Resource Use and Ecotourism and their Effects upon

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Resource Use and Ecotourism and their Effects
upon the Environment Is it worth the risk?
Julie L. Turt EDN 506 October 10, 2005
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Ecotourism
ecotourism (n.) Tourism involving travel to
areas of natural or ecological interest,
typically under the guidance of a naturalist, for
the purpose of observing wildlife and learning
about the environment (Ecotourism). Tourism
designed to raise public awareness of the
environment, to sensitize travelers to nature and
its processes, and to reduce negative impacts of
human activities on natural areas (Issacs 2000).
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What marine species are affected?
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Ecotourism Fast Facts
1970s Emerged from conservationists in Latin
America and Africa simultaneously (Honey
1999) 1980s Gained support within the United
States, and this trend continues to the present
day Fastest growing industry on the earth 9
annual growth rate (Issacs 2000)
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http//www.newscientist.com/article.ns?iddn4733
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Resource Use
re'sôrs yuz (n.) The utilization of an energy
or a material source for industrial, commercial,
or domestic purposes
It can be either sustainable or unsustainable
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Sustainable Resource Use
s?-sta'n?-b?l re'sôrs yuz (n.) The utilization
of an energy or a material source for industrial,
commercial, or domestic purposes that is capable
of being continued with minimal long-term effect
on the environment
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Ecotourism Controversy
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For Ecotourism

• Experience obtains advocates for the environment
  and its resources.
• Guided tours enable the experience to be
  educational. Thus, education becomes a
  management tool.
• Provides income for area.
• Minimizes environmental impact.

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Against Ecotourism

• Too large of a risk to the individual species,
  especially those protected by the Endangered
  Species Act (1973)
• Damage to resources
• Animals have lowered guard against human contact
• May limit habitat if an animal feels threatened

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Endangered Species Act
en-dan'j?rd spe'shez akt (n.) Legislative law
that protects threatened organisms of a distinct
population segment against extinction
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Harassment
harass'ment (n.)
An intentional or negligent act or omission
which creates the likelihood of injury to
wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to
significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns
which include, but are not limited to, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (Sullins 2001).
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Examples of Harassment
Harassment can cause physiological changes,
altered behavior, and decreased survivorship.
Better to let the wild animals stay wild than
kill them with mistaken kindness - David
Seideman, 1997
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Marine Mammal Viewing Code of Conduct
1. Remain at least 100 yards from marine mammals.
2. Time spent observing individual(s) should be
limited to 30 minutes.3. Whales should not be
encircled or trapped between boats, or boats and
shore.4. If approached by a whale, put the
engine in neutral and allow the whale to
pass.Federal law prohibits pursuit of marine
mammals.Even if approached by a marine
mammalDo not offer the animal food, and do not
touch or swim with the animal due to disease
transmission and unpredictable behavior.
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Resource Use and Ecotourism
Good?
Bad?
YOU DECIDE
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References
Alaska Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines and
Regulations. NOAA Fisheries. 20 Aug. 2003. 2
Oct. 2005. http//www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedreso
urces/mmv/guide.htm "ecotourism." The American
Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.
Answers.com GuruNet Corp. 02 Oct. 2005.
http//www.answers.com/topic/ecotourism Honey,
M.S. 1999. Treading Lightly? Ecotourisms
Impact on the Environmnet. Environment,Vol. 41,
No. 5, pp. 4-9. Issacs, J.C. 2000. The Limited
Potential of Ecotourism to Contribute to
Wildlife Conservation. Wildlife Society
Bulletin, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 61-69. Seideman,
David. 1997. Swimming with Trouble. Audubon,
Vol. 99, pp. 76 82. Sullins, Tony A. ESA
Endangered Species Act. USA American Bar
Association, 2001.