Ecotourism destroys Wildlife Populations & Human Communities

Ecotourism is often considered highly compatible with conservation efforts because it generates revenue through the non-consumptive use of wildlife (in contrast to, e.g., fishing and hunting), while helping to foster a conservation ethic among participants.

However, it is becoming clear that human presence in natural areas is not without cost.

Evidence suggests that human presence does not only cause disturbance to the behavior of animals in the short term but may well have population and ecological level consequences that affect survival, reproductive success, and the structure of ecological communities.

Tourists can also impact populations of wild animals as a result of direct mortality (e.g., vehicle strike), by providing food to attract charismatic species that can alter the long-term distribution and social structure of populations.

This happens by degrading crucial habitats through infrastructure development and pollution, and by introducing non-native species that displace native taxa, and by transmitting infectious diseases.

Research on the impacts associated with ecotourism has grown rapidly during the past decade, which has greatly improved our knowledge of the complex relationships between disturbance and the potential ecological costs for different wildlife species.

Understanding and mitigating these impacts is particularly important for conserving species that are rare, geographically isolated, and/or sensitive to disturbance while also enabling a sustainable ecotourism industry to thrive.

Springer.com / ABC Flash Point News 2024.