Ecotourism Project Project plan: November 4

What do you intend to do? How do you intend to do it?

Field visits completed: December 2 Where have you gone? What have you seen? What questions did you intend to answer? What questions remain?

Draft due: December 18 Team Evaluation: January 13 Written Project due: January 13 Oral Presentation: January 13

Review: (env.) Benefits of Ecotourism

Direct: Role as an incentive for promoting and rehabilitating natural

environments Potential for funding that it provides to manage and enhance

protected areas and other ecotourism settings Assistance provided by ecotourism to manage and improve

ecotourism venues and to act as ‘environmental watchdogs’ Indirect

Increased support for environmentalism and protected areas Environmental benefits derived from protected areas

established/kept for ecotourism

(Env.) Direct costs of ecotourism

Permanent environmental restructuring Generation of waste residuals Tourist activists

Wildlife observation Hiking and diving Introduction of exotic species

[induced active – indirect cost] [on-site and off-site impacts]

(Env.) Indirect costs of ecotourism

Effects of induced environmental restructuring

Exposure of venues to less benign forms of tourism

Risks of placing an economic valuation on nature-based attractions

Economic factors of ecotourism

Table 4.3 (page 195)Direct benefits: Generation of revenue Employment Provision of economic opportunities for remote

and peripheral regions

Extra reading in the bookstore

Indirect economic benefits

Multiplier effect Stimulates mass tourism Stimulates cultural/heritage tourism Economic benefits from areas protected

for ecotourism

Economic costs

Direct costs Start-up expenses Ongoing expenses (also translate into benefits)

Indirect costs Revenue uncertainties Revenue leakage Opportunity costs Damage caused by wildlife

Socio-cultural costs and benefits

Table 4.4 (page 201) Benefits:

Fosters community stability and well-beingEnjoyment for local residentsAccessible to virtually anyone (why?)

Direct socio-cultural costs Cultural and social intrusion Imposition of an elite alien-value system Erosion of local control Local inequalities and internecine disputes

Indirect socio-cultural costs Potential for local resentment Tourist opposition to aspects of local culture and

lifestyle

Explain:

“Ecotourism advocates who express a bias for unspoiled cultures and natural environments seem to suggest that these destinations should not attempt to attain the levels of economic development that relatively wealthy and highly-educated ecotourists enjoy in their home regions.”

…. Stop…

“development”? “economic development” ?

1304/20/23

Managing impacts of camping

Differing objectives for location of campsites

Common forms of impact? Management strategies: proactive or

reactive Two primary strategies

Campsite dispersalCampsite containment

1404/20/23

Impacts on terrestrial wildlife Important to first recognize: impacts may be much less

significant than major habitat changes associated with agriculture, forestry or extractive industries; large dams; or direct impacts from hunting and poaching

In other cases: disturbance by tourists may have a major effect on wildlife survival and reproduction

1. Habitat modification2. Avoidance behavior3. Physiological disturbance4. Alert and alarm behavior5. Evasive behavior6. Aggressive responses7. Food and water8. Lights, noise, disease, roadkill9. Predisposition10. Energetic consequences11. Breeding populations

1504/20/23

Impacts on terrestrial wildlife: Habitat modification Tracks and trails

May act as barriers to the movement of wildlifeMay be avoided by animals

Avoidance behaviorAvoid peopleChange the timing of activities

Physiological disturbance Increases in heart rate or body temperature

Alert and alarm behavior

1604/20/23

Impacts on terrestrial wildlife: Habitat modification

Evasive behaviorRun and/or hideDepends …

Aggressive responsesAggression strongly correlated with feedingAggression associated with defensive behavior

Food and water Lights, noise, disease, roadkill

1704/20/23

Impacts on terrestrial wildlife: Habitat modification

Predisposition Energetic consequences Breeding populations

1804/20/23

The Cost of Getting There: Impacts of Travel to Ecotourism Destinations

Travel – associated with considerable resource use in the form of fossil fuels

Travel component at 3 distinct scales1. Transport directly associated with the

ecotourism experience2. Travel between various ecotourism sites or

operations3. Transport from the home location to the

destination

1904/20/23

“The commitment to ecotourism…ultimately leads to weak sustainability rather than strong sustainability.”

Must read the ‘conclusion’ chapter Write a 1 to 2-page reflection – for EC