Nature-based tourism and natural resource protection: The potential for a sustainable symbiotic relationship

1. Nature-based tourism and natural resource protection: The potential for a sustainable symbiotic relationship B. Bynum Boley, Ph.D. Candidate

2. Premise of Presentation Symbiotic relationship between nature-based tourism and natural resource protection

3. Current Problems • Increasing land conversion away from natural states results in … • Biodiversity loss (Rockström et al., 2009) • Water and food shortages (Brown, 2009) • Climate Change (Brown, 2009) • Marginalization of an area’s tourism potential (Middleton and Hawkins, 1998) • “Death of Environmentalism” (Shellenberger and Nordhaus 2004) • Literal-sclerosis • Tourism needs quality natural resources to attract visitors and natural resources need tourism to be properly valued • *Allies to protect remaining natural areas

4. Destination Competitiveness and Natural Resources • Ritchie and Crouch (2003) refer to natural resources as the “foundation of a destination appeal” • Growing popularity of nature-based tourism (NBT) • Ecotourism (Ceballos-Lascuráin, 1996) • Geotourism (Stokes et al. 2003; Boley et al. 2011)

5. Destination Competitiveness and Natural Resources (2) • Economics theories behind competitiveness provide strong theoretical support for the importance of natural resources • Cost leadership vs. differentiation strategy (Porter 1980) • Commodity areas vs. Status areas (Gilbert 1984, 1990) • Resource-based view (Barney, 1991) • NBT has a “long-run justification for the protection, preservation and enhancement of natural and built resources, including the protection of biodiversity” Middleton and Hawkins (1998, p. 76)

6. Nature-based Tourism and Natural Resource Protection • Tourism as an ecosystem service • New Jersey example (New Jersey, 2007) • Lion in Africa example (Nash, 1982) • Markhor hunting permit in Pakistan • Tourism’s economic impact may be enough to change management decision in favor of land protection

7. Ecosystem Services Ecosystem Services Agriculture Carbon Sequestration Flood Control $ $ Water Quality $ $ $ Nature-Based Tourism Natural Resources $ Increased Economic Value Air Quality $ $ Pollination Recreation

8. Nature-based Tourism and Natural Resource Protection • Tourism as an ecosystem service • New Jersey example (New Jersey, 2007) • Lion in Africa example (Nash, 1982) • Tourism’s economic impact may be enough to change management decision in favor of land protection

9. Implications More research is needed on the economic impact of NBT to natural resource rich areas More monitoring of tourism’s impact on natural resources Increased marketing towards responsible tourists (ecotourists, geotravelers, etc.)

10. Challenges to the Symbiotic Relationship • Neither a ‘panacea or Pandora's box’ (Krüger, 2005) • NBT brings travelers to the world’s most sensitive areas (Gössling 1999) • NBT externalities (Issacs, 2000) • Wildlife harassment • Habitat deterioration • Pollution and waste • Does not guarantee long-term protection

11. Summary Ecosystem Services Agriculture Carbon Sequestration Flood Control Water Quality Nature-Based Tourism Increased Economic Value Natural Resources Air Quality Destination Competitiveness Pollination Recreation Biodiversity

12. Questions?