1 Ecotourism environments… What are the components of a public protected area? An area of land and/or sea Especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity (cultural resources) Managed through legal or other effective means Managed by a public authority What are paper parks?

2 What is so important about public protected areas? THE dominant setting for ecotourism Natural environments High public profile ( Structural suitability to ecotourism Investment in infrastructure and services Convergence between protected and natural landscapes

3 IUCN Classification System I -> wilderness area for scientific and research purposes V -> cultural & natural environment exist in a complementary relationship

4 The 6 IUCN Protected Area Management Categories 1. Category Ia Strict Nature Reserve: protected area managed mainly for science 2. Category Ib Wilderness Area : protected area managed mainly for wilderness protection 3. Category II National Park: protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation 4. Category III Natural Monument: protected area managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features 5. Category IV Habitat/Species Management Area: protected area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention 6. Category V Protected Landscape/Seascape: protected area managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation 7. Category VI Managed Resource Protected Area: protected area managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems

5

6 Lebanon’s protected areas… National Designations Bird Reserve1Bentael National Park Bird Reserve Forest Reserve5Ain Zhalta; Arz Tannourine; Barouk; Arz el Rab; Jabal el Qaraqif Forest Reserve National Park5Ammiq; Barouk; Mashgara (II); Qaraoun Lake; Terbol National Park Other Area1Chali Cedar Forest Other Area Private Protected Area3Baabda; Bentael; Khallet Khazen Farm Private Protected Area Protection/Protected Zone2Arz Bcharre; Qannoubine Protection/Protected Zone Reserve12Bass; Batroun; Hbeline; Horsh Ehden; Jabal Turbol; Jaftalak Ras el-ain; Kammoua; Karm Chbat; Kfar Zabed; Kherbet Slim; Palm Island; Saissouk Reserve International Conventions and Programmes Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)4 Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) World Heritage Convention5 World Heritage Convention UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve1 UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Barcelona Convention1 Barcelona Convention

7

8

9 Marine Protected Areas 1300 MPA = < 1% of the world’s marine space Only one protected area along Lebanon's 225 kilometers coastline Palm Islands , 5km2, IUCN Category IV

10 Distribution of ecotourists w/in protected areas ’95-5’ rule 95% of all visits tend to be confined to 5% of the area Where? Heavily developed sites – sacrificial space Hinterland of the sites Transportation corridors

11 Issues associated with spatial and temporal concentration Higher visitation levels… … Site’s carrying capacity Fixed carrying capacity When? If D > K then ? Fluid carrying capacity Increase capacity how?

12 Modified spaces … Agricultural lands … Urban space … Artificial wetlands … Artificial reefs… Degraded or devastated space

Next section: ecotourism planning for protected areas Read that section in the booklet – by October 28 Read the ‘ecotourist trap’ by October 28 Summary article due October 30 Homework 2 and 3 due October 30 13