ECOTOURISM

INTRODUCTION

This unit is designed to equip the trainee with knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable

him/her to make tour guiding management decisions based on sound eco-tourism principles.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

By the end of this module unit, the trainee should be able to:

1. Understand the basic concepts of eco-tourism.

2. Understand the principles of eco-tourism.

3. Appreciate the factors influencing eco-tourism growth and development.

4. Apply the acquired knowledge to link tourism development and conservation

issues.

5. Promote sustainable tourism.

TOPIC ONE - INTRODUCTION

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

By the end of this sub-module unit, the trainee should be able to;

a) Explain the meaning of terms used in eco-tourism

b) Explain the scope of ecotourism

c) Discuss impact of ecotourism

d) Explain the concept of sustainable ecotourism

TASK 1 Explaining terms used in eco-tourism

Tourism can be defined as,

 Travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes.

 The sum of the phenomena and relationships arising from the travel and stay of non-

residents, insofar as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with

any earning activity."

 The temporary, short-term movement of people to destination outside the places where

they normally live and work and their activities during the stay at each destination. It

includes movements for all purposes."

Ecosystem is a system of interdependent organisms which share the same habitat, in an area

functioning together with all of the physical (abiotic) factors of the environment.

Ecosystem is any unit that includes all of the organisms (i.e.: the "community") in a given area

interacting with the physical environment so that a flow of energy leads to clearly defined

trophic structure, biotic diversity, and material cycles (i.e.: exchange of materials between living
and nonliving parts) within the system is an ecosystem. Environment: In general, environment

refers to the surroundings of an object.

Environment means what surrounds us, it may refer to:

 Built environment, constructed surroundings that provide the setting for human activity,

ranging from the large-scale civic surroundings to the personal places.

 Environment (biophysical), the physical and biological factors along with their chemical

interactions that affect an organism.

 Environment (systems), the surroundings of a physical system that may interact with the

system by exchanging mass, energy, or other properties

Ecotourism (also known as ecological tourism) is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually

protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It helps educate the traveler;

provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political

empowerment of local communities; and fosters respect for different cultures and for human

rights.

Eco-tourist is a tourist who travels responsibly and ensures major benefits are to the local

society visited and does not impact negatively on nature.

Sustainable tourism is an industry committed to making a low impact on the environment and

local culture, while helping to generate income and employment for local people. The aim of

sustainable tourism is to ensure that development is a positive experience for local people;
tourism companies; and tourists themselves. But sustainable tourism is not the same as

'ecotourism'.

Unit Task 2 Explaining the evolution of ecotourism

The origins of the term ‘ecotourism‘ are not entirely clear, one of the first to use it appears to

have been Hetzer(1965), who identified four ‘pillars‘ or principles of responsible tourism:

 Minimizing environmental impacts

 Respecting host cultures

 Maximizing the benefits to local people

 Maximizing tourist satisfaction.

The first of these was held to be the most distinguishing characteristic of ecological tourism.

Other early references to ecotourism are found in Miller’s (1978) work on national park planning

for eco development in Latin America, and documentation produced by Environment Canada in

relation to a set of road-based ‘ecotours’ they developed from the mid-1979s through to the early

1980s.

Ecotourism developed ‘within the womb’ of the environmental movement in the 1970s and

1980s. Growing environmental concern coupled with an emerging dissatisfaction with mass

tourism led to increased demand for nature-based experiences of an alternative nature.

At the same time, less developed countries began to realize that nature-based tourism offers a

means of earning foreign exchange and providing a less destructive use of resources than

alternatives such as logging and agriculture.

By mid 1980s such a number of countries had identified ecotourism as a means of achieving both

conservation and development goals. The first formal definition of ecotourism is generally

credited to Ceballos Lascurain in 1987.

When the term ecotourism first appeared in the 1980's, it was loosely applied toward travel that

included any aspect of nature. Most of these travel packages and destinations, however, were

little more than mass tourism taken outdoors. Most imparted more impacts than benefits on local

communities and habitats. Over the years, changing attitudes by travelers, tour operators,

communities and conservationists have significantly narrowed the ecotourism focus.

Today definitions abound, but a reasonable definition for ecotourism is responsible travel that

promotes the conservation of natural areas and sustains the well-being of local peoples. The term

community-based ecotourism more specifically stresses this modern approach to ecotourism.

Community-based ecotourism works closely with local people, provides incentive for

conservation, and more and more often, works outside of parks in locally owned land.

The `80's: Ecotourism as novelty

The first ecotourism developments in the late 1980's were established by entrepreneurs with the

foresight to see that the traveling public was interested in visiting new areas—not the same cities

and museums that had greeted travelers for decades. Ecolodges were developed by foreigners

who generally leased land from local communities or purchased land outright. Travel operators

brought their own guides, largely out of necessity, as no local guides could identify 500 species

of birds, let alone entertain English-speaking naturalists. In these early days, it was rare for

ecotourism to return significant profits to local communities, or to invest in local conservation.

The early `90's: Ecotourism goes remote

In the 1990's, as businesses realized the profit potential of ecotourism, ecolodges and ecotourism

operators cropped up to service more remote locations. Eventually, only travel to these remote

sites was considered true ecotourism. The skyrocketing supply of ecotourism sites kept pace with

a soaring demand. Travel in the `90's, like most activities in the developed world, became more

health-conscious. The outdoors became more of an option for both weekend outings and two-

week vacations. Birdwatching became the fastest growing outdoor activity in the US, with

millions joining the ranks each year.

As ecotourism took root, communities in South America began to recognize the opportunities

this enterprise held for their long-term survival. Oil and gas exploration in South America

opened roads to previously distant lands. Colonists encroached and communities sold forests.

Some communities were destroyed by development. Others enjoyed short-lived prosperity, only

to find later that they had lost their hunting grounds and traditional ways of life. Neighboring

communities took the hint.

Some of these neighboring communities saw that ecotourism lodges were generating wealth

without the negative consequences of extractive activities. Residents who worked at lodges for

low wages realized that they were doing everything to keep the lodges running. The time had

come for communities to begin operating their own lodges.

The late `90's: Ecotourism serves communities and conservation

In recent years, communities and conservationists have come together to finely tune community-

based ecotourism. In this cooperative effort, communities provide land and labor for a project
while conservationists bring capital and expertise. Profits from these projects are shared between

communities and conservation organizations in an equitable fashion and used to protect the local

environment.

Into the new millennium: Ecotourism races to save the last intact ecosystems.

As we look to the future, Tropical Nature hones the focus of ecotourism yet further. Tropical

Nature develops community-based ecotourism that safeguards the most pristine ecosystems,

many of them immediately threatened by logging, mining, or oil exploration. While some

projects include park- and reserve-based lodges, most are on locally owned land, where

community members have chosen to leave their forests intact. At the forefront of the community-

based ecotourism movement, Tropical Nature puts conservation dollars to work at the most

beautiful, endangered forests—precisely where they're needed most.

Around the world, ecotourism has been addressed as a solution: a way to fund conservation and

scientific research, protect fragile and original ecosystems, benefit rural communities, promote

development in poor countries, enhance ecological and cultural sensitivity, instill environmental

awareness and social conscience in the travel industry, satisfy and educate the discriminating

tourist, and, some claim, build world peace.

Ecotourism is a form of tourism that attempts to minimize its impact upon the environment, is

ecologically sound, and avoids the negative impacts of many large-scale tourism developments

undertaken in the areas which have not previously been developed.

Definitions of Eco Tourism

1. According to Ceballos-Lascurain, ecotourism is the, ” traveling to relatively

undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying,

admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any

existing cultural manifestation (both past and present) found in these areas.”

2. Responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the

well-being of local people.”

3. Ecotourism is nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the

natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable.”

This definition recognizes that ‘natural environment’ includes cultural components and that

‘ecologically sustainable’ involves an appropriate return to the local community and long-term

conservation of the resource.

4. Travel to enjoy the world’s amazing diversity of natural life and human culture without

causing damage to either”.

Unit task 3 Explaining the types of eco tourism

Ecotourism exits within the broader classification of tourism types which, at an initial level, can

be divided into the following types:

1. Mass Tourism

2. Alternative Tourism

Mass tourism traditional form of tourism development where short-term, free-market principles

dominate and the maximization of income is paramount. This was particularly in terms of
benefits in foreign exchange earnings, employment and infrastructural development such as

transport networks.

These days we are more prone to vilify or characterize conventional mass tourism as a beast; a

monstrosity which has few redeeming qualities for the destination region, their people and their

natural resource base.

Alternative tourism is a competing approach to mass tourism, but it can also be viewed as a

complementary approach to tourism. That is, it is not possible to have ‘alternative tourism’ to.

Alternative tourism is a generic term that encompasses a whole range of tourism strategies (e.g.

appropriate, eco, soft, responsible, people to people, and green tourism) all of which purport to

offer a more benign alternative to conventional mass tourism in certain types of destinations.

It is clear that just because alternative tourism has developed as a reaction to the negative

consequences of mass tourism it is not necessarily less harmful or better than its alternatives.

i. Agritourism

Agritourism is a form of ecotourism that attracts tourists and volunteers to the rural

culture. It encourages visitors to explore agricultural life in rural communities first hand,

contributing to the improvement of income in regional populations. The goal essentially

is to improve the economic development of small farms and rural communities. Visitors

can participate in agricultural work alongside farmers in the fields, haul in nets with

fishermen and help manage livestock on a ranch. Even shopping from local farmer

produce stands while on vacation is a means of contributing to the betterment of rural

development.

ii. Community Development

 Community based ecotourism provides travelers the opportunity to experience cultural

and economic realities of life, most often in developing countries. Travelers stay with a

local family to learn about daily living, customs, traditions and ways to benefit the

community. The host community benefits by generating revenue, which increases

economic stability while reducing the community`s need to participate in unsustainable

forms of economic support, such as resource extraction. The individual host earns money

for providing food and accommodations, and the community benefits when a portion of

that income is set aside for broader projects.

iii. Ecolodging

An ecolodge is an accommodation venue for tourists, built with minimum impact on the

surrounding natural environment. It is built to meet particular standards for alternative,

sustainable means of water acquisition and careful waste disposal. It utilizes alternative,

passive energy consumption designs to limit its impact on the surrounding natural and

cultural environment. Types of ecolodges include luxury African tents, alpine huts, tea

houses in Nepal and rustic lean-tos in Belize. Often ecolodge owners offer tours from

knowledgeable locals to familiarize visitors with the area and instil a sense of respect for

the culture, people and environment.

iv. Eco Trekking

Eco treks are designed to increase a traveler’s awareness about the natural and cultural

environment of a particular region. Visitors learn about local threats to the environment

and habitats, as well as current and potential preservation techniques. Eco treks are often

arranged by for-profit organizations, and a portion of the proceeds sometimes goes to

support the local population. Individuals interested in eco trekking can choose from a
 wide range of excursions to exotic destinations. Activities can include white water

rafting, rock climbing, caving, hiking, bird-watching and nature walks.

v. Pro-poor tourism, which is a type that is set up in developing countries as a means to

basically improve the local economy and assist people as best as possible. In this way it is

able to enhance the linkages between tourism businesses and poor people, so that as a

result poverty is reduced and as well poor people are able to participate more effectively

in tourism development.

Adventure Tourism, is an unusual experience including some level of risk and uncertainty".

"Adventure Tourism" includes this idea of risk and often at times some unconventional means of

transport.

Sustainable Tourism is any form of tourism that does not reduce the availability of resources

and does not inhibit future travelers from enjoying the same experience.

Responsible Tourism is tourism which operates in such a way as to minimize negative impacts

on the environment.

Nature-Based Tourism is a more generic term for any activity or travel experience with a focus

on nature.

Green Tourism is often used inter-changeably with eco-tourism and sustainable tourism, but

more accurately described as "any activity or facility operating in an environmentally friendly

fashion".
Multi-Sport Adventures are trips have a focus on physical outdoor activities. Rafting,

mountain biking, climbing, surfing, diving, etc. all offered in the same package. Not necessarily

sustainable or eco but might be since many companies want to protect the areas where these

activities take place.

Cultural Tourism is interacting with and observing unique cultures is the focus of this style of

trip. The concept of learning from other cultures to broaden ones perspective is usually a core

value.

Unit task 4: exploring the Nature of Ecotourism

Ecotourism or nature-based tourism has become the fastest growing sector of the tourism

industry growing 3 times faster than the industry as a whole.

There can be no doubting of the increasing trends in environmental concern allied with the

historically prevalent trend of travel as for, of escape to nature, driven by the pressures of urban

living encourage people to seek solitude with nature, therefore, increasing the numbers of

visitors to national parks and other protected areas.

There are a number of dimensions to nature-based tourism. All forms of travel to natural areas

are not necessarily ecotourism, but this provides a useful step in differentiating nature-based

tourism from ecotourism and gives us a number of levels at which to distinguish the relationship

between specific tourism activities and nature:

 Those activities or experiences that are dependent on nature.

  Those activities or experiences that are enhanced by nature.

 Those activities or experiences for which the natural setting is incidental.

There are several classes of nature-based tourism, each utilizing a combination of these

dimensions. Bird watching, for example, can provide a pleasant and relaxing holiday based

around a general interest in nature and the environment. So that without the natural environment

it would be difficult to carry out the activity.

Similarly, camping is an activity/experience which often enhanced by nature. Most people would

prefer to camp in some type of natural setting rather than on the side of a busy road. Therefore,

nature is an integral part of these experiences but not the fundamental motivation for them.

Unit task 5 Discussing the Impact of ecotourism

Ecotourism is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact

and (often) small scale. It helps educate the traveler, provides funds for conservation, directly

benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, and fosters

respect for different cultures and for human rights.

Some important characteristics of ecotourism are following as:

1) Involves travel to the natural destination. These destinations are often remote areas,

whether inhabited or uninhabited, and are usually under some kind of environmental protection

at the national, international, communal, or private travel.

2) Minimize impact. Tourism causes damage. Ecotourism strives to minimize the adverse

effects of hotels, trails, and other infrastructure by using either recycled or plentifully available

local building material, renewable sources of energy, recycling and safe disposal of waste and

garbage, and environmentally and culturally sensitive architectural design.

3) Builds environmental awareness. Ecotourism means education, for both tourist and residents

of nearby communities. Well before the tour begins, tour operators should supply travelers with

reading material about the country, environment, and local people, as well as a code of conduct

for both the traveler and the industry itself. Ecotourism projects should also help educate

members of surrounding communities, schoolchildren, and the broader public in the host

country.

4) Provides direct financial benefits for conservation. Ecotourism helps raise funds for

environmental protection, research, and education through a variety of mechanisms, including

park entrance fees; tour company, hotel, airline, and airport taxes. And voluntary contributions.

5) Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people.

6) Respects local culture. Ecotourism is not only “greener” but also less culturally intrusive and

exploitative than conventional tourism. Whereas prostitution, black markets, and drug often are

byproducts of mass tourism, ecotourism strives to be culturally respectful and the human

population of a host country.

7) Supports human rights and democratic movements. The United Nations-sponsored World

Tourism Organization proclaims that tourism contributes to “international understanding, peace,

prosperity, and universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms

for all.
Such sentiments, however, are little reflected in conventional mass tourism. In this way,

ecotourism supports humans rights and, to establish international peace.

Benefits and Importance of Ecotourism are follows.

1. Helps in protections of sensitive environmental locations.

Ecotourism helps in protections of sensitive environmental locations. The protection should be

given to the sensitive environmental areas to maintain their unique qualities of environment.

Preservation of nature is must maintain ecological balance of nature. Development should be

prohibited near to the forest areas. It thus helps to maintain bio-diversity of the city by preserving

environment.

2. Helps in minimizing the environmental impact on the earth.

Ecotourism helps in minimizing the environmental impact on the earth. The conservation of

forest, water, electricity, fuel, coal, etc., should be done. The awareness programs should be

conducted in the tour to make understand the people about importance of environment.

3. It generates income opportunities for the local people.

Ecotourism helps in generates income opportunities for the local people. Benefits of tourism help

to boast the economy of the country. Tourism offers direct jobs to tourist guides, agriculture,

food and Hotel ling industry. It helps in improving the standard of the local people.

4. Helps in learning and understanding cultures of different communities.

Ecotourism helps in learning and understanding cultures of different communities. Its helps to

knowing the different religion and lifestyles of the people. Tourists visit Spain for LA Tomatina

festival. People throw tomatoes on each other just for entrainment intention.

5. An awareness to conserve environment is created.

Ecotourism creates a awareness to conserve environment. The protection of forest should be

done on the large scale to preserve the nature. Everyone should take initiative in planting more

and more numbers of trees. The flora and fauna should be protected.

6. It helps to get closer to the nature beauty.

Ecotourism helps to get closer to the nature beauty. The trees, mountains, river, gardens, etc. are

created by the universe. The green gardens the salient canyons make the tourist happy. By

spending times in such a nature's beauty tourist gets closer to nature; he starts preserving things,

which are perishable in the nature. Thus helps in establishing a bond with the nature.

7. Awareness is created to protect endangered species of the earth.

Ecotourism creates a awareness to protect endangered species of the earth. Awareness program

should be conducted in the tour to educate a tourist, and to our generation about endangered

species. Ecosystem should be protected, which would definitely not only preserve but also

increase the production of endangered species

Functions of Ecotourism
Eco-tourism is nature-based, environmentally educated and sustainably managed. Ross and Wall

(1999) outline the five fundamental functions of ecotourism namely:

1. Protection of natural areas

2. Education

3. Generation of money

4. Quality tourism

5. Local participation

Economic Effects of Ecotourism

The job generated by ecotourism provide an important reason for interest in and support for, the

phenomenon. These jobs often occur in areas relatively untouched by traditional development

efforts and represent tangible economic benefits from natural areas.

Several studies have assessed the local employment benefits of ecotourism; not surprisingly, the

level of benefits varies widely as a result of differences in the quality of attraction, access and

other factors.

Some important economic effects of ecotourism are following as:

Fiscal Impacts (taxes, fees, expenditures)

Ecotourism not only generates government revenue through business and other general taxes but

also through industry-specific channels, such as payment of occupancy and departure taxes.
Reduced access to the resource

Tourism utilizes various resources as inputs into the products and services provided to visitors.

In the case of ecotourism, one of these products is nature in a partially or totally preserved state.

Preservation of natural areas often involves reduced local access to resources, such as wood or

medicinal plants. In so far as tourism is a partial or sole rationale for preserving an area, it also

causes reduced access to resources.

Inflation

Many destinations have experienced increased price for goods, services, and land due to tourism

development, and this is a cost borne by residents of the area who purchase these items.

Effects of the income distribution

In some cases, tourism development exacerbates existing income inequalities within destination

communities, while in others it generates new financial elites.

Revenue sharing

At some ecotourism destinations, residents benefit from revenue-sharing programmes that either

provide cash payments or, more commonly, funding for community projects such as well or

schools.

Environmental Effects of Ecotourism

The impacts of ecotourism depend on what ecotourism is. The critical issue is that ecotourism

should involve deliberates steps to minimize impacts, through the choice of activities,

equipment, location and timing, group size, education and training, and operational

environmental management.

There is now quite an extensive literature on impacts such as trampling, which is easy to quantify

experimentally. However, very little is known about impacts such as noise disturbance, soil and

water-borne pathogens, and interference with plant and animal population dynamics and

genetics, which are likely to have far greater ecological significance.

Some important environmental effects of ecotourism are following as:

 Crushing or clearance of vegetation.

 Soil modification.

 Introduction of weeds and pathogens.

 Water pollution from human waste.

 Air pollution from generator exhausts, noise from machinery, vehicles, and voices.

 Visual impacts.

 Disturbance to wildlife through all of the above, and through food scraps and litter, etc.

References

 Wearing s & Neil .J,(1999) ecotourism :impacts,potentials and possibilities, Butterworth and

Heinemann, oxford
 Goeldner, R. C and Ritchie, J.R (2002), Tourism, Principles, Philosophies

 Burkart, A.J and Medrick S. (1990), Historical Development of Tourism

 Mchnitosh, Goeldner, R. C and Ritchie (1992), Tourism ,Practices, Philosophies

Evaluation

 Highlight the meaning of terms used in eco-tourism

 explain the evolution ecotourism

 outline types of ecotourism

 The nature and impact of ecotourism

 TOPIC TWO: PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY

Specific Objectives

By the end of this topic, the trainee should be able to;

a) Explain the meaning of ecology

b) Describe concepts of ecology

c) Describe the process of ecosystem development

d) Discuss the principles of ecotourism

Meaning of Ecology

a) Definition of terms

Ecology: study of the interaction between organisms and their environment, environment

composed of abiotic and biotic factors.

Ecosystems: An ecosystem is a system of interdependent organisms, which share the same

habitat, in an area functioning together with all of the physical (abiotic) factors of the

environment. Ecosystems can be permanent or temporary. Ecosystems usually form a number of

food webs.
Community: A community is all the living organisms sharing a common environment, which

does not include abiotic or environmental factors. Community ecology focuses on the

interactions between groups and the role each species plays. The members of a biotic community

are usually divided into three major categories: producers, consumers, and decomposers, based

on the organisms' nutritional habits.

Biotic - meaning of or related to life, are living factors. Plants, animals, fungi, protist and

bacteria are all biotic or living factors.

Abiotic Factors - Abiotic, meaning not alive, are non-living factors that affect living organisms.

Environmental factors such habitat (pond, lake, ocean, desert, and mountain) or weather such as

temperature, cloud cover, rain, snow, hurricanes, etc. are abiotic factors.

Food Chain A simple direct energy flow from producers to consumers (a linear relationship

that indicates energy flow from producers to the consumers to decomposers.

Food webs Several interconnected food chains forming a complex energy flow system in the

ecosystem.

MAJOR COMPONENTS OF ECOLOGY

(1) Environment
 (a) An organism's environment may be distinguished into an abiotic component and a

biotic component

(b) "Organisms are affected by their environment but, by their very presence and

activities, they also change it, often dramatically."

(2) Abiotic component

(a) The abiotic component of an environment are all of the non-living components of

an organism's environment

(b) These include such things as

(i) Temperature

(ii) Light

(iii) Water

(iv) Wind

(v) Nutrients

(vi) Substrate (e.g., rock and soil)

(vii) Periodic disturbances

(c) The abiotic component of an environment can and does have a dramatic impact on

the ability of organisms to survive and reproduce

(d) Generally, a given organism is capable of surviving over only a limited range of

abiotic variables, and the environments in which one (or more) abiotic component

ranges outside of an organism's range of tolerance will not be able to support

stable populations of that organism

 (e) "The existence of a species in a particular place depends on two factors: The

species must reach that location, and it must be able to survive and reproduce in

that location once it is there."

(3) Biotic component

(a) The biotic component of an environment are all of the other organisms found in

an environment with which an organism makes contact, directly or indirectly

(b) These organisms may be competing, preying upon, being preyed upon, providing

shelter, or in some other way impact on the environment

(c) Generally, organisms, en total, make a significant impact on other organisms

within an environment

(4) Evolution in real time

(a) The complexity associated with ecology explains in part why the study of

evolution is so intensely difficult: Evolution happens within a context of ecology,

i.e., in real ecosystems, one organism at a time

(b) Part of the complexity associated with ecology, however, is a consequence of the

impact of evolution on ecosystems: Ecosystems are not only the products of

evolution, they also contain populations that are actively evolving, all of the time

(c) In other words, ecology is essentially evolution running in real time, while

evolution is essentially the product of enormous numbers of ecological

interactions between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments

(5) Principle of allocation

(a) One way to understand ecology is in terms of flows of energy; organisms take in

energy and then use that energy to survive and to reproduce

(b) All adaptations are compromises, no organism is perfectly adapted to everything,

and everything costs energy

(c) An organism must balance out its allocation of energy to survival and its need to

allocate energy to reproduction

(d) Genotypes that strike a good balance between allocation to survival and to

reproduction, such that net reproduction is large compared with other genotypes,

are said to have higher relative fitnesses

(e) These ideas form the basis of the principle of allocation

(f) "Each organism has a limited amount of energy that can be allocated for obtaining

nutrients, escaping from predators, coping with environmental fluctuations,

growth and reproduction."

(g) Energy allocated to survival is not available for reproduction.

(h) Complex life like animals and plants needs a lot of energy.

(i) Relatively simple organisms have lower energy needs, but tend also to be more

limited in where they live or how much energy they can obtain per unit time

(6) Adaptation

a) "Organisms respond to variations in the environment with a variety of adaptations

(i) Behavioral adaptations are almost instantaneous in their effects and easily

reversed, whereas
 (ii) Physiological adaptations may be implemented and changed over time

scales ranging from seconds to weeks.

(iii) Morphological adaptations may develop over the lifetimes of individual

organisms or between generations.

(iv) Adaptive genetic changes in populations are slower still, usually evolving

over several generations.

b) The appropriate response to environmental change depends on the duration of that

change."

i. "The distinction between short-term adjustments on the scale of ecological time and

adaptation on the scale of evolutionary time begins to blur when we consider that the

range of responses of an individual to changes in the environment is itself the product

of evolutionary history."

ii. Plants are more morphologically plastic than animals; this response helps them

compensate for their inability to move from one environmental patch to another."

Ecological Concepts

Ecological niche A niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or

population in its ecosystem to each other; e.g. a dolphin could potentially be in another

ecological niche from one that travels in a different school if the members of these schools utilize

significantly different food resources and foraging methods. The ecological niche describes how

an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors (e.g., by

growing when resources are abundant, and when predators, parasites and pathogens are scarce)

and how it in turn alters those same factors (e.g., limiting access to resources by other organisms,

acting as a food source for predators and a consumer of prey)

Biotic and abiotic factors

i. Abiotic components are the nonliving components of the biosphere. Chemical and

geological factors, such as rocks and minerals, and physical factors, such as temperature

and weather, are referred to as abiotic components.

ii. Biotic components are the living components of an organism's environment, such as

predators and prey. They are in entirety, any living component that affects another

organism. Such things include animals which consume the organism in question, and the

living food that the organism consumes.

Ecological succession refers to more or less predictable and orderly changes in the composition

or structure of an ecological community. Succession may be initiated either by formation of new,

unoccupied habitat (e.g., a lava flow or a severe landslide) or by some form of disturbance (e.g.

fire, severe wind throw, logging) of an existing community. Succession that begins in areas

where no soil is initially present is called primary succession, whereas succession that begins in

areas where soil is already present is called secondary succession.

Productivity - the ability of an ecosystem to produce, grow or yield products -whether trees,

shrubs or other organisms.

Ecosystem Development
 i. Concept of Ecosystem

Ecosystems vary in size. They can be as small as a puddle or as large as the Earth itself. Any

group of living and nonliving things interacting with each other can be considered as an

ecosystem. Within each ecosystem, there are habitats which may also vary in size. A habitat is

the place where a population lives. A population is a group of living organisms of the same kind

living in the same place at the same time. All of the populations interact and form a community.

The community of living things interacts with the non-living world around it to form the

ecosystem. The habitat must supply the needs of organisms, such as food, water, temperature,

oxygen, and minerals. If the population's needs are not met, it will move to a better habitat. Two

different populations cannot occupy the same niche at the same time, however. So the processes

of competition, predation, cooperation, and symbiosis occur. Habitats, then, are specific to a

population. Each population has its own habitat. For example, a population of ants has its own

habitat. Several populations may share a habitat. For example, in a small pond several aquatic

populations may co-exist in the same water at the same time. An aquarium is a good example of

a shared habitat.

ii. Structure of an ecosystem

iii. The components of an ecosystem

Its components include plants, animals, and microorganisms; soil, rocks, and minerals; as well

as surrounding water sources and the local atmosphere. The size of ecosystems varies
tremendously. An ecosystem could be an entire rain forest, covering a geographical area larger

than many nations, or it could be a puddle or a backyard garden. Even the body of an animal

could be considered an ecosystem, since it is home to numerous microorganisms.

The organisms, in addition to being dependent on the environment for their needs, are also

dependent on each other. This dependency is especially for food. This results in the presence of

food chains and food webs.

iv. Types of ecosystems

 Deserts

A desert is a type of ecosystem fitting under the category of biome. Deserts are

extremely dry, and their unique conditions cause highly different plant and animal

life to exist.

 Savanna

A savanna is grassland that is greatly lacking in moisture. Often, the area has a

few trees throughout the grassy areas.

 Tropical Rain Forests

Topical rain forests contain extremely diverse species and a highly productive

community.

 Marine ecosystems are among of the Earth's aquatic ecosystems. They include

oceans, salt marsh and inter tidal ecology, estuaries and lagoons, mangroves and

coral reefs, the deep sea and the sea floor. They can be contrasted with freshwater

ecosystems, which have a lower salt content.

  Freshwater ecosystems are aquatic systems, which contain drinkable water or

water of almost no salt content. Freshwater resources include lakes and ponds,

rivers and streams, reservoirs, wetlands, and groundwater

v. Interrelationships of organisms

A food chain shows how each living thing gets its food. Some animals eat plants and some

animals eat other animals. For example, a simple food chain links the trees & shrubs, the giraffes

(that eat trees & shrubs), and the lions (that eat the giraffes). Each link in this chain is food for

the next link. A food chain always starts with plant life and ends with an animal.

1. Plants are called producers because they are able to use light energy from the Sun to

produce food (sugar) from carbon dioxide and water.

2. Animals cannot make their own food so they must eat plants and/or other animals. They

are called consumers. There are three groups of consumers.

a. Animals that eat ONLY PLANTS are called herbivores (or primary consumers).

b. Animals that eat OTHER ANIMALS are called carnivores.

 carnivores that eat herbivores are called secondary consumers

 carnivores that eat other carnivores are called tertiary consumers

e.g., killer whales in an ocean food web ... phytoplankton → small fishes

→ seals → killer whales

3. Animals and people who eat BOTH animals and plants are called omnivores.
 4. Then there are decomposers (bacteria and fungi) which feed on decaying matter.

These decomposers speed up the decaying process that releases mineral salts back into

the food chain for absorption by plants as nutrients.

Do you know why there are more herbivores than carnivores?

In a food chain, energy is passed from one link to another. When a herbivore eats, only a fraction

of the energy (that it gets from the plant food) becomes new body mass; the rest of the energy is

lost as waste or used up by the herbivore to carry out its life processes (e.g., movement,

digestion, reproduction). Therefore, when the herbivore is eaten by a carnivore, it passes only a

small amount of total energy (that it has received) to the carnivore. Of the energy transferred

from the herbivore to the carnivore, some energy will be "wasted" or "used up" by the carnivore.

The carnivore then has to eat many herbivores to get enough energy to grow.

Because of the large amount of energy that is lost at each link, the amount of energy that is

transferred gets lesser and lesser.

1. The further along the food chain you go, the less food (and hence energy) remains

available.
The above energy pyramid shows many trees & shrubs providing food and energy to giraffes.

Note that as we go up, there are fewer giraffes than trees & shrubs and even fewer lions than

giraffes ... as we go further along a food chain, there are fewer and fewer consumers. In other

words, a large mass of living things at the base is required to support a few at the top ... many

herbivores are needed to support a few carnivores

2. Most food chains have no more than four or five links.

There cannot be too many links in a single food chain because the animals at the end of

the chain would not get enough food (and hence energy) to stay alive.

Most animals are part of more than one food chain and eat more than one kind of food in
 order to meet their food and energy requirements. These interconnected food chains form

a food web.

The following is a possible food Note that the arrows are drawn from

web: food source to food consumers ... in

other words, you can substitute the

arrows with the words "eaten by"

A change in the size of one population in a food chain will affect other populations.

This interdependence of the populations within a food chain helps to maintain the balance of

plant and animal populations within a community. For example, when there are too many

giraffes; there will be insufficient trees and shrubs for all of them to eat. Many giraffes will

starve and die. Fewer giraffes means more time for the trees and shrubs to grow to maturity and

multiply. Fewer giraffes also means less food is available for the lions to eat and some lions will

starve to death. When there are fewer lions, the giraffe population will increase.

Ecological Pyramids

Ecological pyramids are graphical representations of the trophic structure of ecosystems.

Ecological pyramids are organized with the productivity of plants on the bottom, that of
herbivores above the plants, and carnivores above the herbivores. If the ecosystem sustains top

carnivores, they are represented at the apex of the ecological pyramid of productivity.

A fact of ecological energetics is that whenever the fixed energy of biomass is passed along a

food chain, substantial energy losses occur during each transfer. These energy losses are a

necessary consequence of the so-called second law of thermodynamics. This universal principle

states that whenever energy is transformed from one state to another, the entropy of the universe

must increase (entropy refers to the randomness of distributions of matter and energy). In the

context of transfers of fixed biological energy along the trophic chains of ecosystems, increases

in entropy are represented by losses of energy as heat (because energy is converted from a highly

ordered state in biomass, to a much less-ordered condition as heat). The end result is that

transfers of energy between organisms along food chains are inefficient, and this causes the

structure of productivity in ecological food webs to always be pyramid shaped.

vi. The Carrying Capacity

Carrying capacity refers to the number of individuals who can be supported in a given area

within natural resource limits, and without degrading the natural social, cultural and economic

environment for present and future generations. The carrying capacity for any given area is not

fixed. It can be altered by improved technology, but mostly it is changed for the worse by

pressures which accompany a population increase. As the environment is degraded, carrying

capacity actually shrinks, leaving the environment no longer able to support even the number of

people who could formerly have lived in the area on a sustainable basis. No population can live

beyond the environment's carrying capacity for very long.

TOPIC THREE - PRINCIPLES OF ECOTOURISM

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
 By the end of this sub-module unit, the trainee should be able to;

a) discus the principles of ecotourism

Unit Task 1 Discuss the principles of ecotourism

Ecotourism attracts people who wish to interact with the environment and, in varying degrees,

develop their knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of it. The Ecotourism Society gives the

principles and guidelines of ecotourism. These are following as:

a) Community based ecotourism should be run with involvement and consent of local

communities.

Involving the local community is initially important and complex subject for successful

community based ecotourism. Opportunities and solutions will vary considerably in different

areas and between communities. An important principal is to seek to work with existing social

community structures. A good example is the

Communal Areas Management Programmed For Indigenous Resources

(CAMPFIRE) established in Zimbabwe 1989. This involved integrating local communities in

tourism planning and development.

b) Give a fair share of profit back to local community.

Not only should community participate in tourism planning, but, but they should be share in

benefits. In Kimana Group Ranch we have a good example, it was established in 1992 through

funding from United States Aid For International Development (USAID), Conservation of

Biodiversity Resource Area (COBRA), Kenya wildlife service (KWS) and Kenya Government.

The revenue earned is allocated to community educational, health and other prioritized activities.
c) Involve communities rather than individuals.

Participation should involve communities rather than select individuals. People involved should

be representative of local community, knowledge tourism operators, local entrepreneurs and

relevant NGO’S. As much as possible this people should be representative of communities. At

ILngwesi Tourist Lodge, in Samburu the community formed a land management committee that

makes decision pertaining to issue of land and the lodge.

d) Respect traditional culture and social structures

Culture heritage is one of the most important facets of community-based ecotourism.

In fact there is tremendous growth occurring in cultural tourism, as people travel locally and

internationally to experience a small piece of either they’re own or someone else’s cultural

heritage. The Maasai People in Kenya and Tanzania are people whose culture has undergone

commoditization where there is general lack of respect for the culture.

e) Have mechanisms to help communities to cope with impacts of tourist.

Specific steps should be taken within the community to minimize the environmental impacts and

maximize the local benefits of ecotourism. The design of all new building should be carefully

considered. Traditional styles and locally available materials should be used. This will help

improve the performance of community based ecotourism initiatives in terms of delivery of

social, economic and environmental benefits.

f) Adopting an integrated approach.

Rather than being pursued in isolation, community based in ecotourism should occur in the

context of other options and programmers for conservation sustainable development and
 responsible tourism. Ecotourism can be integrated with other sectors of rural economy, creating

mutually supportive linkages and reducing financial leakage away from the area. In Samburu

game reserve and neighboring areas, ecotourism is being integrated to mainstream patoralism

g) Involving all stakeholders.

The success of community based ecotourism; depend on close consultation with community and

other stakeholders. This leads to an agreed vision and strategy for ecotourism. The CBE initiative

should be centered on a clear strategy agreed and understood by all stakeholders and the

government, local community, private sectors and NGO’S. In Mwaluganje community ranch in

south coast, the Kenya Wildlife

Service (KWS), local community, NGO’S, tour operators as private sectors came together to

make the initiative a success.

References

 Page,S .J and Dowling, R.K.(2002), Ecotourism. Edinburgh Prentice Hall

 [Link]

Evaluation

 Identify the principles of ecotourism

TOPIC FOUR- COMMUNITY BASED ECO TOURISM

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
 By the end of this sub-module unit the trainee should be able to:

a) explain the meaning of terms used in community based ecotourism

b) discuss the community based eco tourism activities

c) discuss the community based eco tourism activities

d) identify the challenges facing community based ecotourism

Unit task 1 Explaining the meaning of terms used in community based ecotourism

Community is a group of people living together in the same locality and under the same

government or a group of people having common interests (Jafar Jafari, 1986)

Community participation refers to a form of voluntary action in which individual confront

opportunities and responsibilities of citizenship. The opportunities include joining in the process

of self- governance, responding to authoritative decision that impact on one’s life, and working

cooperatively with others in issues of mutual concern (Till, 1984).Community participation

describes any process that starts to inform, gather input or involve the community regarding

decision making processes. This covers all levels of information, awareness creation, outreach,

inputs involvement and collaboration.

Community participation takes place in two levels.

Passive Participation is the approach in which communities are seen to be serving industry

needs, rather than vice versa. This in turn fosters the notion that communities are helpless

“victims” in face of an onslaught of which they have relatively little control.

Active participation, on the other hand, it is an approach which sees communities and their

constituent members playing an active role in determining tourism outcome. Community are

seen as being capable of planning and participating in tourism development, of making their

voices heard when they are concerned, and having capability to control the outcome of the

industry to some degree.

Community based tourism (CBT) this is a form of ecotourism where the local community has

substantial control over, and involvement in, its development and management, and a major

proportion of the benefits remain within the community.

Community based ecotourism (CBE) is tourism where the local community has substantial

control over, and involvement in, its development and management, and a major proportion of

benefits remain within community. Tourism like other industry relies on the good will and co-

operation of local people because they are part of its product.

Where development and planning does not fit in with local aspirations and capacities, resistance

and hospitality can raise the cost of business or destroy the industry potential altogether

(Murphy, 1985)

References

Evaluation

Unit task 2 Describing the rationale of community partipation in ecotourism

Since tourism makes use of community resources the community should be a key player in the

process of planning and managing tourism. The rationale for local community involvement is:-

(i) To provides a voice for those directly affected by tourism.

(ii) To is part of the democratic process.

(iii) To makes use of the local knowledge to ensure that decisions are well informed.

(iv) To can reduce potential conflicts between tourists and members of the host

community.

Unit task 3 discussing the impacts of the community based eco tourism

i) Economics Impacts:

Positives

 Foreign investment

 International trade

 Infrastructural Development

 Employment opportunities

 Foreign exchange earnings

 International funding

 Generation of income

 Stimulation of national development

 Checks balances of payments

Negatives
 Inflation/deflation

 Discrimination in development

 Competition threat to jua kali sector

 Self imposed constraint

 Legal constraint

 Over dependence

 High taxation

 Dislocation of resources

 Corruption in mutilation tourism organizations

 Export leakage

 Over taxation

Socio-Cultural Impacts

Positive

 It encourages international peace

 Leads to international well established human relations

 It leads to international marriages thereby reducing racial discrimination

 It helps people to learn new perception about others

 Generation per capita to the locals

 A source of cultural pride, identity and dignity

 Conservation of cultural heritage

 Rehabilitation of cultural heritage

 Funding and goodwill contribution for cultural promotion

 Networking with other cultural tourism organization

Negative

 Commercialization of culture

 Encouraging urban rural migration

 Socio evils e.g. prostitution

 Over-civilization and modernization of cultural heritage

 Erosion of cultural heritage

 Lack of privacy in individual way of life

 Resentment by local communities to tourists development

 Competing between locals and foreigners for tourism products

 Inferiority complex among locals

Environmental Impacts

Positives

 Promotes environmental conservation

 Encourages environmental education

 Protection of endangered flora and fauna species

 Rehabilitation of natural environment

 Preservation of fragile plants

 Afforestation

 Improved environmental quality

 Funding for maintenance of environment

 Promotes natural beauty of the environment

 Encourages environmental research and project study

Negatives

 Pollution of the environment e.g. water, air, land

 Poaching of animals

 Burning of forests by local leading to soil erosion

 Disturbance of animals b moving vehicles and human beings

 Irresponsible behavior of tourists i.e. Urinating man in grass and tourists plucking off fragile

plants

 Littering the vegetation

 Footpaths leading to animal resting habitat

 Encourages land grabbing by politicians

 Environmental degradation

Unit task 4 Identifying the challenges facing community based ecotourism

Financial

The lack of money for investment for tourism infrastructure development

Lack of training
Lack of skills and experiences needed to manage the infrastructure

Lack of policy and legislation

The government lack a policy and legislations on development of this crucial sector of

tourism.

Tourism marketing

The community lack capacity to market the products

Income Leakage

There is evidence that very little of tourist expenditure actually stays in the locality visited.

Lack of linkages

Aside from direct expenditure, tourism can, in theory, generate local spin–off enterprises and a

multiplier effect in the local economy. However, such economic linkages are in practice often

low T here are usually many barriers to local tourism enterprise initiatives in poor rural areas, such

as lack of credit, business experience, marketing experience, andthe need for investments that often

carry high risk and a one-two year delay before returns are seen.

Exploitation
Financial benefits may also be lower than hoped because communities don’t have the skills and

capital to make best use of their resources, but when outside investors come in, the communities

get exploited.

Financial benefits for only a few

While financial benefits may be limited, those benefits that do accrue may be captured by a small

elite within the community. Local elites, particularly men, often dominate community-based

development and can easily monopolize the benefits of tourism

Menial and short-term jobs

Tourism is a significant source of jobs for local people. However, these are often unskilled jobs,

such as cleaning and cooking in hotels and lodges, with few promotion prospects .Self-employment

such as tourism guiding might be profitable for young men, but maylead to little in the future.

Loss of natural resources

If tourism reduces access to, or productivity of, natural resources, this can critically affect rural

livelihood security. Tourists can damage natural resources such as vegetation, and water, through

over-use or unrestrained activity.

TOPIC FIVE: ECOTOURISM PRACTICES

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

By the end of this sub-module unit the trainee should be able to:

1. Explain eco tourism products

2. Describe eco tourism facilities

3. Prepare ecotourism plans

4. Explain eco schooling

5. Explain eco circuit

UNIT TASK

Unit task 1 Explaining ecotourism products

Ec·o·lodge - a type of tourist accommodation designed to have the least possible impact on the

natural environment in which it is situated.

Ecolabel is a labelling system for consumer products (excluding foods and medicine) that are

made in a fashion that avoids detrimental effects on the environment. Ecolabelling systems exist

for both food and consumer products.

Eco tours is travel which is designed to contribute to the protection of the environment or at

least minimize damage to it, often involving travel to areas of natural interest in developing

countries or participation in environmental projects.

Eco - schooling is a programme for environmental management and certification, designed to

implement sustainable development education in schools by encouraging children and youth to

take an active role in how their school can be run for the benefit of the environment. The Eco-

Schools Programme employs an holistic, participatory approach, combining learning and action,

thus providing an effective method for improving the environments of schools and producing

actual awareness raising and behavioral change in young people, school staff, families, local

authorities, and so on, having significant repercussions in the local communities.

Bird walks
Bird watching or birding is the observation and study of birds with the naked eye or through a

visual enhancement device like binoculars. Birding often involves a significant auditory

component, as many bird species are more readily detected and identified by ear than by eye.

Most birdwatchers pursue this activity mainly for recreational or social reasons, unlike

ornithologists, who engage in the study of birds using more formal scientific methods.

Horse riding or Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving horses. This broad

description includes both use of horses for practical, working purposes as well as recreational

activities and competitive sports.

Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up or across natural rock formations or

man-made rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-

defined route. Rock climbing is similar to scrambling (another activity involving the scaling of

hills and similar formations), but climbing is generally differentiated because of the use of hands

to support the climber's weight as well as to provide balance.

Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport, one that often tests a climber's

strength, endurance, agility, and balance along with his or her mental control. It can be a

dangerous sport and knowledge of proper climbing techniques and usage of specialized climbing

equipment is crucial for the safe completion of routes.

Camel riding is the recreational activity of riding camel; this is usually done in specialized

schools or events.

Cycling is an activity most commonly performed on a bicycle - when it is it is also referred to as

bicycling or simply biking. It is the use of the bicycle, unicycle (unicycling), tricycles
(tricycling), quadracycles (quadracycling), and other similar wheeled human-powered vehicles

(HPVs) for the purpose of transport, as a form of recreation, or in racing. It is done on roads and

paths, across open country or even over snow and ice (icebiking).

Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often on hiking

trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide.

Nature walks are recreational activities around natural setting.

References

Evaluation

Unit task 2 Describing ecotourism facilities

Facilities found at ecotourism areas face many unique challenges. They should reflect the local

building styles and materials without creating a negative impact on the local building materials

resources or increasing the costs to the local community for the same building materials.

Facilities also have the opportunity to enhance the enjoyment and learning experience for the

visitor.

Global ecotourism is still small, when compared to the overall tourism market, but growing. One

reason for the slow growth is a lack of facilities and infrastructure in and surrounding ecotourism

destinations. The relatively modest size of most ecotourism lodging operations of 12 to 20 units,

keep most operations under local ownership.

Architectural designs should be integrated into the environment in which they are constructed.

They should fulfill the visitor's expectations, often through a spectrum of lodging options from

minimum conveniences such as tents to individual rooms with private baths and other amenities.

Facility designs should go beyond the basics of a shelter to mirror the setting and meet the

requirements for visitors’ needs and comfort.

Three outcomes of involving the local community in developing ecotourism facilities are:

1. Local cultural and ecological knowledge can contribute to the proposed design.

2. Local involvement increases the chances for long term community support for the

ecotourism facility.

3. Local community involvement may reduce negative cultural impact.

Unit task 3 Preparing Ecotourism Plans

1. Considering the potential conservation gain

There needs to be clear initial understanding of the relationship between local communities and

the use of natural resources in the area concerned. The following are important issues to

consider.

 What actions are currently being taken, and by whom, which are supporting or damaging

the environment? A challenge for community-based ecotourism is often one of being

seen to benefit sufficient numbers of people the community to make a difference.

 What type and level of incentive might be needed to change attitudes and actions in order

to achieve worthwhile conservation benefits? Could ecotourism deliver this? How does it

compare with other development options which may have worse environmental impacts?

 What additional problems for conservation might be brought by ecotourism, to set against

possible gains? This might include not only development and visitor pressure but also an

over-emphasis on certain species compared with biodiversity as a whole.

 Could alternative sustainable livelihood options achieve the same or better results with

less effort or disruption?

2. Checking the preconditions for ecotourism

Before pursuing community-based ecotourism the suitability of the local area should be

checked and fundamental preconditions met. Reasonable conditions for undertaking

tourism business are:

 An economic and political framework which does not prevent effective trading and

security of investment;

 National legislation which does not obstruct tourism income being earned by and

retained within local communities;

 A sufficient level of ownership rights within the local community.

  High levels of safety and security for visitors (both in terms of image of the

country/region and in reality);

 Relatively low health risks and access to basic medical services and a clean water supply;

and

 Practicable means of physical access and telecommunication to the area.

Basic preconditions for community-based ecotourism:

 Landscapes or flora/fauna which have inherent attractiveness or degree of interest to

appeal either to specialists or more general visitors;

 Eecosystems that are at least able to absorb a managed level of visitation without

damage;

 A local community that is aware of the potential opportunities, risks and changes

involved, and is interested in receiving visitors;

 Existing or potential structures for effective community decision-making

 No obvious threats to indigenous culture and traditions; and

 An initial market assessment suggesting a potential demand and an

 Effective means of accessing it, and that the area is not over supplied with ecotourism

offers.

If the preconditions are met, this does not necessarily mean that ecotourism will be successful,

only that it is worth proceeding to the next stage of consultation and assessment

3. Adopting an integrated approach

Rather than being pursued in isolation,community-based ecotourism should occur in the context

of other options and programmes for conservation, sustainable development and responsible

tourism.

Ecotourism can be integrated with other sectors of the rural economy, creating mutually

supportive linkages and reducing financial leakage away from the area. It can also be

coordinated with agriculture, in terms of the use of time and resources and in providing markets

for local produce.

Multiple sector activity within local communities should be encouraged. Ecotourism markets are

small, seasonal and sensitive to external influences such as political changes or economic

instability in the host or generating country. On the other hand, ecotourism can shield against

threats to other sectors.

The success of local ecotourism initiatives may depend on vertical integration with national level

initiatives to support and promote responsible tourism. Efforts should be made to influence

national policies in favour of ecotourism, including coordination between tourism and

environmental ministries and policies. National level support is needed in terms of linking

conservation and tourism activities and responsibilities, appropriate legislation and assistance

towards small enterprises and community initiatives, and national and international promotion.

4. Finding the best way to involve the community

Effective structures are required to enable the community to influence, manage and benefit from

ecotourism development and practice.

 Seek to work with existing social and community structures.

 Identify potential leaders and people with drive.

 Issues of gender may also be important and ecotourism can provide good opportunities

for women.

Community-based ecotourism requires an understanding and where possible a strengthening, of

the legal rights and responsibilities of the community over land, resources and development.

Ecotourism is a business therefore community-led initiatives, private enterprise and investment

should be encouraged where appropriate.

5. Working together on an agreed strategy

Close consultation with the community and other stakeholders should lead to an agreed vision

and strategy for ecotourism, which has environmental, social and economic aims and attainable

objectives.

The strategy should be community-led and community-focused. People with experience and

knowledge of tourism and conservation are involved in its preparation. People involved should

include representatives of the local community, knowledgeable tourism operators, local

entrepreneurs, relevant NGOs, conservation agencies including protected area managers, and

local authorities. Links should be made as appropriate to the regional and national government

level.

Inputs to the strategy should include:

 Careful consultation within the community covering attitudes and awareness of tourism,

possible opportunities and pitfalls, existing experience, concerns and level of interest;

 A comprehensive market assessment

 An assessment of the natural and cultural heritage, including opportunities presented for

ecotourism and sensitivities and constraints.

It is also helpful to set out a clear statement of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

The action plan should identify practical initiatives, including a timescale and an indication of

responsibility and resources required.

6. Ensuring environmental and cultural integrity

The level and type of tourism planned and developed must be appropriate for the area’s natural

resources and cultural heritage and consistent with the community’s wishes and expectations.

A fundamental characteristic of ecotourism is that the quality of the natural resources and

cultural heritage of an area should not be damaged and, if possible, should be enhanced by
tourism. It should encourage people to value their own cultural heritage. Identify the limits of

acceptable change that could be brought by tourism and then consider what level of tourism

activity would generate this change.

Two important principles are:

 Products developed should be based on the community’s traditional knowledge, values

and skills; and

 The community should decide which aspects of their cultural traditions they wish to share

with visitors.

Useful tools in the management of visitors include the following;

 Agreements with tour operators over the number and size of groups to bring.

 Codes of conducts for visitors

 Application of systematic environmental, social and cultural impact assessment on all

proposed development.

 Zoning both within and outside protected areas.

The planning process should ensure that monitoring measures are in place so that it is possible to

tell when limits of acceptable change have been reached

7. Ensuring market realism and effective promotion

Ecotourism projects must be based on an understanding of market demand and consumer

expectations and how to place the product offer effectively in the market place. A thorough
 market assessment should be undertaken for the destination as a whole and for the individual

ecotourism project. This should consider the following;

 The patterns, profiles and interests of existing visitors to the area, based on visitor

surveys.

 The location of the area with respect to established tourist circuits in the country.

 The level, nature and performance of existing ecotourism products which are competitors

but also potential collaborators.

 The activities of inbound tour operators and ground handling agents in the country and

coverage by international tour operators.

 Existing information and promotional mechanisms in the area.

The unique or particular qualities that an area might offer in comparison to other existing

products should be identified. The level and nature of marketing should also take into account

the environmental and cultural integrity of the area and implications for visitor numbers.

8. Putting forward quality products

All community-based ecotourism products should offer a high quality of visitor experience and

be subject to a rigorous business plan. Quality is about delivering an experience that meets or

exceeds visitor expectations. These, in turn, will vary according to the type of visitor coming,

which reinforces the need for effective market research.

There are three key requirements.

  Attention to detail, ensuring that what is offered, at whatever level, is well delivered.

 Quality and accuracy of promotion and information, giving reassurance but also ensuring

that expectations match reality.

 Authenticity and ambience. Ecotourists respond to genuine and traditional values and

experiences and they do not want this to be manufactured for them.

Some issues relate to specific components of the offer;

 The quality of the wildlife and landscapes, in terms of relative uniqueness, attractiveness

and abundance.

 The mix of natural and cultural experiences. Many visitors are looking for a combination.

 Accommodation: cleanliness is of primary importance, but issues such as ablution and

toilet arrangements, general functionality, privacy and overall design and ambience can

be significant.

 Guiding and interpretation: This may require involvement of different people, including

an opportunity for local people to be trained as guides and interpreters.

 Local produce and handicrafts: Quality products can be made and sold which reflect an

area’s traditions and creativity without devaluing them.

 General experience of village life, including folklore: It can provide an incentive to keep

local culture and pass on local knowledge.

 Participation: some visitors value the opportunity to participate in activities.

9. Managing impacts
 Specific steps should be taken within the community to minimise the environmental impact

and maximise the local benefit of ecotourism.

10. Providing technical support

Communities will require ongoing access to advice and support in the development,

management and marketing of responsible, good quality ecotourism products.

11. Obtaining the support of visitors and tour operators

Ecotourism experiences should raise awareness of conservation and community issues

among visitors and tour operators and include mechanisms for enlisting their support.

12. Monitoring performance and ensuring continuity

Ecotourism projects should be designed and managed for long-term viability

Unit task 4 Explaining eco schooling.

Eco - schooling is a programme for environmental management and certification, designed to

implement sustainable development education in schools by encouraging children and youth to

take an active role in how their school can be run for the benefit of the environment. The Eco-

Schools Programme employs an holistic, participatory approach, combining learning and action,
thus providing an effective method for improving the environments of schools and producing

actual awareness raising and behavioral change in young people, school staff, families, local

authorities, and so on, having significant repercussions in the local communities.

Unit task 5 Explaining eco circuit

A tourist Circuit is a route on which at least three major tourist destinations are located such that

none of these are in the same town, village or city. At the same time they are not separated by a

large distance such that a tourist would not like to cover them in a sequence. It should have well

defined entry and exist points. A tourist who enters at the entry point should get motivated to

visit all the places identified on the circuit. The objective of having a tourist circuit is to increase

the total number of visits to all the destinations on the circuit on one hand and to provide to the

tourist the attraction of all the destinations located on the circuit.

TOPIC: EMERGING TRENDS IN ECOTOURISM

Specific objectives

By the end of this topic, the trainee should be able to;

a) Identify emerging ecotourism issues.

b) Analyze the challenges to emerging issues.

c) Assess ways of managing the challenges.

Challenges

 Interpretation and education

 Need to broaden scope of ecotourism

Dealing with the challenges

 Offers study opportunity for conservation issues.

NB: THE STUDENTS WILL RESEARCH AND MAKE PRESENTATIONS IN CLASS

FOR THIS TOPIC UNDER VARIOUS SUBTOPICS