Since these guidelines first appeared in 1996, ecotourism has become a significant component of the tourist industry. Tourists increasingly seek out relatively undisturbed natural areas to study and admire. They are drawn by the prospect of seeing unusual or spectacular scenery and unique plants and animals in their native habitats, as well as any cultural and historical features found in these areas.
Ecotourism can contribute to economic development and the conservation of protected areas by generating revenues that can be used to sustainably manage protected areas, and by providing local employment and a sense of community ownership. However, without careful planning and management that balances ecological, social, and economic objectives, ecotourism can easily cause environmental damage.
Resources and References
- Campbell, Lisa M. (1999). "Articles: Ecotourism in Rural Developing Communities." Annals of Tourism Research 26 (3): 534. (20 pages)
- Eagles, Paul F. J. (1997). International Ecotourism Management: Using Australia and Africa as Case Studies. IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Protected Areas in the 21st Century: From Islands to Networks. Albany, Australia, Nov. 23-29, 1997. http://www.ecotourism.org.hk/other%20files/International%20Ecotourism%20Management.doc
- Honey, Martha S. (June 1999). "Treading Lightly? Ecotourism's Impact on the Environment." Environment 41 (5): 4-9.
- Lea, John P. (2000). "Ecotourism in the Less Developed Countries." Annals of Tourism Research 27 (1): 248. (2 pages)
- Nsanjama, Henri (1997). "People and Animals Vie for Africa's Ecosystems." Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 12: 136-8.
- Obua, Joseph (1997). "The Potential, Development and Ecological Impact of Ecotourism in Kibale National Park, Uganda." Journal of Environmental Management 50 (1): 27. (12 pages)
- Richardson, Julie (1998). "Wildlife Utilization and Biodiversity Conservation in Namibia: Conflicting or Complementary Objectives?" Biodiversity and Conservation 7 (4): 549. (11 pages)
- Roe, D., Leader-Williams, N. and Barry, Dalal-Clayton (1997). Take Only Photographs , Leave Only Footprints: The Environmental Impacts of Wildlife Tourism. Environmental Planning Group, International Institute for Environment and Development. IIED Wildlife and Development Series No. 10, October 1997. http://www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=7761IIED.
- Young, Emily H. (1999). "Balancing Conservation with Development in Small-Scale Fisheries: Is Ecotourism an Empty Promise?" Human Ecology 27 (4): 581. (40 pages)
- Tanzania National Parks (July 1995). Development/Action/Lease Procedures (DALP). An excellent set of required procedures and checklists to be used by prospective lodge, camp and infrastructure developers submitting development proposals to Tanzania National Parks. Applicable to protected area management worldwide. (55 pages)
- The International Society for Eco-Tourism (TIES). (Offers a number of valuable resources for eco-tourism professionals, including links to the staff's selection of the best recent research articles.) http://www.ecotourism.org/
World Commission on Protected Areas Publications
All publications produced by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of the World Conservation Union (IUNC) are available for download via http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_puball/. PARKS Magazine is a publication of the IUNC-WCPA.
- Beltrán, Javier and Phillips, A. (ed.) (2000). Indigenous and Traditional Peoples and Protected Areas: Principles, Guidelines and Case Studies. IUCN-WCPA. Best Practice Protected Areas Guidelines Series No. 4.
It is sometimes assumed that protected areas must be in conflict with the rights and traditions of indigenous and other traditional peoples. This document suggests processes to avoid conflicts between those peoples' rights and protected area objectives.
- Davey, Adrian G. and Phillips, A. (eds.) (1998). National System Planning for Protected Areas. IUCN-WCPA. Best Practice Protected Areas Guidelines Series No. 1.
A system plan is the design of a total protected area system covering the full range of ecosystems and communities found in a particular country. These guidelines identify links between system planning, in situ conservation, protected area management categories and the importance of carrying out activities within a broad national framework. This publication provides good guidance to national governments in implementing Article 8 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Hockings, Marc, Stolton, S., Dudley, N., and Phillips, A. (ed.) (2000). Evaluating Effectiveness-A Framework for Assessing the Management of Protected Areas. IUNC-WCPA Best Practice Protected Areas Guidelines Series No. 6.
This report proposes a framework for assessing management effectiveness. The framework also includes suggested tools which can be used as the basis for developing an assessment methodology.
- IUCN (1998). Population and Parks. PARKS Magazine 8 (1).
A selection of case studies acknowledging the need to establish partnerships and encourage cooperation with neighbors and other stakeholders, promote stewardship, and other instruments which support protected areas objectives.
- IUCN (1998). Marine Protected Areas. PARKS Magazine 8 (2).
A volume of "lessons learned" case studies from MPAs around the world. The case studies focus on: the application in practice of IUCN-WCPA protected area categories to MPAs and an evaluation of the contributions which MPAs can make to sustainable fishing and biological diversity.
- IUCN (1998). Grassland Protected Areas. PARKS Magazine 8 (3).
A volume of case studies advancing the discussion on the lack of protected temperate grassland biomes-and the vital need for them. Case studies represent each realm on the planet in which temperate grasslands are found.
- IUCN (1999). Reserve Design and Selection. PARKS Magazine 9 (1).
Special issue with articles illustrating the real-world applicability of recent approaches to systematic conservation planning.
- IUCN-WCPA (2000). Protected Areas: Benefits beyond Boundaries-WCPA in Action. In English, French and Spanish. The International Society for Eco-Tourism (TIES).
Offers a number of valuable resources for eco-tourism professionals, including links to the staff's selection of the best recent research articles. http://www.ecotourism.org
- IUCN-WCPA and World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1994). Guidelines for Protected Areas Management Categories.
The guidelines attempt to establish greater understanding among all concerned about the different categories of protected areas. A central principle upon which the guidelines are based is that categories should be defined by the objectives of management, rather than the title of the area, or the effectiveness of management in meeting those objectives. English and French versions.
- Kelleher, Graeme (1998). Guidelines for Marine Protected Areas. PARKS Magazine 8 (2). (Guidelines for creating and managing MPAs as a component of integrated coastal management and sustainable development.)
This guideline is aimed at providing protected areas managers with information about financing their protected areas and where to look for finance beyond existing sources.
- Phillips, Adrian (ed.) (1998). Economic Values of Protected Areas: Guidelines for Protected Areas Managers. Task Force on Economic Benefits of Protected Areas of the WCPA, with the Economics Service Unit of IUCN. IUNC-WCPA Best Practice Protected Areas Guidelines Series No. 2.
Part I provides an overview of how the economic values of protected areas can be assessed, providing new insights and informing the debate. The case studies in Part II identify those sites where protecting the environment made significant economic contributions.
- The World Commission on Protected Areas (WPCA). WCPA promotes the establishment and effective management of a worldwide representative network of terrestrial and marine protected areas. As is evident from the preceding long list of publications, they provide a wealth of resources; see their Web site at http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_wcpa/