Studied by 2 people
Location
Monteverde, Costa Rice
What is ecotourism?
Tourism in natural surroundings that has a reduced impact on the environment and supports conservation efforts
Costa Rica background info
Hugely popular tourist destination - millions of visitors each year
Wants to be the leading carbon neutral country
Has untouched forests, beaches, and immense biodiversity
Monteverde background info (popular tourist destination)
Home to a cloud forest
Spans 10,500 hectares
3,000 Costa Rican plants
400 species of birds
Why ecotourism?
Protecting the wildlife + their habitat
Ecotourism in Monteverde
Tourists given information about specific trails and pathways to walk on
Still gives tourists thorough view of forest without damaging local environment
Posters in Monteverde to help tourists
respect wildlife by not touching or feeding animals
limit noise by keeping mobile phones on vibration mode
do not use flash photography anywhere
Importance of education in Monteverde
local Santa Elena High School inspires students from a young age about the importance of the reserve
Integrate learning about ecology of the reserve into curriculum
hopes that children may gain eco-tourism related jobs
Ecotourism ‘lodges’
Rainwater collected on roofs and used for toilets and showers
Buildings fit between trees in the forest - no old trees destroyed
Natural light and ventilation minimise energy use
Only biodegradable soap, detergents and shampoo
Ecotourism activities
yoga and meditation
horseback riding
white-water rafting
walking and hiking
Successes of ecotourism
Still attracts 250,000 tourists a year - very important for local economy
Exciting destination for tourists
Harmonious relationship maintained between people and wildlife
Flaws of ecotourism
Increasing number of tourists - more accommodation and facilities, therefore loss of land
Although hotels and lodges are built to be environmentally friendly, some environmental damage occurs
Note 
Flashcard (237)