the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

water, however, inhibits the natural breakdown of sewage by micro-organisms,
leading to the leakage of poorly treated sewage into surrounding coastal waters,
with inevitable damage to marine life.
With regard to the use of artificial snow generators in skiing resorts, Smith and
Jenner (1989) report that these machines require millions of litres of fresh-water,
making sudden demands on feeder lakes and affecting their ecology. Tourism
development may require the construction of a new water supply reservoir, and
topographical factors may dictate that this be sited in an ecologically sensitive area,
or on high quality agricultural land. Water impoundment also often reduces river
flow, altering the ecology of the channel and reducing its ability to dilute pollution
(Romeril, 1989). Changes in local hydrological drainage patterns can also result
from tourism-induced urban expansion. Localised flooding may occur due to the
replacement of natural soil surfaces with impermeable tarmac or concrete. On a
more positive note, rapid tourism growth in Cyprus has promoted the installation of
waste-water treatment plans to allow the re-use of water for agricultural irrigation
purposes (Briguglio et aI, 1996).
The depletion of other physical resources has also been associated with tourism
development. The extraction of sand from beaches and coastal waters for use in
concrete is a common practice, and this can impact upon tidal current patterns and
visual and recreational amenity, with implications for both tourist satisfaction and
wildlife (Smith and Jenner, 1989). Threats to the long-term supplies of animal
species which are used as a food source can also occur to satisfy tourists demand.
Problems of tourism-induced over-fishing have been noted in some parts of the
Caribbean, for example. Harris and Leiper (1995) reveal that lobster and conch,
particularly favoured by tourists, have been significantly affected. Shark Bay in
Western Australia is an example of a remote and fragile area suffering from
overfishing problems (Dowling, 1991). The over-exploitation of wildlife may
negatively affect the local ecological balance to such an extent that there are serious
repercussions for the local human population (Hunter and Green, 1995).
Vegetation can also be adversely affected. In some small Pacific Island States the
growth in demand for handicrafts and the development of mass-production
techniques has placed a strain on vegetation resources. The majority of the wood
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