There is not an activity that I have done in CR that was not revolved around the industry of ecotourism. I was able to experience the biodiversity and natural surroundings that has made CR famous. It was an amazing experience to be able to first hand be involved in the ecotourism practices of CR. From zip-lining to hot springs and cloud forests to snorkeling, I feel like I was able to see all aspects of ecotourism that Costa Rica has to offer. One of the most amazing things of these trips was that one country had all this to offer.
After these experiences, my personal, first reaction opinion, is that CR is doing an excellent job of preserving its natural surroundings while also providing a popular income generating service. The improvements I feel ecotourism could make to become more sustainable are very minor. Obviously, gas powered boats for transportation, cutting down trees to make concrete trails through forests, and the creation of lodging in otherwise natural parts of the country does not fit the environmental sustainable game plan. But the alternative to these small infringments on nature might be the total destruction of the biodiversity in CR. By having so much ecotourism, Costa Rican citizens are prospering and maybe more importantly, the world is prospering. The ecotourism industry in CR has saved the country from deforestation and the rest of the world from a more problematic global warming.
The biggest issue that I observed, is the amount of people who participate in ecotourism. On our trips, I noticed some places had less wildlife than others and in some places the wildlife was not afraid of humans due to being fed. The practices that are making these two things possible should be restructured. Preservation must be the number one thing that ecotourism accomplishes. As my experience with ecotourism grew from week to week I found myself more concerned about the footprint I left behind by participating.
Overall, the practice of ecotourism is pivotal to recreating a mindset all around the world that one can prosper off nature without abusing it. CR seems to have their ecotourism developement and industry in pretty good balance and could be a model for other countries with the same capabilities. Investment from N. America and Europe can ensure that the forests needed to hault global warming exist and even expand deep into the future.
Ecotourism is almost there from a sustainable standpoint and is an industry where sustainability is a great benefit. When prospering of preserving nature, the market forces with eventually make the industry sustainable. My experience has been exceptional and is a big reason why I think ecotourism can be a successful sustainable industry sooner rather than later.
Showing posts with label EcoTourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EcoTourism. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
EcoTourism 3 (Troubles seen with EcoTourism)
With 5% of the world's biodiversity and 6 different types of ecosystems present in CR, the pressure to preserve these regions is very high. Is Ecotourism the solution to preserving these areas while also allowing Costa Rican citizens to prosper off the land? With 1.5 million tourists a year and Costa Rican Government wanting to double that figure by 2012, the future of ecotourism seems strong, but what is to become of the areas it is supposed to protect and preserve? Costa Rica is a world leader in the developement of the ecotourism industry and should make sure to preserve its number one asset, the natural surrounding people come to see.
With demand so high, more and more Costa Ricans are converting their farms and other businesses into something that has to do with ecotourism. Whether it is a lodge, natural springs spa, or an adventure offering business, an end to expansion is not in sight. All these things are being built in an effort for local people to benefit from the ecosystems that surround them.
The question being posed now, according to Leo Hickman an author of Guardian Books is "should tourists be allowed to access some of the most extreme and sensitive wildlife habitats on the planet? Wouldn't it be better if such places were restricted to all but a few scientists and indigenous communities in order to better protect them? " Although cutting tourism out of the picture might not be totally neccasary, the qoute does raise questions of regulations being placed on ecotourism developement. Costa Rica's former environment and energy minister, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, believes that "At first, it was only tourists interested in wildlife who came here, but this has changed. We need to stop promoting mass tourism and get fewer tourists who pay more. I would set rules about density and capacity." Diego Bermudez, Costa Rica's president of tour guides union and a professor at Rice Learning Institute, explains some of the detrimental results of over-tourism in his quote, "Ten years ago, I would see five pairs of quetzal [one of the region's most treasured birds] a day in some parks, but now I have to walk for hours off the trails to find them. You never see mammals any more from the trails, either. The tourists aren't to blame - they don't come across the sea just to destroy our habitats. We need to have an ethical code among the companies bringing people here to agree on visitor limits."
The main reason that the system CR presently has in place is not sustainable is the fact that it is largely voluntary. It is time that the entire ecotourism industry become environmentally certified as sustainable. Setting limits to future ecotourism developement ensures that both Costa Rican citizens investment and the environment can begin to grow in a manner that will allow both to be sustainable forever.
With demand so high, more and more Costa Ricans are converting their farms and other businesses into something that has to do with ecotourism. Whether it is a lodge, natural springs spa, or an adventure offering business, an end to expansion is not in sight. All these things are being built in an effort for local people to benefit from the ecosystems that surround them.
The question being posed now, according to Leo Hickman an author of Guardian Books is "should tourists be allowed to access some of the most extreme and sensitive wildlife habitats on the planet? Wouldn't it be better if such places were restricted to all but a few scientists and indigenous communities in order to better protect them? " Although cutting tourism out of the picture might not be totally neccasary, the qoute does raise questions of regulations being placed on ecotourism developement. Costa Rica's former environment and energy minister, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, believes that "At first, it was only tourists interested in wildlife who came here, but this has changed. We need to stop promoting mass tourism and get fewer tourists who pay more. I would set rules about density and capacity." Diego Bermudez, Costa Rica's president of tour guides union and a professor at Rice Learning Institute, explains some of the detrimental results of over-tourism in his quote, "Ten years ago, I would see five pairs of quetzal [one of the region's most treasured birds] a day in some parks, but now I have to walk for hours off the trails to find them. You never see mammals any more from the trails, either. The tourists aren't to blame - they don't come across the sea just to destroy our habitats. We need to have an ethical code among the companies bringing people here to agree on visitor limits."
The main reason that the system CR presently has in place is not sustainable is the fact that it is largely voluntary. It is time that the entire ecotourism industry become environmentally certified as sustainable. Setting limits to future ecotourism developement ensures that both Costa Rican citizens investment and the environment can begin to grow in a manner that will allow both to be sustainable forever.
Friday, May 30, 2008
More on EcoTourism
A good definition of ecotourism that I found was "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." Those people that participate in ecotourism should follow some general guidlines to ensure that this goal is preserved. Those guidelines include minimizing impact, building awareness and being respectful while providing financial benefits for conservation. The biggest difference between regular tourism and ecotourism seems to be that ecotourism is sustainable and regular tourism struggles to be so.
Ecotourism focuses on local cultures, local wilderness , and learning new ways to live and interact on Earth. Ecotourism usually involves adventures to places where the environment and culture are the main attractions. Successful, sustainable ecotourism includes trips that reduce adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment while also continueing to enhance the cultural ways of local people.
Ecotourism can be broken down into many different sectors. These sectors include and are not limited to, Holiday ecotourism, Academic ecotourism, Adventure ecotourism, and Educational ecotourism. During my stay in CR, I will be practicing Academic, Adventure, and Educational ecotourism.
CR has has an enormous amount of biodiversity which makes it a great country for further developement of ecotourism. Although CR is the most deforested country in Latin America, it also has the most protected land in Latin America. With tourism being one of the largest industries in the world, ecotourism has become an opportunity for developing countries like CR. One of the most important positive impacts that ecotourism has had on CR is that it has brought jobs and infrastructure to places that many believed may never have had the opportunity otherwise.
It is my belief, that because ecotourism is growing so quickly around the world, that soon it will be the job countries like CR to differentiate itself from other countries that offer ecotourism. Just like in any other industry, I feel it will be important for ecotourism in countries to product differentiate itself in order to continue to be sustainable and successful.
Ecotourism focuses on local cultures, local wilderness , and learning new ways to live and interact on Earth. Ecotourism usually involves adventures to places where the environment and culture are the main attractions. Successful, sustainable ecotourism includes trips that reduce adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment while also continueing to enhance the cultural ways of local people.
Ecotourism can be broken down into many different sectors. These sectors include and are not limited to, Holiday ecotourism, Academic ecotourism, Adventure ecotourism, and Educational ecotourism. During my stay in CR, I will be practicing Academic, Adventure, and Educational ecotourism.
CR has has an enormous amount of biodiversity which makes it a great country for further developement of ecotourism. Although CR is the most deforested country in Latin America, it also has the most protected land in Latin America. With tourism being one of the largest industries in the world, ecotourism has become an opportunity for developing countries like CR. One of the most important positive impacts that ecotourism has had on CR is that it has brought jobs and infrastructure to places that many believed may never have had the opportunity otherwise.
It is my belief, that because ecotourism is growing so quickly around the world, that soon it will be the job countries like CR to differentiate itself from other countries that offer ecotourism. Just like in any other industry, I feel it will be important for ecotourism in countries to product differentiate itself in order to continue to be sustainable and successful.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Overview of EcoTourism in CR
Ecotourism is growing at an extreme rate all around the world. This growing demand has opened doors for places like CR which possess such beauty throughout the country and an ability to satisfy the demand from tourist of foriegn countries. Though economically, ecotourism is very prosperous, the biggest questions the industy faces revolve around sustainability. The greatest benefit that ecotourism provides is the chance to preserve the natural beauty and natural resources in countries like CR while also providing profit for an economy to build off of. Lately, some ecologists believe that because of such high damand for ecotourism resulting in construction and overuse of the areas attracting the tourists, ecotourism may be on a path of self destruction.
In CR, the incredible biodiversity that the small country is blessed with has resulted in the ecotourism industry becoming the building block for developing the country even further. Ecotourism in CR, second behind only INTEL´s chip production, provides the second highest amount of income. There are many reason why this industry flourishes. Biodiversity, pivotal location, a strong understanding by the Costa Rican government of the importance of preserving it´s natural surroundings, and support from abroad, have all made ecotourism a successful and attractive industry for Costa Rica.
Ecotourism has both benefits and costs. Benefits include, being an alternative to environmentally damaging industries and encouraging conservation efforts. The Costs of ecotourism include, overuse of the environment from an amount of tourist view, greenwashing, and the threat of profit coming before preservation.
In CR, it seems that ecotourism has become a major reason for the countries success. It has helped in conservation, slowed or even stopped deforeststation in certain countries, and has also brought jobs and income to rural areas which in the past had lacked a stable industry to latch on to. As ecotourism moves into the future, I beleive it will be important for close regulations to be imposed or recomended to ensure that the conservation of CR comes before the profit.
In CR, the incredible biodiversity that the small country is blessed with has resulted in the ecotourism industry becoming the building block for developing the country even further. Ecotourism in CR, second behind only INTEL´s chip production, provides the second highest amount of income. There are many reason why this industry flourishes. Biodiversity, pivotal location, a strong understanding by the Costa Rican government of the importance of preserving it´s natural surroundings, and support from abroad, have all made ecotourism a successful and attractive industry for Costa Rica.
Ecotourism has both benefits and costs. Benefits include, being an alternative to environmentally damaging industries and encouraging conservation efforts. The Costs of ecotourism include, overuse of the environment from an amount of tourist view, greenwashing, and the threat of profit coming before preservation.
In CR, it seems that ecotourism has become a major reason for the countries success. It has helped in conservation, slowed or even stopped deforeststation in certain countries, and has also brought jobs and income to rural areas which in the past had lacked a stable industry to latch on to. As ecotourism moves into the future, I beleive it will be important for close regulations to be imposed or recomended to ensure that the conservation of CR comes before the profit.
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