Conservation Education In Eco-tourism – Traveling broadens the mind. We can learn about new places and people and, in doing so, we learn about ourselves. And yet, it is essential that we do not allow animals, nature and the planet as a whole to pay the price of our experiences.
It is here that ecotourism, sustainable travel and responsible travel all play a vital role. Although responsible and sustainable travel requires that we travel consciously, ecotourism is a way for us to preserve the natural world as we learn about it. It allows us a more sustainable, childlike and thoughtful way to travel as we participate in conservation, preservation and protection.
Conservation Education In Eco-tourism
You may already be thinking about several aspects of ecotourism. You may be thinking about ways to limit your carbon footprint when you travel or looking for tour operators with great eco-credentials.
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Protecting wild animals from exploitation and suffering must be an important cornerstone of ecotourism, but it is often overlooked. In this guide, we will look at why animal protection is so integral to the principles of ecotourism and how we can eliminate wildlife exploitation and promote animal welfare in the tourism industry.
Ecotourism is about traveling in a sustainable, respectful way. It means thinking about all aspects of the place we are traveling to; The wildlife, the environment, and the local people.
Sustainable ecotourism tries to minimize the impact of visitors on the local environment. For example, one of the main aims of ecotourism is to ensure that natural attractions and wildlife remain intact for future generations to experience.
Slogans such as “Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints” are an easy introduction to ecotourism for holidaymakers interested in sustainability. They are only a starting point, however.
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A deep commitment to ecotourism means considering our impact on the entire ecosystem. We need to think about all the effects of our travel, not just the most visible. At its best, ecotourism can be a force for good. It can encourage understanding, investment and even drive political and legislative change.
Tourists looking to experience the natural world in a sustainable way have a wide range of ecotourism activities to choose from. The most common categories of activities include:
Holidaymakers can choose from a huge range of individual activities in these categories. Some will choose cycling tours to allow them to experience stunning landscapes with minimal impact on any local species and with almost no carbon footprint. Others may choose kayaking, nature tours, scuba diving, photography or star-gazing.
Tourists who want a sustainable ecotourism activity should choose the activities that best balance their personal preferences with eco-friendly options. Some will seek opportunities that do not require air travel to avoid a negative impact on the global climate.
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Many holidaymakers will prioritize supporting specific species or experiencing a particular ecosystem. They may be seeking to understand a culture, climate or way of life.
The roots of ecotourism go back further than many people would think, and the concept has been gaining popularity since the early 1980s. Ecotourism was first recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1982 as:
Tourism to areas of ecological interest (typically exotic and often threatened natural environments), esp. to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife; spec. access to an endangered environment controlled so as to have the least possible adverse effect”
In the early years of ecotourism, it was considered a niche interest and came to premium prices as a result.
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The public became increasingly aware of the effects of climate change throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s. This has led to much greater consideration of the ethics of travel, particularly around emissions from flights.
Quickly, even mainstream travelers requested information about the ecological impact of their holidays and sought to minimize harm. Growing numbers of people wanted to experience the natural world in an authentic, untouched state
Today’s ecotourist has very different expectations and requirements than those of the 1980s or 1990s. Where ecotravelers in the past have searched
For many, this means seeking out educational opportunities to help them develop a deeper understanding of their destination. They may also look for guidance and suggestions on how to support and protect the environment and the animals and people in it.
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Many tourists are acutely aware of the existential threats of fragile ecosystems. They recognize that this may be their last chance to experience coral reefs or rainforests, for example.
Despite the perception that we have become an Instagram generation, today’s ecotourists may have more authentic interactions with the natural world than their predecessors.
Although we have made important progress, there are still some valid concerns about modern approaches to eco-friendly tourism. Well-meaning, ecotourists inevitably have an effect on the places they visit. They can change a local economy by making tourism-related work more profitable than traditional crafts and skills. They may also promote “solutions” that do not meet the needs of local people or wildlife.
Sustainable ecotourism takes an ethical approach to the natural world. The ultimate goal is to do no harm as we fulfill our desire to understand and experience the natural world. This goal is in direct contrast to the effects of exploitative wildlife recreation.
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Many well-intentioned holidaymakers choose captive animal ‘experiences’, unaware of the harm they do to the animals involved, and the potential damage to the local ecosystem, and the communities that live there.
Some of these experiences may seem harmless – or even beneficial – at first glance. For example, tourists may be keen to take part in activities such as washing elephants, swimming with dolphins, or hand-feeding primates, unaware of the harm these activities cause.
These interactive activities are often advertised as educational or conservation. In fact, they are not. They require wild animals to be kept in captivity and trained to behave in ways that are not natural to them. They are undoubtedly exploitative.
Unfortunately, these forms of exploitative tourism are highly lucrative for the companies that provide them. For example, our 2019 Behind the Smile report found that a single dolphin can generate between $400,000 and $2 million. As long as consumers are unaware of their true impact, tour operators are unlikely to change their practices.
The Differences Between Sustainable Tourism And Ecotourism
Travel companies around the world have recognized the growing value of sustainable ecotourism. They are making rigorous efforts to improve their sustainability credentials by reducing carbon emissions and other green initiatives.
Until these measures include taking serious and sustained animal protection measures, they are nothing more than greenwashing. But as tourists, we have the power to demand better practices.
Being a responsible tourist means never buying tickets for venues that keep wild animals in captivity for entertainment purposes. This includes venues that allow direct interaction with wild animals and any wild animal shows or performances. Responsible tourists will also refuse free tickets to these types of entertainment. They should not appear anywhere on an ethical travel itinerary.
Holidaymakers who want to improve our relationship with the natural world should also hold tour operators and holiday companies to the highest standards of animal protection. Companies that are willing to profit from the suffering of wild animals, or those that fail to take sufficient measures to prevent animal suffering, cannot be considered allies in the drive towards responsible tourism.
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When we talk about animal protection, it is important that we are clear about what we mean. First, we need to be clear – the needs of wild animals cannot be fully met in a captive environment.
Animal suffering is sometimes misunderstood when people assume that animals do not have complex feelings such as happiness, sadness or joy.
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The ability to feel a wide range of emotions is known as sentience. In recent years, we have seen an increase in scientific interest and study in animal sentencing, and this research tells us what pet owners have known for years; That animals are sentient beings.
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Sentient beings are capable of experiencing pain, fear and suffering. Some animals also experience more complex emotions such as grief. If animals can suffer, it cannot be ethical to cause them that suffering, especially for our entertainment.
We still have much to learn about the exact nature of animal emotions and suffering. We know that many species suffer when kept in captivity, despite our efforts to enrich their environment.
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Ecotourism reflects our changing attitudes to our world and our place in it. We no longer see the natural world as something to be commercially exploited. We are not the owners of this world. We are its guardians instead.
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A similar shift is needed when we think about the wild animals with which we share the world. Wild animals are not a resource for us to commercially exploit at will. We have no right to take them away from their natural habitat or to force them to perform for our entertainment.
The shift in thinking has already begun for many eco-conscious consumers, but we need to move further and faster. Importantly, we need
Creating this change requires both education
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