University of Aarhus ECOTOURISM AS A WAY TO PROTECT ...

Ecotourism as a sustainable way to protect nature
Thus, ecotourism has been thought to increase the involvement of both
local communities and visitors in conservation. Specifically, it has encouraged
local people to conserve resources, including natural resources, local culture and
language. It has also encouraged participation in community groups, created
opportunities for training and technical assistance, develop the abilities needed
for communities to manage financial resources, and lead to the establishment of
well-managed reserves, educational facilities (such as museums or botanical
gardens), and other attractions (WWF, 2001).
2.7. Monitoring ecotourism activities and mitigating negative impacts
2.7.1. Negative impacts from ecotourism
Ecotourism activities also generate vast negative impacts on the
environment due to poor tourism management, unmonitored and unregulated
(Amanda, 2001).
Generally, economic benefits from tourism in protected areas often result
in degradation of environments (Joseph, 1997). It includes garbage dumping
(Mark, 1995; Sapna & Rawat, 2000), increasing soil erosion and a decreasing
plant cover (Whinam and Comfort, 1996; Cole and Spildie, 1998; Joseph, 1997;
Traycy & Merion, 2001), plant species composition changing (Joseph, 1997),
wood and animal species threatening (Sven, 2000).
Social problems can be created from rapid and large local income growth.
It includes alcohol problems, loss of cultural identity (Sven, 2000; Gail). Gender
problems have also been generated from ecotourism (Sven, 2000; Marnie, et. al.,
1998). In the Amazon, most of the workers employed in ecotourism activities
while women have to work in domestic domains. In Nepal, approximately 70%
of the employees in the hotel industry were local people but less than 2% were
women.
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