This presentation was presented at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2011 (ESTC 2011), held in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA, from September 19th-21st. Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the

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Tourism and Biodiversity Conservation: A Synthesis of Case Studies to Inform

Practice

Tourism and Biodiversity Conservation: A Synthesis of Case Studies to Inform

Practice

Phil Sarnoff , M. S. Dr. Kelly BrickerUniversity of Utah

Phil Sarnoff , M. S. Dr. Kelly BrickerUniversity of Utah

The stability of ecosystems is dependent upon diversity…

TOURISM IMPACTS…

Study Framework

►Five key strategies identified: 1. A source of financing for biodiversity

conservation; 2. Economic justification for protected areas; 3. Economic alternatives for local people;4. Constituency-building which promotes

biodiversity conservation;5. An impetus for private biodiversity

conservation(Brandon, 1996; Brandon & Margoluis, 1996)

Study OverviewStudy Overview

Purpose:

To synthesize research on the relationship between tourism and biodiversity conservation.

Guiding Hypothesis: "Tourism development implemented according to the principles

of environmental sustainability, nature conservation, and contributing to the well-being of local peoples will have a net positive or a neutral impact on biodiversity.“

ObjectivesObjectives

1. To understand what has been studied and where more research is required for monitoring and evaluation of tourism growth in biodiversity hotspot areas.

2. Develop recommendations for tourism operations based on a comprehensive overview of case studies.

A Source of Financing.A Source of Financing.

Yes No Partially Not Sure0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Does tourism provide a source of financing for parks and conser-

vation?

Case Studies: A Source of Financing

Positive Examples► Charging appropriate entrance fees.► Funds from tourism allows locals to refrain

from agriculture and livestock pursuits. ► Lease for conservation paid for by tourism

dollars

Case Studies: A Source of Financing

Negative Examples► Poor planning and a lack of coordination

between local interests, international and national NGOs and stakeholders marginalizes financing.

► Centralized collection of area user fees does not provide adequate funding to maintain the park.

Yes No Partially Not Sure0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Does tourism provide economic justification for conservation?

Justification for ConservationJustification for Conservation

Case Studies: Economic Justification for Conservation Positive Examples

► Tourists are visiting regions to view wildlife and providing an influx of tourism dollars.

► Hotels investing in conservation. Supporting ecotourism activities.

► Loss of biodiversity would detract from the amount of tourist dollars.

Case Studies: Economic Justification for Conservation Positive Examples (Cont’d)

► 5 year master plan has been developed in order to support sustainable tourism in the region.

► Preservation of critical species habitat to support future tourism.

► Ecotourists have been identified as a group that spends more than conventional tourists.

► Tourism has produced 60% of foreign currency.

Yes No Partially Not Sure0

102030405060708090

Does tourism provide local people with alternatives to exploiting

conservation areas?

Providing Local People with Economic Alternatives

Providing Local People with Economic Alternatives

Case Studies: Providing Local People with Economic

Alternatives Positive Examples► Support of wildlife conservation, but also

consumptive activities related to the biosphere reserve.

► Local ownership of tourism support businesses.

► Development of women-centered businesses that support tourism.

Negative Example► Land reclassified as a reserve without

compensation to locals. No economic alternatives were created and forest degradation persists.

Constituency BuildingConstituency Building

Yes No Partially Not Sure0

102030405060708090

100

Does tourism promote con-stituency building that promotes

conservation?

Case Studies: Constituency Building

Positive Examples► Tourism industry dollars supports local

conservation NGOs. ► Local support services are utilized in order

to gain access to the conservation area (i.e. guiding services).

► Citizens engaged in the ecotourism development process.

► Environmental education programs provided to local citizens.

Impetus for Private Conservation EffortsImpetus for Private Conservation Efforts

Yes No Partially Not Sure0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Does tourism provide an impetus for private conservation efforts?

Case Studies:Impetus for Private Conservation

Efforts Positive Example► Success of tourism operations on public

lands has motivated private landowners to begin pursing similar tourism operations on their land.

ResultsA comprehensive score of the five

sociocultural and environmental factors • A Source of Financing• Justification for Conservation• Providing Local People with Economic

Alternatives• Constituency Building• Impetus for Private Conservation

Efforts

1. was found to be significantly correlated with environmental attitude.

2. was found to be significantly correlated with environmental behavior.

Summary…Summary…

►The number of positive impacts identified increased when there were one or more benefits linking tourism to biodiversity conservation, while the negative impacts appeared to decrease…

A model for collaboration

Founded on the following ideas:

•Practitioners are Professors…•Context matters in what we do…•Important questions need to be answered to move sustainable tourism forward…

Benefits…

►University resources

►Students are future professionals

►Study skills, research process

►Community Support

►Professional development opportunities

►Real-world problems

Thank you!

Questions?