How Not to Save the Environment: Environmental Damage Caused by Bad Ecotourism
The environment is precious to all forms of life, because without the environment, nothing would survive. Over the years more and more damage has been done to the environment by humanity. For example, gas emissions from cars and trucks have damaged the ozone layers. So, various groups have decided to educate people about the environment by creating ecotourism events. However, are these groups aware of the environmental damage that is caused by bad ecotourism?
How Environmental Damage is Caused by Bad Ecotourism
Perhaps the idea of ecotourism was formed with good intentions, but the fact is that there is much environmental damage that is caused by bad ecotourism. Sometimes, getting up-close with nature is something that really does not benefit the situation.
A very common example of how environmental damage is caused by bad ecotourism is camping. National parks often allow people to camp in tents in certain areas, but some of these people do not respect their surroundings. A family might have gone camping and littered, having not found a wastebasket anywhere nearby. This litter might be ingested by an animal and cause harm, not to mention damaging the delicate ecosystem of the forest.
Something else that many people like to do while they are camping is carve their names into trees. These people think that the tree does not feel any of it, but in fact the tree can. Unless the tree is visibly dead, it is very much alive, and this action scars the tree. This is not to mention people, while camping, cutting branches for firewood.
Another example of environmental damage caused by bad ecotourism is what happens at many beaches. While private beaches that charge a fee require people to be clean and considerate of their surroundings, public beaches have no private funding, so people often end up littering. An unfortunate example of this is when people bring drinks that come in plastic rings. Animals such as seagulls try to eat the left over plastic, and end up choking to death. Thus, if you decide to go to a public beach, do not litter!
Something that is also considered an example of environmental damage caused by bad ecotourism is when tourists decide they want to bring home a natural souvenir. Perhaps it is a plant, or some other example of flora and fauna. Regardless, this is a bad idea, because the plant is only accustomed to a specific climate. Also, the plant might be a source of food for animals. If tourists started taking things like this, it would cause a chainlike effect in the environment. So, the next time you decide to participate in an ecotourism effect, be sure that you respect the environment!
Journal Of Ecotourism
As well in regards to the matter of what the problems are with ecotourism, as it stands now, ecotourism presents problems of its own and really cannot be seen as being a panacea for all the problems of the past.
Ecotourism environmental education will also help in creating new patterns of behavior of groups, individuals and also society towards our environment. Whether its because of preserving land, having the opportunity to explore previously unknown places or just the thought of what ecotourism stands for, the heart of ecotourism is in the eye of the beholder. Also, be aware that some websites might not provide the most accurate information. This is also evident when one considers that the World Tourism Organization or WTO in 1997 set out, in a paper titled Study Tourism: 2020 Vision that cultural tourism in the twenty-first century would rise to the top as far as tourism trends were concerned, and ecotourism is a special component of indigenous tourism that is attracting many tourists from abroad. The present day represents everyone who looks to the future in trying to preserve our world and its resources.
Also, be aware that some websites might not provide the most accurate information.
Although ecotourism is a fairly new concept for many, it has actually been around and alive since the 1980s. Though there is no definition of ecotourism that is universally accepted there are also some doubts whether ecotourism is about a pure concept, or is a term that is for public consumption. Ecotourism in Lebanon really took off as a serious tourism activity in the year 1997 when people began to take annual trips to Arsal which is a huge village in North East Lebanon. While private beaches that charge a fee require people to be clean and considerate of their surroundings, public beaches have no private funding, so people often end up littering. Because ecotourism hasnt been around too long and there havent been too many other areas of trying to save our lands, were at a great race with ourselves.
In other words, there will be a significant reduction of the common misconceptions associated with ecotourism will be dispelled.
Please provide it to them. Some of the areas for which one can hope to get ecotourism grants include studying conservation of animals in their own environment, studying threatened environments as well as studies on plants, fungi as well as insects. Another example of environmental damage caused by bad ecotourism is what happens at many beaches. |
