Marine conservation and ecotourism

(a) Explain the meaning of the term conservation. Conservation has been defined as ‘the protection and preservation of natural resources and of the environment.’ The main aims of conservation are to: • conserve a range of different habitats so they are not lost as a result of pressures from human populations • encourage biodiversity in a range of habitats.

The term conservation often applies to a single species which is considered to be endangered, e.g. conservation of leatherback turtles, or conservation of whale sharks.

(b) Explain the arguments for and against the desirability of conserving marine species and ecosystems.   The conservation of marine species and their habitats aims to maintain species diversity. This may be achieved by fisheries management, which maintains the population of target species and minimizes the effects on non-target populations. Damage to the habitat, for example by dredging or trawling, can cause adverse effects which may result in the loss of a particular species associated with that habitat.

(b) Explain the arguments for and against the desirability of conserving marine species and ecosystems. Conservation measures may, however, have negative socio-economic effects on local human populations who previously depended on the marine resources within that area. Forest conservation programs often had negative impacts on the neighboring populations, preventing local people living at mere subsistence from using forest products, soils and services. To counter these negative impacts, current research needs to balance conservation and local practices in order to improve not only the protection of the forest but also the well being of the people.

(c) Discuss, in the context of human activity on marine species and ecosystems, the need for conservation. The negative impacts of human activities on marine species and ecosystems are the result of two main factors, over-fishing leading to depletion of stocks, and pollution. Over-fishing of cod in the North Sea illustrates the need for conservation. Stocks in the North Sea have fallen to about one-tenth of the level 30 years ago. It is possible that numbers will fall to a level from which it is difficult to recover. One of the consequences of this is that a decline in the large predatory fish allows other species to flourish. Depletion of one species, as a result of overfishing for example, can therefore affect populations of other species.

(d) Demonstrate an understanding of why, to be successful, conservation must sustain ecological linkages and processes. If it is to be successful, conservation must be based on a detailed understanding of the ecological processes and interrelationships between organisms and their environment. We need to understand why some species and habitats are more vulnerable than others, and how degraded ecosystems can be improved. Without such understanding, attempts at conservation may not be successful.

(e) Demonstrate an understanding that there are competing requirements between the activities of coastal communities, including agriculture, industry, shipping, sewage and refuse disposal, aquaculture, fisheries, tourism and conservation. Candidates should recognize that there are possibly conflicting interests between a number of different activities of coastal communities, as listed in (e) above. All of these activities make specific demands on the marine environment and have the potential to cause negative effects. It is clearly important to consider all the possible demands and interests in order to maintain, or possibly enhance, biodiversity.

(f) In given examples of conservation issues, identify stakeholders, conflicts of interest causes and possible solutions. One example of a conservation issue is the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These are designated areas that include part of the oceans, in which certain activities, such as fishing, are controlled to protect species. In some MPAs, there may be a complete ban on taking any marine organisms. When setting up MPAs, biologists may put forward the case for conservation of certain endangered species. This is adjusted by stakeholders until an agreement is reached. There is, however, a possible conflict of interest between stakeholders such as those dependent on tourism, who can see the benefit of managed and improved habitats and fishermen who need a daily income. One possible solution to the problem is a dialogue so that fishermen may understand the potential benefits of maintaining their fishing grounds to ensure sustainable catches.

• having a low impact on the area • educating the traveler (g) Define ecotourism as tourism based on the appreciation of the natural environment, and identify and assess types of ecotourism that support or undermine conservation. Ecotourism (also referred to ecological tourism) has a number of aims including: • travel to natural destinations, including fragile and protected areas • having a low impact on the area • educating the traveler • providing funds for local conservation • benefiting the local economic development • encouraging respect for different cultures.

(g) Define ecotourism as tourism based on the appreciation of the natural environment, and identify and assess types of ecotourism that support or undermine conservation. This is clearly not the same as placing hotels in a beautiful landscape and exploiting the local area. The concept of ecotourism is often misunderstood and there is a wide spectrum of tourism activities from those with true ecotourism criteria, to those which although claiming to be environmentally friendly are, in reality, nothing of the sort. At worse, these tourist activities are environmentally destructive and culturally insensitive.

(h) Argue the benefits to conservation of responsible practice in tourism, including energy conservation, recycling, use of sustainable sources of building materials and sponsorship of conservation. Candidates should recognize that energy conservation, recycling and the use of sustainable sources of building materials are practices which reduce the impact of tourism on the environment and help to ensure sustainability of ecotourism. The revenue generated by ecotourism should also help to sponsor conservation projects. However, there may be a conflict of interest here as many ecotourism resorts are owned by foreign investors and there is a risk, therefore, that profits will not be re-invested in the local economy or in conservation projects.