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Ecotourism and Conservation in the Americas
Tourism Management 31 (2010) 447–451
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Tourism Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tourman
Book reviews Ecotourism and Conservation in the Americas, A. Stronza, W.H. Durham (Eds.). CABI, Wallingford (2008). p. 276 (hbk), ISBN: 978-1-84593-400-2 This is a very powerful book and makes a strong case for community-based ecotourism. The claims for ecotourism have been many and grand, from conserving biological and cultural diversity, alleviating rural poverty, increasing public awareness of environmental concerns and strengthening the links between tourists and local communities. The editors establish the terms of reference very clearly in the Preface where they ask ‘‘does ecotourism actually measure up to the environmental, social and economic ideals it has promised? Has ecotourism sensitized tourists to tread more lightly in the destinations they visit? Has it created economic incentives to conserve wildlife species and natural habitats? Has it augmented benefits to locals from established protected areas? What are the tangible impacts for people in surrounding human communities? Are there lessons for how to ensure net positive impacts in the future?’’ (p.xiii) and that is what the book does - systematically and critically exploring those issues with depth and style. There are seven constituent parts, topped and tailed by an introduction and conclusion which effectively set the scene and elaborate an agenda for future developments in community-based ecotourism. The sections are community-based ecotourism; ecotourism in marine environments; ecotourism in the USA; educating tourists; outcomes for communities; national perspectives; and guidelines and standards. These chapters include some very useful thematic overviews and some detailed case studies that will help a wider audience to come to terms with the complex relationships which underpin the successful development of ecotourism. What perhaps marks this book out in the field is the willingness to engage with the difficulty of those questions – but this was perhaps encapsulated in the subtitle of the original gathering of the authors during the International Year of Ecotourism in a workshop called ‘‘putting good intentions to work’’. The 16 chapters take this aspect very seriously and the linkages between theory and practice are clearly elaborated. The book actively engages with the human dimensions of ecotourism, making clear the articulation between the natural environment and the human community systems. It is not a simple or unproblematic relationship and the difficulties are addressed with a refreshing sense of realism. This is perhaps best demonstrated in Chapter 14 where Epler Wood advances a project analysis and evaluation framework but one aimed at the international development donors and therefore addressing a range of issues which narrowly focussed and localised evaluations might have not considered. The Americas certainly offer an abundance of challenges with the different stages of development, levels of touristification and strength of natural environments. We travel through indigenous community lands in the Amazon, national parks, world heritage sites and the world of luxury mountain lodges. One question is doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2009.05.005
slightly puzzling though – why in a book with a section on national perspectives does the USA have a section of its own? This is a fascinating collection and reflects a strong editorial line, which makes it far easier to read than the diverse accounts would have made on their own. The problem with constructing a short review is how best to capture the feel of the text and, although it is unfair to single out one contribution, the book comes to a strong conclusion in Durham’s final chapter. If you have no opportunity to look further than these six pages then take the time to reflect on the arguments put forward. In addressing the challenge ahead we are taken through a resume of the book and the key arguments developed in the chapters about direct and indirect benefits, both economic and social and how the vicious economic cycles of much tourism development. We are then led into six questions that summarise the lessons to be drawn from this book. They are: 1. What is the natural attraction and how strong is its draw for ecotourists? How does one reach the attraction and what are the monetary and carbon costs of getting there? 2. What do visitors get for their visit? Can the same things be obtained elsewhere? 3. What property relations apply to the site? Who governs access? Who are the stakeholders and what are the social relations among them? What role do locals play? 4. What is the institutional setting? What are the physical and social scales of the operation? 5. How will the site and project be monitored? What impacts will be measured and by whom? 6. Who wants ecotourism and why? Who benefits and who pays the costs? When and if you can answer these questions confidently and positively, thenwe may be in a position to say that ecotourism has the answer to the original questions and can justify the claims made on its behalf. Even the chapter on Cuba, representing a centralised control system in this book, recognises that the operation of ecotourism requires a profitable set of businesses to deliver the experience to the tourists. There is an acceptance that not only do the tourists need to learn but the businesses need to learn with them. This image of socially responsible business is fundamental to the accounts offered here and suggests a belief that the business model can be changed even in the luxury tourism markets. Protecting ecosystems and enriching local communities may be huge challenges but the challenge to businesses to do good and spread wealth (p.271) may prove an even greater challenge. Read the book! Accept the challenge – at least take up the debate. Alan Clarke University of Pannonia, 8201 Veszpre´m, Hungary E-mail address: [email protected]
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Tourism Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tourman
Book reviews Ecotourism and Conservation in the Americas, A. Stronza, W.H. Durham (Eds.). CABI, Wallingford (2008). p. 276 (hbk), ISBN: 978-1-84593-400-2 This is a very powerful book and makes a strong case for community-based ecotourism. The claims for ecotourism have been many and grand, from conserving biological and cultural diversity, alleviating rural poverty, increasing public awareness of environmental concerns and strengthening the links between tourists and local communities. The editors establish the terms of reference very clearly in the Preface where they ask ‘‘does ecotourism actually measure up to the environmental, social and economic ideals it has promised? Has ecotourism sensitized tourists to tread more lightly in the destinations they visit? Has it created economic incentives to conserve wildlife species and natural habitats? Has it augmented benefits to locals from established protected areas? What are the tangible impacts for people in surrounding human communities? Are there lessons for how to ensure net positive impacts in the future?’’ (p.xiii) and that is what the book does - systematically and critically exploring those issues with depth and style. There are seven constituent parts, topped and tailed by an introduction and conclusion which effectively set the scene and elaborate an agenda for future developments in community-based ecotourism. The sections are community-based ecotourism; ecotourism in marine environments; ecotourism in the USA; educating tourists; outcomes for communities; national perspectives; and guidelines and standards. These chapters include some very useful thematic overviews and some detailed case studies that will help a wider audience to come to terms with the complex relationships which underpin the successful development of ecotourism. What perhaps marks this book out in the field is the willingness to engage with the difficulty of those questions – but this was perhaps encapsulated in the subtitle of the original gathering of the authors during the International Year of Ecotourism in a workshop called ‘‘putting good intentions to work’’. The 16 chapters take this aspect very seriously and the linkages between theory and practice are clearly elaborated. The book actively engages with the human dimensions of ecotourism, making clear the articulation between the natural environment and the human community systems. It is not a simple or unproblematic relationship and the difficulties are addressed with a refreshing sense of realism. This is perhaps best demonstrated in Chapter 14 where Epler Wood advances a project analysis and evaluation framework but one aimed at the international development donors and therefore addressing a range of issues which narrowly focussed and localised evaluations might have not considered. The Americas certainly offer an abundance of challenges with the different stages of development, levels of touristification and strength of natural environments. We travel through indigenous community lands in the Amazon, national parks, world heritage sites and the world of luxury mountain lodges. One question is doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2009.05.005
slightly puzzling though – why in a book with a section on national perspectives does the USA have a section of its own? This is a fascinating collection and reflects a strong editorial line, which makes it far easier to read than the diverse accounts would have made on their own. The problem with constructing a short review is how best to capture the feel of the text and, although it is unfair to single out one contribution, the book comes to a strong conclusion in Durham’s final chapter. If you have no opportunity to look further than these six pages then take the time to reflect on the arguments put forward. In addressing the challenge ahead we are taken through a resume of the book and the key arguments developed in the chapters about direct and indirect benefits, both economic and social and how the vicious economic cycles of much tourism development. We are then led into six questions that summarise the lessons to be drawn from this book. They are: 1. What is the natural attraction and how strong is its draw for ecotourists? How does one reach the attraction and what are the monetary and carbon costs of getting there? 2. What do visitors get for their visit? Can the same things be obtained elsewhere? 3. What property relations apply to the site? Who governs access? Who are the stakeholders and what are the social relations among them? What role do locals play? 4. What is the institutional setting? What are the physical and social scales of the operation? 5. How will the site and project be monitored? What impacts will be measured and by whom? 6. Who wants ecotourism and why? Who benefits and who pays the costs? When and if you can answer these questions confidently and positively, thenwe may be in a position to say that ecotourism has the answer to the original questions and can justify the claims made on its behalf. Even the chapter on Cuba, representing a centralised control system in this book, recognises that the operation of ecotourism requires a profitable set of businesses to deliver the experience to the tourists. There is an acceptance that not only do the tourists need to learn but the businesses need to learn with them. This image of socially responsible business is fundamental to the accounts offered here and suggests a belief that the business model can be changed even in the luxury tourism markets. Protecting ecosystems and enriching local communities may be huge challenges but the challenge to businesses to do good and spread wealth (p.271) may prove an even greater challenge. Read the book! Accept the challenge – at least take up the debate. Alan Clarke University of Pannonia, 8201 Veszpre´m, Hungary E-mail address: [email protected]