Lecture 3 - Ecotourism and Protected Areas PDF

ECOTOURISM AND PROTECTED AREAS  Protected areas began evolving in the 19th century largely as a response to these pressures. By “protected area” is a piece of land (or body of water) which is characterized by the following: The area has defined borders. The area is managed...

ECOTOURISM AND PROTECTED AREAS  Protected areas began evolving in the 19th century largely as a response to these pressures. By “protected area” is a piece of land (or body of water) which is characterized by the following: The area has defined borders. The area is managed and protected by an identifiable entity or individual, usually a government agency. Increasingly, though, governments are delegating responsibility for protected areas to other entities that are private, public or a combination thereof. The area has established conservation objectives that its management pursues.  The Role of Ecotourism Tourism and ecotourism are usually a part of the management strategy for a protected area. It determines the stresses, their sources, and the real threats to the area’s natural and cultural integrity, as well as the strategies to reduce these threats. ecotourism needs protected areas, and protected areas need ecotourism  Ecotourism is increasingly being considered as a management strategy for protected areas that, if implemented appropriately, constitutes an ideal sustainable activity. It is designed to: have minimum impact upon the ecosystem; contribute economically to local communities; be respectful of local cultures; be developed using participatory processes which involve all stakeholders; and be monitored in order to detect negative and positive impacts  Opportunities and Threats Tourism presents a mix of opportunities and threats for protected areas. Ecotourism seeks to increase opportunities and to reduce threats. If an opportunity is realized, then it becomes a benefit. If a threat is not avoided, then it becomes a cost. There are no automatic benefits associated with ecotourism; success depends on good planning and management. Carelessly planned or poorly implemented ecotourism projects can easily become conventional tourism projects with all of the associated negative impacts Potential Opportunities of Ecotourism Revenue Generation - Bringing money into protected areas is a major concern of conservationists. - Governmental funds available for protected areas have been decreasing globally, and many important natural areas will not survive without new sources of revenue. - Tourism offers opportunities to generate revenue in diverse ways, such as entrance fees, user fees, concessions to the private sector and donations  Employment Creation New jobs are often cited as the biggest gain from tourism. Protected areas may hire new guides, guards, researchers or managers to meet increased ecotourism demands. In surrounding communities, residents may become employed as taxi drivers, tour guides, lodge owners or handicraft makers, or they may participate in other tourism enterprises.  Justification for Protected Areas Visitors, or the potential to attract visitors, are among the reasons that government officials and residents support protected areas. For government officials, declaring areas protected and providing the financial assistance to maintain them is often a difficult process. These officials face many competing interests in making decisions about how to use land and marine resources. Conserving protected areas requires long-term vision; this is often a challenge for government officials, especially when confronted with the prospect of short-term financial gains for logging, mining and agriculture activities.  Environmental Education Nature tourists provide an ideal audience for environmental education. During an exciting nature hike, visitors are eager to learn about the local habitats. They want to hear about animal behavior and plant uses as well as the challenges of conserving these resources. Many want to know the economic, political and social issues that surround conservation.  Appreciation and Pride fully appreciate the surroundings outsiders who take a fresh look and add value to our resources. This phenomenon happens both in big cities and in remote natural areas.  Improved Conservation Efforts As a result of growing appreciation and pride, conservation efforts often increase. Many residents are motivated to protect their areas and may change their patterns of resource use. Cultivation practices may be altered. Litter on roads may be cleaned up. Water may be better managed. Local populations often learn more about conservation and modify their daily habits because of tourism Potential Tourism Threats  Environmental Degradation This is the problem most commonly associated with tourism in protected areas. Visitors may destroy the very resources they come to see. Degradation happens in many ways and in varying degrees. Much of tourism’s damage to natural resources is visible: trampled vegetation, trail erosion and litter.  Economic Instability Ecotourism, like other forms of tourism, can be an unstable source of income. Many external factors influence tourism demand. These factors are completely outside the control of tourist destinations yet affect levels of visitation.  Excessive Development When a location becomes a popular tourism destination, local entrepreneurs will create lodging, restaurant and other services to cater to visitors’ needs. In some cases where tourism demand is strong, people from other parts of the country will move to a community to take advantage of the increased economic opportunity https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2018/ra_11038_201 8.html#:~:text=%22To%20this%20end%2C%20there%20is,zo nes%20and%20related%20ecosystems%2C%20whether 114 Protected Areas proclaimed under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 (RA 7586) and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area Systems (ENIPAS) Act of 2018 (RA 11038).