Preserving Biodiversity Through Eco-tourism – Ecotourism is the fastest growing sector in the tourism industry, accounting for 25 percent of global tourism. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the number of ecotourists is growing annually by 20 percent.
Kazakhstan, with its abundance of untouched natural sites, has a huge potential for the development of ecotourism. Amazing natural landscapes, unique ecological routes, combined with ethno-cultural tourism, will impress even the most demanding tourist.
Preserving Biodiversity Through Eco-tourism
The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas that preserves the environment, supports the well-being of the local community and involves tourism and educational activities.
Table 4 From Role Of Ecotourism In Sustainable Development
The main feature of ecotourism is the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems when visiting natural areas. Ecotourism also enables the creation of economic conditions in which nature conservation becomes beneficial for local communities.
According to the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the total land of specially protected natural areas of the country is 26 million hectares, that is about 0.26 million km2 ten times more than in the countries with well-developed ecotourism. At the same time, the number of tourists is 2 million people per year. Meanwhile, in the United States of America, a global leader in the development of ecotourism, this figure is 200 million tourists per year and in Australia it is 60 million. These countries achieved such results through a well-established system of tourism management in the national parks and natural areas, regulated by law.
In 2019 Finland was named the best country to visit for wildlife travel thanks to a high level of environmental sustainability, the diversity and uniqueness of plant and animal species and also thanks to government efforts to preserve the environment. Regarding the list of the best countries according to the number of national parks, biodiversity, the risk of extinction of Red List species of plants and animals and other criteria, Kazakhstan took the 87th place in this assessment.
However, the country has all the prerequisites for the development of ecotourism, due to its vast natural areas, the diversity of its flora and fauna and its natural monuments and objects that are included in the World Heritage List.
Role Of Ecotourism In Sustainable Development
At the initiative of the Biodiversity Financial Initiative () project of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) additions were made to the new Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which establishes the obligations of tourist operators and travel agents to be guided by certain principles. regarding the organization of tours in protected areas. These include:
As part of their work on ecotourism, experts from the UNDP Global Environmental Finance and -UNDP projects have developed the following recommendations for improving the development of ecotourism in the country:
Until now, the existing standard approaches, which were developed in legislation of Kazakhstan, need a clear definition of legal relations and mechanisms and criteria for their regulation. Therefore, the inclusion of the above recommendations and definition of ecotourism in the national laws of Kazakhstan makes it possible to streamline all regulatory legal acts in the tourism sector, and also to promote the improvement of environmental protection measures at the territories. At the same time, the authorized bodies in the field of tourism and ecology must develop appropriate action plans and reconsider existing methods of tourism management in natural areas.
It is worth remembering that ecotourism can contribute to national economic development in any country where protection and restoration of natural environments are increasingly prioritized, accompanied by strong regulatory oversight to ensure their preservation. In the realm of sustainable travel, conservation and regenerative tourism stands as. pillars, essential to preserve the world’s natural and cultural heritage while fostering positive impacts on local communities. Conservation efforts focus on protecting ecosystems, biodiversity, and cultural heritage from degradation and exploitation, ensuring their preservation for future generations. On the other hand, regenerative tourism goes beyond mere conservation by actively contributing to the restoration and revitalization of these environments and communities.
How Ecotourism In Konkan Promotes Climate Friendly Tourism
Although it is undeniable that traditional tourism models have often caused negative effects on local communities and the environment, it is important to recognize the transformative potential of a new paradigm: conservation-focused and regenerative tourism. Faced with increasing environmental challenges and socio-cultural disruptions, a shift to community-based tourism and impact tourism presents an opportunity not only to mitigate damage but also to actively contribute to the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems and cultural heritage.
Regenerative tourism is an approach to travel and tourism that goes beyond sustainability, aiming to restore, revitalize, and positively influence the destinations visited. While sustainability focuses on preserving and minimizing damage to natural environments, regenerative tourism seeks to actively improve ecosystems, communities, and cultural heritage – for example, carbon neutral and carbon negative destinations.
The relationship between conservation efforts and regenerative tourism practices is symbiotic, with each reinforcing the goals of the other. Conservation provides the foundation on which regenerative tourism operates, protecting the integrity of natural habitats and cultural sites. Meanwhile, regenerative tourism acts as a catalyst for conservation, channeling resources and support to initiatives that promote sustainability, resilience and community well-being.
Through regenerative tourism practices such as community-based tourism, sustainable wildlife viewing, and ecological accommodation, travelers become active participants in conservation efforts. By engaging with local communities and ecosystems in a respectful and responsible manner, they contribute to the conservation and improvement of these essential resources. In return, communities benefit from economic opportunities, cultural exchange, and increased awareness of the importance of conservation.
Eco Conscious Travel: Creating Memorable Experiences And Attracting The Modern, Environmentally Aware Traveler
Related Reading: The Role of Natural Habitat Adventures in Regenerative Tourism and Conservation Examples of Regenerative Tourism Projects
Several successful regenerative tourism projects around the world demonstrate the positive impact of sustainable travel on communities, environments and economies. Here are some examples: Join our new Membership! Get access to our award-winning newsroom and support our journalism. Become a member
Benji Jones is a senior environment reporter at , covering biodiversity loss and climate change. Before joining, he was a senior energy reporter at Insider. Benji previously worked as a wildlife researcher.
In a lush area of tropical forest on the east coast of Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines, you can see the brilliant plumage of the rare red kingfisher or — if you’re lucky — hear the shrill cry of the critically endangered great Philippine eagle. a species
Belize’s Economy Gets A Boost From Nature
Wildlife is abundant here, but not because the region has been left untouched in a protected area, or preserved by an international environmental organization. It is because the territory known as Pangasananan has been occupied for centuries by the Manobo people, who have long depended on the land to grow crops, hunt and fish, and gather herbs. They use a number of techniques to preserve the land, from restricting access to sacred areas to designating nature reserves and an off-season for hunting, partly due to a traditional belief that nature and its resources are guarded by spirits.
Pangasananan is one of many areas around the world that remain ecologically intact due to the conservation practices of indigenous peoples or local communities. Although these places are not extensively documented by researchers, they cover about 21 percent of all the land on Earth, according to calculation. a new report from the ICCA Consortium, a group that advocates for indigenous and community-led conservation.
This means that indigenous peoples and local communities conserve much more of the Earth than, for example, national parks and forests. (Protected and conserved areas controlled by countries — some of which overlap with indigenous territories — cover only 14 percent of all land on Earth, according to the report.) The consortium says its report is the first effort to try to measure the extent of areas. preserved by indigenous peoples and local communities, known as ICCAs or territories of life.
Leaders of the Manobo community made a sign at the entrance of a local ecotourism park around a popular waterfall to inform visitors that it is part of the Pangasanan territory.
Tourism & Biodiversity, Friend Or Foe?
Despite the enormous role that indigenous peoples play in protecting nature, their contributions are often overlooked. The modern conservation movement was built on the false idea that nature begins “pure” and untouched by humans, as environmental journalist Michelle Nijhuis has written. That put many of the movement’s early efforts, including protected areas, at odds with indigenous land management — the very activities that created many of the landscapes that countries are now racing to protect.
“We’re discounted,” said Reno Keoni Franklin, president emeritus of the Kashia Pomo Tribe in California. “Tribal knowledge about land conservation is often used and quoted but rarely matters until a white man says it. Unfortunately, that is only the truth of the last 100 years of land conservation in the United States.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher today. More than 50 countries, including the United States and the other wealthy nations that make up the G7, have committed to conserving at least 30 percent of their lands and waters by 2030. Some indigenous activists fear that reaching that goal, known as 30 by 30, could come at a cost of indigenous land rights.
But they also see an opportunity to shift the paradigm of conservation to one in which the enormous contributions of indigenous peoples are recognized and supported. The consortium’s report could help push for that change. It
Consumption Patterns And Biodiversity
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