Eco-tourism: Preserving Fragile Ecosystems – Traveling broadens the mind. We can learn about new places and people, and in doing so, we learn about ourselves. Yet, it is essential that we do not allow animals, nature and the planet as a whole to pay the price for our experiences.
This is where ecotourism, sustainable travel and responsible travel all play a vital role. While responsible and sustainable travel requires traveling mindfully, ecotourism is a way to preserve the natural world as we learn about it. It allows us a more sustainable, kind and thoughtful way of traveling as we strive for conservation, preservation and protection.
Eco-tourism: Preserving Fragile Ecosystems
You may already be thinking about some aspects of ecotourism. You may want to think about how to limit your carbon footprint as you travel or look for tour operators with great eco credentials.
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Protecting wild animals from exploitation and suffering must be an important pillar of ecotourism, but it is often overlooked. In this guide we will see why animal protection is so integral to the principles of ecotourism and how we can eliminate the exploitation of wildlife and promote animal welfare in the tourism industry.
Ecotourism is about traveling in a sustainable and respectful way. It means thinking about all aspects of the place we are traveling to; wildlife, the environment and the local people.
Sustainable ecotourism seeks to minimize the impact of visitors on the local environment. For example, one of the key objectives of ecotourism is to ensure that natural attractions and wildlife remain intact for future generations to experience.
Slogans like “take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints” are an easy introduction to ecotourism for vacationers interested in sustainability. They’re just a starting point, though.
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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 journey, not just the most visible ones. 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 business categories include:
Holidaymakers can choose from a wide range of individual activities within these categories. Some will choose cycling tours to allow them to experience beautiful landscapes with minimal impact on any local species and with almost zero carbon footprint. Others may choose kayaking, nature tours, scuba diving, photography or stargazing.
Tourists who want a sustainable ecotourism activity should choose 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 vacationers will prioritize supporting specific species or experiencing a particular ecosystem. They may be trying to understand a culture, a climate, or a way of life.
The roots of ecotourism go back much further than many people might think, and the concept has gained 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. support conservation efforts and observe wildlife; spec. access to a controlled risk environment so as to have the least negative effect possible”
In the early years of ecotourism, it was considered a niche interest and was consequently sold at premium prices.
Ecotourism: Navigating The Path To Responsible Travel And Conservation
The public became increasingly aware of the effects of climate change throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s. This led to much greater consideration of the ethics of travel, particularly as it relates to emissions from flights.
Soon, even more traditional travelers began to request information on the ecological impact of their holidays and sought to minimize damage. A growing number of people wanted to experience the natural world in an authentic, pristine state
Today’s ecotourist has very different expectations and needs compared to those of the 80s and 90s. Where the eco-travelers of the past looked
For many, this means seeking educational opportunities that help them develop a deeper understanding of their destination. They may also be looking for guidance and suggestions on how to support and protect the environment, animals and people who live in it.
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Many tourists are acutely aware of the existential threats that fragile ecosystems face. They recognize that this may be their last chance to experience, for example, coral reefs or rainforests.
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.
While we have made important progress, there still remain some valid concerns about modern approaches to eco-tourism. Well-intentioned, ecotourists inevitably have an effect on the places they visit. They could alter the 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 while satisfying our desire to understand and experience the natural world. This goal is in direct contrast to the effect of exploiting wildlife entertainment.
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Many well-meaning holidaymakers choose “experiences” with captive animals, unaware of the harm they do to the animals involved and the potential harm 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 eager to take part in activities such as washing elephants, swimming with dolphins or feeding primates, unaware of the harm these entertainments cause.
These interactive activities are often advertised as educational or environmental. In reality they are neither one nor the other. They require wild animals to be held in captivity and trained to behave in ways that are not natural to them. They are undoubtedly exploiters.
Unfortunately, these forms of exploitative tourism are highly profitable 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. Until consumers are aware of their real impact, tour operators are unlikely to change their practices.
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Travel companies around the world have recognized the growing value of sustainable ecotourism. They are making strenuous efforts to improve their sustainability credentials by reducing carbon emissions and other green initiatives.
Until such measures include the adoption of serious and lasting measures to protect animals, they will be nothing more than greenwashing. But as tourists, we have the power to demand better practices.
Being a responsible tourist means never purchasing tickets to places that keep wild animals in captivity for entertainment purposes. This includes locations that allow direct interaction with wildlife and any wildlife shows or shows. Responsible tourists will also refuse free tickets for this type of entertainment. They should not appear anywhere on an ethical travel itinerary.
Holidaymakers who want to improve our relationship with nature should also demand the highest standards of animal protection from the tour operators and tourism companies they travel with. Companies 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 push for responsible tourism.
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When we talk about animal protection it is important that we are clear what we mean. First we must 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 experience complex feelings such as happiness, sadness, or joy.
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The ability to feel a wide range of emotions is known as sensitivity. In recent years we have seen an increase in scientific interest and study into animal sensitivity, and this research is telling 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 complicated emotions such as pain. If animals can suffer, it cannot be ethical to inflict that suffering on them, 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.
How ecotourism can engage and benefit wildlife and enable local communities to care for and protect it
Ecotourism reflects our changing attitudes towards the world and our place in it. We no longer see the natural world as something to be exploited commercially. We are not the owners of this world. We, on the other hand, are its guardians.
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A similar shift is needed when we think about the wild animals we share this world with. Wild animals are not a resource to be exploited commercially at will. We have no right to take them away from their natural habitat or force them to perform for our entertainment.
This shift in mindset has already begun for many eco-conscious consumers, but we need to go further and faster. It is important to emphasize that we need
Creating this change requires both education
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