Bad Sports and Tourist Traps Like other scenic wonders, sea-floor and shore sights suffer from overexposure. Droves of tourists and water-sports fans descend on and into tropical and coastal waters. All too often they leave damage in their wake.
Big Volcano Ecotourism Resource Centre The Ecotourism Resource Centre is a comprehesive guide to sustainable tourism and ecotourism practice and management. A Lycos Top 5% Award site.
Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism: An Investigation of Linkages, Mutual Benefits and Future Opportunities Tourism is one of Australia's fastest growing industries. It is a major source of foreign exchange, gross domestic product, income and employment; in 1991-92 tourism expenditure amounted to an estimated $26.2 billion, equivalent to 5.5 per cent of GDP. During the last decade, a trend emerged world wide for nature-based tourism and ecotourism. This study reveals that Australia's tourism industry is a major user of biological resources. In addition to nature-based and ecotourism in Australia, many aspects of tourism, through both marketing and actual experience, are dependent on Australia's natural environment. The health of Australia's biodiversity will be a major factor in determining the expansion of the tourism industry. In turn, the tourism industry can be a major force in the conservation of Australia biodiversity.
Code of Practice for Ecotourism Operators A number of tourism operators in our region belong to the Northern NSW Ecotourism Association (NNETA) which adhears to the standards of practice formulated by the The Ecotourism Association of Australia (EAA). The EAA has kindly provided permission for them to reproduce the Guidelines for Ecotourists and the Code of Practice for Operators.
Costa Rica Expeditions Conservation & Sustainable Development Costa Rica Expeditions believes that we are stewards on this earth; that we have not inherited it from our parents, but rather we are renting it from our children; that if tourism does not contribute to the protection of flora and fauna, the prevention and repair of environmental degradation, the economic well-being of local communities, and respect for local cultures; it is not a justifiable activity. Outlined below are the ways in which Costa Rica Expeditions has translated these beliefs into action.
Defining Ecotourism in Latin America There are a number of ways to define ecotourism. As advanced by the Ecotourism Society (a group I'm not in direct contact with) and the American Society of Travel Agents, there are different notions of what is and isn't ecotourism. The 25,000 member ASTA offers 10 eco-commandments.
Design Guidelines for Maho Bay Camps, Inc. and the U.S. National Park Service - Agreement to Develop Prototypes of Sustainable Campgrounds within Fragile Natural Properties The Maho Bay/NPS prototype is intended to provide a basis for achieving sustainable development in campground design. The goal is to create guidelines for building dwellings that minimally impact the environment while helping to develop conservation-oriented values in the guest. The prototype is a lightweight, site-adaptive structure designed to be placed in fragile environments where traditional structures would be overly destructive. Five initial prototype eco-tents have been built and tested over the past two years at Maho Bay. The following guidelines are derived from the research and experience gained at the Maho eco-tents. The guidelines are not invariable, they should be adapted as our knowledge of the world continues to evolve.
Eco-Source Eco-Source, your connection to the world of sustainable tourism, brought to you since October 1995, by professionals and individuals interested in helping the Travel and Tourism industry become sustainable.
Ecotourism - Achieving a Balance Ecotourism. A doorway to economic opportunity in remote communities? An innovative tool to promote the conservation of wild areas? A threat of overdevelopment to natural lands? Whatever its perceived impact, ecotourism is one of the fastest growing pieces of the travel business. How it is managed is critical to preserving the resources that make it so rewarding.
Ecotourism Explorer A Site for Discovery of the Ecotourism Path For Researchers, Conservationists and Business People.
"Eco-Tourism" Just a Marketing Gimmick or for Real? An article by Ira Rohter, Political Science Department, University of Hawaii. Tourist industry spokesmen such as DBEDT's Director Mufi Hannemann and HVB's President Stanley Hong, have recently been touting Hawaii as a place where "eco-tourism" and "cultural-tourism" is practiced. Frankly, these statements are PR hype. Their actions promote more mass tourism, whose impacts are bad for the `âina, native Hawaiians, and Hawaii's average working and middle-class residents.
Ecotravel Center Conservation International presents The Ecotravel Center™. Inside you will find the most comprehensive resource of ecotravel information available. The Ecotravel Center provides everything you need to self-design exciting travel experiences that benefit conservation and provide opportunities for local communities. Conservation International (CI) is a private non-profit organization that has quickly become a leader in protecting biodiversity worldwide. CI believes that when planned and implemented properly, ecotourism can be both an effective conservation tool and a successful community development model.
Exploring Ecotourism The Eco Travels in Latin America website (http://www.planeta.com/) deals broadly with environmental travel in the region. This page provides the specific links to "ecotourism" materials on the Eco Travels site as well as other Internet resources that will be of great use to travelers, researchers and entrepreneurs. Please note that this is not a cheerleading effort. There are many pros and many cons in ecotourism - read through the materials here and make up your own mind.
Hawaii Ecotourism Association Information about ecotourism in Hawaii, a directory of members with activities and attractions that promote the conservation of Hawaii's natural and cultural heritage, and information on joining the Hawaii Ecotourism Association. Ecotourism is nature- and cultural- based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well-being of local communities.
The Challenge of Ecotourism There is a certain amount of truth in the cliche; "take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints." Yet today we may ask that eco-travelers leave even less. Ecotourism means quite simply "ecologically sound tourism" or "ecologically sensitive tourism." This implies that we devote the same amount of caring to our travels that we afford to own homes. The ecotourist must care for the place visited as much as she or he cares for and appreciates home.
What is Ecotourism? Though there are many definintions of ecotourism, the term is most commonly used to describe any recreation in natural surroundings. The Ecotourism Society adds social responsibilities to define ecotourism as "purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of the environment, taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people."
Wilderness Environmental Ethics & Responsible Ecotourism Tourism and Nature have been long-standing bedfellows. The environmental movement has intensified this relationship resulting in a form of nature tourism with an ecological bias - called ecotourism. Over the past decade or so, the concept of ecotourism has evolved and incorporated growing concerns about conservation and sustainability. Today's emphasis is on personal responsibility, not only for Nature's health, but also for the well-being of people directly affected by ecotourism. The "eco" has expanded to include the socio-cultural dimension along with the biophysical. We now have an upgraded notion of what it means to be responsible ecotourists.
Energy - General | Energy Conservation and Efficiency | Renewable Energy
Value/Benefits of Renewable Energy | Utility Integration of Renewables
Sustainable Development | Sustainable Tourism | Village Power/Rural Electrification
Energy Incentive Programs/Financing Alternatives
Energy Economics/Environmental Economics
Avoided Cost Determination/Externalities
Energy Facility Siting and Permitting
Energy and Environmental Education | Environmental Issues
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles | Solar Cars | Human Powered Vehicles
If you have any comments or questions, or recommendations concerning additional information or links to include on this page, contact me at:
David Rezachek