You Can Make A Difference
Travel Experts See Worrisome Downside to Ecotourism
Ecotourism may be just as environmentally damaging as traditional travel because of the greenhouse gases vacationers help create when they journey to remote, pristine areas, industry experts warned Tuesday.That dilemma has been the focus of the Global Ecotourism Conference, a three-day gathering of ecotourism officials struggling to chart the future of an industry whose success threatens to become its own undoing.
“There is no other industry that has more to gain or to lose from climate change,” said Alexi Huntley, whose Costa Rica-based Nature Air calls itself the first airline with zero net carbon dioxide emissions because of investments in projects such as reforestation to help keep air clean.
Ecotourism — travel to pristine areas meant to avoid the damaging impact of traditional tourism — is increasing in popularity, according to The International Ecotourism Society, one of the conference sponors.
But now the travel experts are concerned that the extensive travel often required to reach untouched natural wonders produces climate-destroying greenhouses gases and other environmental damage. That, in turn, could harm the lush national parks and small, exotic islands that attract the environmentally minded.
“It’s the Catch-22 of nature-based tourism,” Huntley said.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Michael Klusek on May 17, 2007 at 3:48 pm, and is filed under Ecotourism, Rainforest Ecosystems. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 3 years ago
This is a very interesting and informative article. It is, a catch 22 situation because we want to see these marvelous areas and regions with the understanding that very special care need to be taken to preserve them, but going into these areas are damaging as well.
about 3 years ago
I am a child of 11 years old. I live in Mauritius but born in Uk. In my school we are learning about how we can preserve forest and Rain-forest. I read your articles but how do you want people to be aware of what is happening. Usually Children learn then explains to the elders but how can such happen if your article is not for a stage. Maybe in my school only 3 children how will understand: my classmates and myself. Please take in consideration about my comment and help.
about 2 years ago
This open letter to the Carbon Action Network makes a whole lotta sense and is the voice of reason when everyone else is losing their heads and getting their knickers in a knot over palm oil and global warming.