Ecotourists and other visitors can improve conditions for those who live near well-managed nature reserves and protected sites.
Marine Conservation and Poor People
Efforts to protect the marine environment have been shown to benefit some of the poorest inhabitants in the Asia Pacific Region (‘Nature’s Investment Bank’ – The Nature Conservancy, November 2007). This is partly due to the direct economic benefits of increased tourism, but the fishing also improves in a sustainable way. People are better off, healthier and feel better about themselves – and, of course, the special protection also benefits the habitats.
Wildlife Refuges in America
It is not only the poorer parts of the world that can benefit – according to Banking on Nature 2006 wildlife refuges in America give a huge boost to local economies. Once again this is partly due to ecotourism, where people come to look at the creatures, and to visiting hunters (and fishermen).
Mexico Increases Protection of the Monarch Butterfly
In November 2007 President Felipe Calderon announced further cash to improve sites for overwintering Monarch Butterflies. ‘These butterflies … are regarded as one of Mexico's natural wonders and this season we hope to receive 230,000 tourists’ said the president.
These three examples show that intelligent conservation work can benefit local people as well as the species and habitats of prime concern. Sometimes it is the tourist money that is useful, and at others the improvement of the environment is equally important.
(See also my article about Apes and Gorillas in the 'New Scientist' archive.)
