Saturday, 5 October 2013

Essay

Thesis:
Globalization has stimulated the growth of ecotourism, but ecotourism is now considered to be playing a major role in environmental degradation
.


Introduction:
Globalization has stimulated the growth of ecotourism, but ecotourism is now considered to be playing a major role in environmental degradation. Ecotourism has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry. Tourists can now visit unique ecological sites, where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. However, the tremendous growth in ecotourism comes with a price. An uncontrolled growth of ecotourism has resulted in serious environmental degradation. For example, ecotourism has caused pollution, destruction of ecosystem and loss of biodiversity.

The negative environmental impacts can be mitigated by ensuring public are well educated on the importance of conserving the environment. This is to ensure that all tourism activities have minimal environmental impact. Collaborative efforts among governments, policy makers and local communities are also needed in order to consistently promote sustainable tourism. Akbarov convincingly argues that everyone involved in ecotourism are responsible for achieving the goals of responsible tourism. (Akbarov, 2013)

a) Description of a situation

Ecotourism has been promoted globally because it simultaneously benefits the global economy and the environment. As a result, many countries are investing in this growing industry in an attempt to boost their financial reserves. However, many conservationists have questioned the long term sustainability of ecotourism and the possible negative impacts on the environment (Trevor, 2004).

b)  Identification of a problem

Destruction of ecosystem
Environmental stress can arise from accommodating to tourist’s needs. An increase in the number of visitors entering into protected areas, especially when combined with activities like hiking, can cause serious environmental damage.
This have also resulted in rapid disruption of ecological life systems.

Deforestation
Natural land are converted for the development of tourist infrastructures, which had led to more deforestation and habitat destruction. In order to develop ecological sites, governments must resettle the indigenous inhabitants of a region, which caused the indigenous natives to lose their home.

Loss of biodiversity
Deforestation has resulted in the loss of habitat and biodiversity of wildlife, which may eventually cause species to extinct in the future. It is also important to protect biodiversity to ensure that humans can continue to benefit from them. For example in Africa, majority of the continent's 700 million inhabitants rely directly on biodiversity for food, medicine, building materials, fuel wood, craft materials and income 
(Wynberg, 2000).

Pollution
Some tourists are keen to take boat trips to various sites such as Antarctica, the Amazon Rain forest and Papua New Guinea. This have resulted in more carbon emissions for getting to these places. For example, eco-tourist travelling to Antarctica are adding to global warming, which have caused the melting of polar ice caps. Tourist is causing pollution from ship fuel and rubbish, as well as disturbing wildlife (Steinmetz, 2009).

c) Description of a solution

Ensure sustainability
Limit on the number of tourists that are allowed to visit an area. This can help to maintain the balance and vitality of the ecological site. This will also help to reduce the amount of carbon emissions to the environment. Governments should ensure tourist
facilities are built in a way that it minimizes the deleterious environmental impacts. For example, constructing facilities on the outskirts of the park boundaries (Nash, 2001).

Environmental education
The way forward to fight bad ecotourism is to educate the public on the importance of biodiversity, and the various ways to minimize the environmental impacts. In this way, public can increase their environmental and cultural awareness. For example, the Honduran schoolchildren from the capital city of Tegucigalpa are routinely taken to visit the La Tigra cloud forest visitor center, funded in part by eco-tourist dollars, to learn about the importance of the rain forest and biodiversity (Nash, 2001).

Promote sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is travel designed to minimize the impact of humans on the places they visit, and encourage protection of both cultural heritage and the environment (Parode, 2012). Countries like Europe are now focusing on sustainable destination development and aims to balance conservation and tourism (Walsh, 2013). The Global Sustainable Tourism Council and The International Ecotourism Society are a one of the few council that promotes sustainable tourism practices. 

d) Evaluation of the solution
It is of paramount importance to educate people in order to increase their environmental and cultural awareness. Promoting responsible tourism can ensure sustainability of unique ecological sites. Effective environmental protection needs collaborative efforts among concerned government agencies, conservation groups, non-governmental organizations and the public. For example, getting more locals to participate in eco-tourism projects can garner more community support. As a whole, collective efforts in conserving the environment will yield greater results than individual efforts. Tourist can still enjoy ecotourism while sparing a thought for the environment. 


References

Akbarov, E. (2013). Sustainable tourism. Retrieved from Academia: http://www.academia.edu/4023366/Sustainable_tourism_Elchin_Akbarov

Honey, M. (1999). Ecotourism and sustainable development: Who owns paradise? Retrieved from Google Document: http://books.google.com.sg/books id=Qm_RonNzC7sC&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=throughout+most+of+the+world,+the+rise+of+ecotourism+has+coincided+with+the+promotion+of+free+markets+and+economic+globalization,+with+the+private+sector+hailed+as+the+main+engine+for+de

Nash, J. (2001, April). Encouraging conservation or adding to exploitation? Retrieved from Population Reference Bureau: http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2001/EcoTourismEncouragingConservationorAddingtoExploitation.aspx

Parode, N. (2012). What is sustainable tourism? Retrieved from About.com: http://seniortravel.about.com/od/typesoftravelforseniors/f/SustainableTravel.htm

Steinmetz, T. (2009, December 23). Eco-tourists causing "horrendous" pollution in Antarctica. Retrieved from eTurboNews: http://www.eturbonews.com/print/13462

Trevor, P. (2004). Globalization, ecotourism, and development in the monte verde zone, costa rica. Retrieved from Scholar Commons: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/940/

Walsh, J. (2013, October 5). Burren to host international conference on sustainable tourism. Retrieved from Irish Central: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Burren-to-host-international-conference-on-sustainable-tourism-226309891.html

Wynberg, R. (2000, April 5). Privatising the means for survival: The commercialisation of Africa's biodiversity. Retrieved from Grain: http://www.grain.org/article/entries/33-privatising-the-means-for-survival-the-commercialisation-of-africa-s-biodiversity


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