UBC Undergraduate Research

Investigating the potential mitigating effects of ecotourism to reduce the impact of local conflicts, illegal logging, and biodiversity loss in developing tropical countries Jun, Xuan

Abstract

In recent decades, large expanses of rainforest in tropical countries have been deforested and degraded because of inappropriate forestry practices and conversion to other uses, such as agriculture and grazing. The governments that preside over these forestlands are eager to adopt land use strategies aimed at conserving forest resources and maintaining biodiversity. However, they face stiff resistance in the form of illegal logging, livelihood conflicts, and biodiversity loss that caused by inappropriate forest practices. The economic returns of reforestation are generally lower than timber harvesting. Moreover, for private companies, the incentives to engage in illegal logging activities are considerable. In addition, the lack of security regarding land tenure creates conflict between biodiversity is also a problem, one that is attributable to a lack of knowledge of conservation among local people. Introducing an ecotourism system represents one approach to protecting rainforests from illegal logging operations, reducing biodiversity loss and resource conflicts, and improving the quality of life for local residents. This essay will discuss possibilities of introducing ecotourism for most developing tropical countries.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada