings of urgency to reduce the negative effects of tourism and, at the same time, to enhance the positive outcomes by protecting the nature and the quality-of-life of the local people. Projects such as those initiated by UNEP can help people from different components of public, private, and civil areas of tourism to work together in partnership. Understanding the relationship of tourism, conservation of biodiversity and the welfare of local people along with their affects on each other, can help in developing strategies that can conserve highly endangered ecosystems of the Earth and significantly contribute to remove or reduce the poverty all together (Costas Christ 2003).

To facilitate the development and progress in strategies of conserving biodiversity, connections between tourism bodies and protected areas can play an important role. Tourism bodies may include the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Tourism, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS Group). These organizations/groups present their help and provide directions to make good relationships between governing authorities, tourism industry and protected areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) facilitates the world in finding optimal and practical solutions to the most critical challenges that are related to development and environment. It gives help in scientific research, regulates field projects throughout the globe, and brings governmental organizations, non-government authorities, different agencies such as agencies of United Nations, companies and other local communities together.

Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD): AusAID funded AYAD with the Australian Partner Organization are working on the development of projects in Samoa, Tonga, Mongolia, Fiji, and other Asia Pacific areas.

Same organizations can also be found in the world that are trying to make laws, policies, and optimal practices. Many of these global organizations and national, local and state organizations are developed to maintain conservation through proper plan and policy.

In the present years, biodiversity has been recognized as one of the top five priority areas for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) as it is important for human progress because of the provision of the services and goods for human development. Biodiversity is an important part of the nature enjoyed by tourists. On the contrary, association of biodiversity with tourism is not positive; biodiversity gets disadvantages with the development of tourism. Approximately, 40% of the world’s economy depends on biological processes and products. On the global scale, loss of biodiversity is much higher as compared to the natural extinction. This is due to many different factors, such as climate change, uninhibited land conversions, unsustainable gathering of natural resources, pollution, and the appearance of invasive species. Every creature and species of vegetation in this world has an important role in the sphere of life. Animals, plants, and insect species are interrelated and depend on each other’s offers such as shelter, food, soil enrichment, and oxygen (Costas Christ 2003).

Why we have to think about biodiversity?

Human well-being can significantly be affected without biodiversity. Human activities are causing the loss of biodiversity, which is harmful for permanence of ecosystems and greatly affects the provision of services and products to human beings. Without proper conservation of biodiversity, all ecosystems go through the bad experience and the stability of life is removed. If we consider our environment, we can find that climate change has gotten required attention, but biodiversity still needs attention. Due to the requirement of large scale funding, opportunity cost can have a great impact on the economy. Many of the marine covered areas, conserving from 20% to 30% of the oceans and seas, could cost somewhere from $5bn to $19bn, but help protect $70bn-$80bn worth of fish captures, and the supply of marine ecosystem services worth $4.5 to $6.7 trillion per year.

Some other same examples are:

Nature-based tourism in Africa produces nearly the same amount of income as forestry, farming, and fisheries produces in combination

The Great Barrier Reef contributes about AUS$6 billion to the economy of the country, counting on the value of tourism, commercial fishing and related recreational activities.

Biodiversity is more than thinking about money. It is about thinking the balance of tourism and nature as we all are living on this planet. Every year, many plants and marine species such as fish, crustaceans, and molluscs, play an important part in making medicines. Wild animals contribute meat that is an important source of food and livelihoods in a number of countries in the world, particularly in those countries where food insecurity and poverty is high (WWF 2010).

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Many declining ecosystems include mountains, coral reefs, marine and coastal areas, and different rain forests (UNEP 2014). Resources that play a critical role in the conservation of biodiversity and support the life of local people as for example fresh water, are influenced by environmental sustainability, tourism development, supporting the welfare of local people, and saving the nature. Sustainability in tourism has positive impacts on maintaining an overall balance on social, ecological, cultural, and economic aspects along with positive outcomes on tourists (Miller, 2002).

Properly managed, tourism can contribute in biodiversity conservation, poverty reduction, and improved living conditions. Significant developments have been made regarding principles of ecotourism and guidelines for sustainable tourism both in terms of strategies for development of tourism and in terms of collaboration to develop efficient partnerships that assume environmental as well as human factors in crafting tourism development policies and plans. With the growth of tourism industry in the world and expansion into new natural areas, firm decisions have to be made to protect the earth’s biodiversity, while promoting economic advantages of local communities. We have to search for improved ways to complete this task and to support biodiversity in ecotourism and development of sustainability.

REFERENCES

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Sustainable Tourism (HMS00423) Marc Vella Student: 22009649 24^th September 2014Page 1