Sustainable ecological tourism in the Northern Forest Region

1. Sustainable ecological tourism in the Northern Forest Region • Background: course is the result of a grant from Northeastern States Research Cooperative, applied in nature and service oriented. First of two courses (1- characterization and visioning, 2- implementation). • Goals:overall goal is to design a model of sustainable ecological tourism that improves health of ecosystems and of local economies, rather than just minimizing the impacts; • How:characterizing the system and its constraints; using conceptual models to understand the system; connecting with stakeholders and communities; informing policy makers. • Geographic focus: Northern Forest, case studies in timber communities of Vermont and tourism communities in NY state (?) • Organization: class time will be used flexibly for lectures, panel discussions, modeling sessions, brainstorming, group work- • Products/Projects: Review of costs and benefits of conventional forms of tourism and ecotourism, characterization of NF areas and potential for traditional tourism and ecotourism, journal articles and recommendations • Logistics: meet at Gund instead of Dewey,field trip on October 8th (Fall recess), visioning workshops on October 14 and October 21 people interested/available? Sept. 17 class on agri-tourism at a farm in Swanton.

2. Course overview September 10 * Indicators of sustainable ecological tourism - Megan Epler Wood * conceptual modeling workshop of sustainable tourism and recreation (Roelof Boumans). September 17 Agri-tourism and cultural heritage – Lisa Chase September 24 Regulation aspects October 1 Public recreation on private property recreational opportunities in NF October 8 Filed trip/ intro to NF landscapes/ecosystems ... Transitioning economies in timber communities Walt Kuentzel

3. Tourism, ecotourism, recreation: terms and definitions Biggest industry in the world No clear definition of Tourism (e.g. “the practice of traveling for pleasure” or “a service based industry comprising a number of tangible and intangible components, with tangible components including transport, food, tours, accomodation and intangible including education, culture, adventure”) Tourists can be characterized by: a) purpose of travel; b) origin of travel, and c) length of stay. World Tourism Organization: tourists are those who travel away from their usual environment (50 miles away or more) for a period not exceeding one consecutive year for purpose of leisure, business (providing there is no remuneration from a source within the destination), visiting family and friends and other motives, such as pilgrimage, sport, health and study. Tourism may be defined as the sum of the phenomena and relationships arising from the interaction among tourists, business suppliers, host governments and host communities in the process of attracting and hosting these tourists and other visitors. (McIntosh et al. 1995) Recreation: employment of time in a non-profitable way, in many ways also a refreshment of one's body or mind. Emphasis on activities. Recreation can be local, doesn't imply traveling, while tourism does.

4. Tourism, ecotourism, recreation: terms and definitions (cont.) Ecotourism: “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well being of local people” (The International Ecotourism Society) Characteristics of Ecotourism 1) attractions are based in natural environment; 2) educational experience; 3) environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability Unlike other tourism sectors, sustainability is at the core of ecotourism, and ecotourism is normally seen as a tool for sustainable development in local communities. “Classical” notion of ecotourism: exotic destinations, natural areas, foreign (often developing) countries, different language, different value system. Northern Forest: domestic travel, managed lands (cultural + historical values besides natural), same language, similar value system -> opportunities to engage in more “positive” contributions.

5. Northern Forest Region • 26 millions acres of forested land home to 1 million people, • 85% of land is privately owned • Not a jurisdictional unit, a region managed by 4 different states with different laws -> challenge of maintaining a regional scale Northern Forest Lands Council established in 1990 (Senator P. Leahy and W. Rudnam -NH initiated process in 1988 as a response to huge forest land sales -100,000 – 790,000 acres) The mission of the Northern Forest Lands Council is to reinforce the traditional patterns of land ownership and uses of large forest areas in the Northern Forest of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, which have characterized these lands for decades. This mission is to be achieved by: · Enhancing the quality of life for local residents through the promotion of economic stability for the people and communities of the area and through the maintenance of large forest areas; · Encouraging the production of a sustainable yield of forest products, and; · Protecting recreational, wildlife, scenic and wildland resources.

6. Sustainabile tourism in VT? Most tourists come from New England or Mid-Atlantinc region (= car traveling more likely) Only 22% of tourists come to Vermont to engage in outdoor, nature-based activities. VT visitor is normally more affluent and educated than the average visitor, and this even more so for tourists practicing outdoor recreation. Activities preferred by average VT visitor is car touring (scenic beauty – scenic byways), shopping (importance of local products) and visiting Burlington/Champlain Valley Feed for thought: Tourists bring $$ but local recreationists have the biggest impact on natural environment (95% of Vermonters are outdoor recreationists), can make a difference in decision making, but have less economic impact on communities. So when it comes to sustainability: who has the highest impact?

7. Tourism in the Northern Forest

8. Potential questions for projects • Characterization of Northern Forest visitor and ways to engage visitors in positive impact ecotourism • Characterization of socio-economic trends of selected study area and identification of recreational options - Northeast Kingdom • Costs and benefits of tourism and ecotourism at the global/local level • Other?