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Ecotourism1
Center for Natural Resources2Though the concept of nature-based tourism is not new, the term "ecotourism" is. Once referred to as "green travel", ecotourism is defined as a "recreational and educational experience that encourages greater understanding of the natural and cultural resources of an area".
Florida has always been a popular locale for bird-watching and trail-hiking, but planners have only just begun to tap into its potential in this growing industry. However, throughout the stages of development planners should take deliberate steps to prevent the destruction of the natural resources upon which ecotourism depends.
Figure 1. Ecotoursim offers something for everyone A March 1996 article in Florida Trend, "Marketing the Real Florida," asserts that nature tourism is the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. market, increasing 30% a year. In 1996, 3.6 million Floridians 16 years and older participated in some wildlife-related activity; these residents, plus nonresidents, provided an economic output of $5.5 billion for wildlife- associated recreation in Florida in 1996. This economic output is equal to 66% of Florida's $7.6 billion citrus industry.
While Florida is economically tourist - dependent, too many "eco" tourists can damage the natural resources which attract them -- especially if tourists are unaware of the repercussions of their actions. (For example, boaters/jetskiers driving too close to rookeries and hikers/campers crushing vegetation, removing logs for firewood and blocking wildlife traffic.)
Figure 2. Toursits, who enjoy water-related activities, are attracted to Key West "Ecotourism," therefore, is shifting from a definition of a specialized form of tourism to a set of distinguishing criteria applied to any nature-related tourism. Stephen Holland, Associate Professor of The Center for Tourism, Research, and Development through the UF College of Health and Human Performance, defines ecotourism as having the following criteria:
Because ecotourism involves interdependent environmental, political, social and economic factors, such a topic directly or indirectly concerns UF researchers and extension agents from a wide variety of backgrounds.
- Natural resource based -- Exposure to a relatively undeveloped, natural environment.
- Specific clientele -- Outdoor lovers/wildlife watchers: According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 77 million Americans over the age of 16 (40% of adult population) enjoyed some form of wildlife-related recreation in 1996.
- Resource-preserving -- educating ecotourists to be nature-sensitive and limiting the number of visitors to that which an area can handle.
- Economic advantages of appreciative use -- preserving nature by selling it. (for example, measuring the returnable ecotourism value of a lion vs. the one-time value of a lion's hide).
- Economic support of local economies -- money goes to local businesses, rewarding the choice of environmentally friendly land use vs. alternatives (e.g., commercial development).
Figure 3. The Florida panther (Panthera floridanus). UF Contacts
Stephen Holland
Recreation, Parks and Tourism
(352) 392-4042 ext 313
sholland@hhp.ufl.edu
Taylor Stein
Forest Resources & Conservation Dept.
(352) 846-0860
tstein@ufl.edu
Gustavo Antonini
Geography Dept.
(352) 392-6233
creslag@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu
Gerald Culen
Family Youth & Community Sciences Dept.
(352) 846-1001 ext 250
grculen@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Eleanor Foerste
Florida Cooperative Extension Agent
Osceola County Specific
(407) 846-418
ecfoerste@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Martin Main
Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Dept.
SW FL Research & Education Center
Immokalee
(941) 658-3400
mbma@icon.imok.ufl.edu
Frank Mazzotti
Associate Professor, University of Florida
(954) 614 2369
fjma@mail.ifas.ufl.eduOther Agencies
Dennis David
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC)
(352) 955-2230
davidd@gfc.state.fl.us
John Waldron
Forest Recreation Coordinator
Florida Division of Forestry
(850) 414-9852
waldroj@doacs.state.fl.us
Department of Environmental Protection
Parks & Recreation Division
(850) 488-1554
http://tlhwww.1.dep.state.fl.us/parks/info/ecotourism.html
Visit Florida
Florida, USA
http://www.flausa.com/Footnotes
1. This publication was produced by the Center for Natural Resources at the University of Florida. CNR 7 is part of a Program Summary Series. First published: September 2000. Minor revision: March 2003. 1051 McCarty Hall D. Post Office Box 110230. Tel: (352) 392-7622 Fax: (352) 846-2856 Email: cnr_mail@mail.ifas.ufl.edu Web: http://cnr.ifas.ufl.edu/2. Nancy Peterson, Program Coordinator
This publication was produced by The Center for Natural Resources (CNR). Established in 1973, CNR at the University of Florida plays a major role in the conservation, preservation and restoration of our nation's natural resources by facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations between UF faculty and external stakeholders.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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