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Managing eco-tourism: an ecological perspective. Introduction. • Define eco-tourism Infrastructure & Population • Protected areas & management • Studies: Wolong & Connecticut • Roads and population effects • Conclusion • Future Thoughts. ECOTOURISM
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Managing eco-tourism: an ecological perspective
Introduction • Define eco-tourism Infrastructure & Population • Protected areas & management • Studies: Wolong & Connecticut • Roads and population effects • Conclusion • Future Thoughts
ECOTOURISM Elements 1. protection 2. local benefit 3. education 4. tourists & infrastructure
Eco-tourism = fragile systems • Wetlands • Coral Reefs • Sand Dunes • Small Islands w/local endemics • Arctic & high alpine • Temp, slope, season, degrade etc. • More Impact: (Lonsdale et al.1994)
Goals: Review effects under eco-tourism plans Belize Nepal China Highlight some studies overall effects specific effects roads, invasives, etc.
Government role Local guides 27% National PK Corridors Eco-policy BELIZE
Infrastructure to support • 46 Diving companies • 20 Sport-fishing companies • 2 Major cruise ships • 19 Kayaking companies • 4 Biking companies • 10 Caving • 10 Archeological • 3 Volunteer • 5 Horseback riding companies
Belize management issues • Parks degraded • Corruption • Water fouled -citric acid • Continued deforestation • Immigration homesteading • Wild hunting • Insufficient waste treatment • Endangered Plant/Animal souvenirs
Annapurna Mt. Everest UMCDP Fuelwood depleted Trail impacts Garbage Food scarcity Open new area No local benefit Nepal issues
Local benefit Local use Eco-burning Plant extraction Motorcycles Fuel collect #1 Avoid succession Edelweiss Anaphalis javanica Ecotourism on Mt. Bromo, East Jave
Wolong, China: WWF • Most studied • Most money • Foreign support • Keystone species • Largest reserve • Most training • Most visible • Most endangered The Last Panda
Wolong: A case study Panda Habitat: • Forest Cover • Slope • Elevation = Habitat suitability Liu, Jianguo et al. 2001. Science
Suitable Habitat 1965-1974 Total area Patches Number + Size 1974-1997 Total area Patches Reserve Created 1974 Number + Size
Area (ha) 65 74 97 65 74 97 (A) Highly suitable (C) Marginal (B) Suitable (D) Unsuitable
Landsat: Remote Sensing Gray= Forest White= No Forest R=HS Y=Suitable G=Marginal B=Unsuit
Wolong Nature Reserve Human Population 1974 2560 w/421 households 1995 4260 904 households Other activities Fuelwood collection, timber harvest road construction, plant collection tourism
Conclusions • Forest fragments near non-forest reduced • Large tracts of forest fragmented and divided into smaller • Panda 1974 = 145 • Panda 1986 = 86 • Present: Unknown
Eco-tourism • Road building • Increased population
500 natives 600 invasives 1 species/year Natural rate = 1/10000 years Magee 2001 Science
Galapagos Population:Access and increase • 2002 - 90,000 +
Population 2 X 5 year Again by 2010 Fishing exploited Remove 40 mile zone Abbot 1996 Nature
Invasive species & population Mauchamp et al. 1997 Conservation Biology
A 20-yr turtle study Population effects Garber & Burger (1995)
Turtle Decline & Human Recreation: A protected reserve 1974-1993 Two populations: Clemmys insculpta Human population increase=synchronous decline
Hypothesis re: Decline • Habitat destruction Beebee 1991 • Climate Pounds & Crump 1994 • UV-B increase Blaustein 1994 • Exotic species Blaustein 1994 • Natural change Pechmann 1991 • Ozone Blaustein 1994 • Predation Temple 1987 • Collecting Wilbur 1994 • Acid rain, aluminum etc.
Methods 1974-1993 1000-ha Two populations 100 yr separation 1974-1982 Closed Marked observed 3hrs/wk 20 years Compare pre-post access
Study method Inadvertant dispersal 15 Coral Cays 2 tourist 4 camping 1 no population Mode of dispersal Visitation vs alien Chaloupka et al. 1986
Reserves and protected areas in decline • Reserves generally • Wolong study: infrastructure • Turtle study: population • Look at infratructure
Road effects Eco-tourisms infrastructure
Roads effects on ovenbirds: patterns of territory distribution Study
Human effects on wildlife • Response measurement • Flushing distance • Approach distance • Tolerance distance
Conclusion: 1. Few eco-tourism causation studies exist. 2. Eco-tourism must be seen in a cumulative effect climate 3. Infrastructure related ecology needed for management 4. Future of NTFP