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Review unit 1

fluency strategy: DRTA

Ecotourism

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Ecotourism

The word ecotourism is a combination of ecology (the study of systems of living things) and tourism. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of the local people”.

This means that walking through a rain forest isn’t really ecotourism unless it benefits the area, perhaps by providing jobs to the local residents or by conserving the wildlife.

Countries are slowly recognizing that it is possible to make money while preserving their natural resources.

Costa Rica has been leading the ecotourism movement for some time, and was voted the most popular ecotourism destination by TripAdvisor.com in April 2012.

It developed the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program in 1999, which was then used by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as a model for the rest of Latin America.

Thanks to its conservation efforts, over 25 percent of Costa Rich’s land is covered in lush national parks. It’s tourism industry generates over a billion dollars annually and provides jobs to thousands of people.

Unfortunately, people in the industry sometimes exploit the “ecotourism” label in their drive for profit. This brand of ecotourism isn’t always conducted in the most responsible way, and may damage the very environment it seeks to protect.

One concern is that the overwhelming number of visitors to these natural places (especially in the high season) has a negative effect on the ecosystem.

Ecotourists tend to seek out places with the rarest animals and plants; even if they take care not to disturb the environment, their presence could put pressure on the most frail of living things.

Another problem is the interaction between animals and humans. At one national Park in Costa Rica, Wild monkeys feed on garbage left by the visitors and even aggressively steal food from tourists.

Controlling abuses isn’t easy, either. In developing countries where salaries aren’t high, corruption can lead officials to tolerate ecological damage.

For example, a large resort facility, normally not allowed near a sanctuary, might be allowed if the company bribes (gives money to) certain people in the government.

Limited resources are another issue − areas of forests and beaches that would require an army to protect are often watched by just a few employees.

While tourists can have a negative impact on ecosystems, the same areas might have been totally destroyed by industries such as farming, logging, or mining if the ecotourism industry did not exist.

Tour guides can also be educators who train people to love and care for the environment. By visiting these beautiful rain forests and seeing rare animals, visitors get a sense of their value and will hopefully take these lessons back with them to their home countries.

It is easy to be critical of the ecotourism industry, but it is important to be positive as well. Ecotourism can never be “pure” − we can’t expect zero negative effects on the ecosystem.

It is also unrealistic to think that humans won’t go anywhere accessible to them. If protection efforts are maintained and intensified, those remaining places of undisturbed nature may be stressed, but at least they won’t be destroyed.