Ecotourism: An Opportunity for Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihoods

Transcription

1 Ecotourism: An Opportunity for Biodiversity Conservation and Liveihoods Amita Kanaujia*, Shivangi Mishra, Adesh Kumar, Daya Shanker Sharma, Ankit Sinha and Ruby Yadav Biodiversity & Widife Conservation Lab, Department of Zooogy, University of Lucknow, Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh, India *Emai: Introduction Biodiversity is the variety of ife, in a of its many manifestations encompassing a forms, (pants, animas and microorganisms) and at a eves of bioogica organization which incudes genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity (Christ et a., 2003;Gaston and Spicer, 2004; Meduna et a., 2009; CBD, 2012). The earth's biodiversity constitutes vauabe natura resources in economic, cutura, aesthetic, scientific and educationa terms, providing enormous amounts of both monetary and non-monetary benefits to humankind. Ecotourism- Goba Scenario Ecotourism is defined as responsibe trave to natura areas that conserves the environment and improves the we-being of oca peope. Ecotourism has been considered as the impetus and economic investment for management of natura resources (Koahi et a., 2013). Another important aspect of ecotourism is the encouragement of active participation by the oca popuation in the conservation and education dimensions (Aramde et a., 2012). Currenty, ecotourism is becoming the fastest growing segment of tourism. On a goba scae, ecotourism is Ecotourism represents a set of principes that have been successfuy impemented in various goba communities, and are supported by extensive industry and academic research. Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainabe trave. This means that those who impement and participate in ecotourism activities shoud foow the foowing ecotourism principes Minimize impact. Buid environmenta and cutura awareness and respect. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts. Provide direct financia benefits for conservation. Provide financia benefits and empowerment for oca peope. Ecotourism first grew out of the goba environmenta movement in the ate 1970s. Whie the deveopment and growth of ecotourism took various paths in different parts of the word, by the eary 1990s, ecotourism, aong with nature-based, cutura, heritage and adventure tourism, had become among the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry wordwide. Sustainabe Tourism and Ecotourism There is just a thin ine of differentiation between sustainabe tourism and ecotourism, which aso shows that there is as such no absoute boundary between sustainabe and unsustainabe tourism (Eriksson, 2003). According to Weaver; Ecotourism exists within the broader cassification of tourism types which, at an initia eve, can be divided into 'mass tourism' and 'aternative tourism' (Fig.1). The differences between mass tourism and ecotourism are shown in Tabe 1. Fig. 1. Conceptua mode of tourism (Eriksson, 2003) 49

2 22 MAY 2016 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining Peope and their Liveihoods Tabe 1: Distinct characteristics between mass tourism and ecotourism (Dorobantu & Nıstoreanu, 2012) 50 Ecotourism is a component of sustainabe tourism Ecotourism is a component of sustainabe tourism. In many ways, sustainabe tourism exempifies the reationship between ecotourism and sustainabe deveopment (Bansa & Kumar, 2011); Sustainabe tourism wi focus on three areas: Quaity vauabe experience for visitors and increased ife quaity for host communities through cutura identity, poverty reduction and environmenta quaity; Continuity expoitation is made at the optimum eve that aows the preservation and regeneration of the natura resources; Baance- between the needs of tourism industry, environmenta protection, and oca communities by an equitabe distribution of benefits among stakehoders. Importance of Ecotourism 1. Ecotourism occurs in natura areas (most often protected areas) and/or paces of unique ecoogica or cutura interest. 2. Ecotourism contributes to conservation or preservation of the natura resources and promotes stewardship of natura and cutura resources. 3. Ecotourism shoud create necessary funds to promote permanent protection of ecoogica and socio-cutura resources. 4. The oca residents accrue economic and socia benefits thereby contributing to project's ongterm success. 5. Ecotourism incorporates environmenta and cutura education. 6. Ecotourism shoud be effectivey managed for the ong-term through minima negative impacts on the host environment. 7. Ecotourism shoud provide a quaity tourism experience. Biodiversity Conservation through Ecotourism Common approaches to protecting biodiversity incude creation of parks and protected areas, estabishment of natura reserves, and impementation of integrated conservation and deveopment projects (ICDP), Estabishment of Butterfy Parks, Sparrow Parks, Vuture safe zones, Vuture Restaurants etc. They vary in strictness of conservation in terms of human consumptive uses.

3 Protected Areas Protected areas (PAs) pay critica roes in safeguarding biodiversity and maintaining the crucia services provided by the natura systems. They have an important roe in the evoving chaenge of maintaining a sustainabe word (Borrie et a., 1998; Groombridge, 1992). Currenty, more than 161,991 areas have been reported as PAs in the Word Database of Protected Areas and the number continues to increase (Koahi et a., 2013). PAs have ong been the ony way to conserve ecoogica regions from the other forms of and These areas are therefore the cornerstone of most nationa strategies to protect Biodiversity and Natura resources (Hockings et a., 2005; Leverington et a., 2010) paying a key roe in the sustainabe utiization and attainment of natura resources. The success of the Ecotourism initiatives refects the concern for achieving a baance between conservation of the sanctuary and iveihood of peope iving in and around it. Zoo as Tourist Attraction A zoo is a coection of wid animas in captivity and may incude zooogica gardens, bioogica parks, safari parks, pubic aquariums, bird parks, reptie parks, insectariums, and other coections of widife primariy for pubic exhibition, education, scientific, and conservation purposes. The Word Association of Zoos and aquariums states that, a zoo is a venue for researchers and visitors to meet, thus assisting with the pubic understanding of science and offering opportunities to raise awareness about research and its conservation impications and has a powerfu part in achieving goba sustainabiity and shoud inspire peope. As a tourist destination, zoos are the primary institutiona ocation of wid anima presentation and are very much part of the tourist trai. Zoos as a tourist attraction are controversia because of the perceived conficting roes of zoos (Harrison, 2004; Mazur, 2001). Zoo s Roe in Conservation The mission of the Word Association of Zoos and Aquariums, an internationa organization of zoos and aquariums, is to set standards for increasing achievement of conservation among zoos wordwide. Integrated conservation consists of ex situ breeding of threatened species, pubic education, training and research, and support for in situ conservation of species (especiay those with sma among zoos and broader coaboration of zoos with other reevant organizations and institutions in various conservation initiatives. Captive Breeding We-managed captive breeding programs in zoos are essentia in maintaining a good coection of threatened species. On way to address this concern is for zoos to carefuy seect and prioritize the species that have to be bred in captivity. For each species, a genetic management strategy that is buit on the genetic and demographic characteristics of the captive popuations shoud be deveoped to avoid inbreeding, eary mortaity, and consequenty popuation oss (Eis & Sea, 1996). Nationa Parks and Sanctuaries Nationa Parks provide ampe opportunities to the visitors to have a cose encounters with the wids. But what is so exquisite about the Indian Nationa Parks is the variance that they are equipped with. Whether it comes to the fora, avifauna, and aqua fauna, or witnessing various wid forms in their natura surroundings on an eephant or inside a jeep, wid ventures in are simpy amazing!. Some of the best jewes of Indian widerness incude the Great Himaayan Nationa Park, Dachigam Nationa Park near Srinagar, Corbett Nationa Park in Uttar Pradesh, which is aso a famous tiger reserve, Ranthambore Nationa Park in Rajasthan, and Sundarbans Nationa Park in Widife sanctuaries are estabished by IUCN category II protected areas. India has 515 anima sanctuaries referred to as widife sanctuaries category IV protected areas. Among these, the 48 tiger reserves are governed by Project Tiger, and are of specia significance in the conservation of the tiger. Some widife sanctuaries are specificay named bird sanctuary, e.g., Keoadeo Nationa Park before attaining Nationa Park status. West Benga. Worth visiting in the East Indian part in The Land of Rhino Assam is Kaziranga. Widife sanctuaries in India are as a desired Eco-system for rich widife and natura habitats Butterfy Parks Bannerghatta Nationa Park, near Bangaore, 51

4 22 MAY 2016 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining Peope and their Liveihoods Fig.2: Butterfy parks to promote Butterfy Ecotourism Fig. 3: Butterfies observed during Mud-pudding in Butterfies Park 52 Karnataka, was founded in 1971 and decared as a nationa park in In 2002 a portion of the park, became a bioogica reserve, the Bannerghatta Bioogica Park. It is a popuar tourist destination with a zoo, a pet corner, an anima rescue centre, a butterfy encosure, an aquarium, a snake house and a safari park. There are ancient tempes in the park for worship and it is a destination for trekking. On 25 November 2006, Kapi Siba, the Union Minister of Science and Technoogy opened India's first butterfy encosure at the Bannerghatta Nationa 2 park. It occupies 7.5 acres (30,000 m ) and houses a butterfy conservatory, a museum, and an audiovisua room. It is a humid tropica cimate, with an artificia waterfa and appropriate fora to attract butterfies. The conservatory eads to a second and third dome, which house a museum containing dioramas and exhibits of carefuy preserved butterfies (Fig.2). A successfu Butterfy Garden/ Park has been set up in the KFRI Sub Centre Campus at Niambur.The prime objective of this project viz., setting up of an insectariums and butterfy house to faciitate education of the pubic on the significance of nature conservation (Fig.3). Vuture Safe Zones Vutures are a critica part of the food chain because they maintain a baanced ecosystem and prevent the unnecessary spread of disease. The dramatic decine of the Indian vuture popuation is directy inked to anima husbandry practices, namey the use of the painkier Dicofenac, which is used to treat catte. With this in mind, the concept of creating a, Vuture Safe Zone has been emerged. The Vuture Safe Zone area fas in the Bundekhand geographic region of Madhya Pradesh, India, which comprises of Chattarpur, Tikamgarh, Ashoknager, Vidisa, Sagar, Damoh, Panna and Satna districts. Expected outcomes of this program incude the reintroduction of vutures into the wid from captive breeding centers and the expansion of areas designated as Vuture Safe Zones. Vuture Restaurants A vuture restaurant is an undisturbed area where non-toxic, poison-free meat and carcasses are provided for vutures and other scavengers. This

5 Fig.4: Vuture Restaurant :Vutures feeding on non toxic, poison free carcass suppementary feeding supports the vutures in times of food scarcity and when young birds fedge as we as provide a safe food source, vuture restaurants provide and owners with a cean and cost-effective way of disposing of waste and unwanted carcasses. (Fig.4). In the ast decade, vuture feeding stations have been set up in South Asia (India, Pakistan and Nepa), South- East Asia (Cambodia) and simiar programmes aso exist in Africa and Europe (Bird Conservation Nepa 2009). In Namibia, the first vuture restaurant was estabished in 1987 in the Waterberg Pateau Park. The aim was to provide a reguar, uncontaminated food source for the Waterberg s decining popuation of Cape Vutures, a gobay threatened species. South Africa deveoped feeding stations for the Bearded Vuture in 1966 and for Cape Vutures from 1978 Vuture Restaurants at Nepa has been estabished at Ghachowk, Pokhra in Centra Nepa during 2010, Pithaui Navaparsi in 2007 and Gaindahwa Lake estabished in A these were estabished by Bird Conservation Nepa. The four new Vuture Restaurants were open one in Maharashtra and three in Punjab.In Nagpur Currenty, there are six 'vuture restaurants' in Gadchiroi Marakbodi, Madetukum, Nimgaon, Yeoi, Navegaon, Krupaa and Pora. The first Vuture restaurant was estabished in Uttar Pradesh in 2013 within Mahavir Swami sanctuary,laitpur. Tourist visits directy hep to conserve the vutures by providing a sustainabe way of feeding the birds. This may utimatey increase vuture breeding success and surviva of fedgings once they are independent of their parents. Sparrow Parks The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is cosey associated with human habitation and cutivation throughout the word from historic time. House sparrows are opportunist and are abe to ive wherever there are suitabe nesting and roosting sites and enough food, predominanty seeds in winter and invertebrates in summer. The Sparrow is a human habitat companion. House Sparrows pay an important roe in our ecosystem ike they feed their young ones the arvae of the afafa weevi and cutworms, both of which harm afafa crops, bioindicators, seed dispersas and pest contro etc. A number of hypotheses have been put forward as possibe causes of the decine of House Sparrows in Rura, urban and suburban habitats. Some of the observed and known threats ike nests destruction by cats, interspecific and intraspecific competitions, bocking of nesting sites during renovation and predation etc. After concerning about the threats posed by House Sparrow and about their roe in our ecosystem, various types of conservationa measures are opted and in this, various types of artificia nests are aso introduced. These artificia nests can easiy be instaed on houses for sparrows. The construction is quite simpe and it can be used as an aternative for iveihood. 53

6 22 MAY 2016 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining Peope and their Liveihoods Fig. 5: Sparrow Nest-box hepfu from both conservationa aspects of House Sparrow and providing the iveihood to oca peope Fig. 6: Putting up bat houses creates needed Bat roosting sites for these beneficia insect-eaters 54 A new theme of Sparrow Park shoud be initiated which is very easy to setup with the instaation of numerous artificia nests in and around the park and pantation of numerous bushy pants such as Bambusa vugaris (Bamboo), Nerium indicum (Kaner), Vacheia niotica (Baboo) etc. where the itte sparrows can roost upon. The pace must be ensured with specia provision of food (Kakun is the most preferred food) and water. Sparrow Parks can thus make a perfect pace for tourists where they can enjoy the sighting of House Sparrow in their natura habitat and hep in their conservation. Conservationa organizations can appoint various individuas for the reguar monitoring of the birds and construction of artificia nests. This wi be hepfu from both conservationa aspects of House Sparrow and providing the iveihood to oca peope (Fig.5). Pam-Tree Barn Ow Park Barn ows are found throughout most of the Word, but popuations are decining in eastern states. They inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The Barn ow is a cavity nester, preferring arge tree cavities or shaow caves in ciffs as historica nesting sites. Due to ack of suitabe nest cavities, barn ows often nest in a variety of unsuitabe paces that are not acceptabe to andowners. These paces incude crevices between hay baes, air vents, window edges, and open stairways. As a very opportunistic species, Barn ows wi nest in unsuitabe sites that offer promise, but end up with imited nesting success such as pam tree nests. Artificia nest box is put up on Pam Tree in an area and that area considered as pam tree Barn ow Park (Fig.7). Nest boxes wi create more and better nesting sites, increasing the reproductive success of oca ows, as we as heping to keep the nest sites in acceptabe. Amphibian Husbandry Amphibians comprise a group of vertebrates that dispay an enormous diversity of natura histories. Within the three orders, anurans (frogs and toads), saamanders, and caeciians, there are more than 6,900 species ( with potentiay many hundreds more awaiting discovery and description. There are many reasons to keep amphibians in captivity incuding for purposes of exhibition, education, conservation, preservation, and for hobby and persona interests. Historicay, zoos have incuded amphibians within their herpetoogy programs and dispays; however, as they become more conservation-oriented (versus the menageries of the past), zoos wi have to ater their coections to refect their resources and capacities to carry out this work (Rabb, 2004) (Fig.8). The Amphibian Ark ( has estimated that approximatey 500 species of amphibians are in need of carefuy managed ex situ hep;

7 Fig.7: Pam Tree Provide a suitabe pace for the Nesting and breeding of barn ow yet, today ikey fewer than 31 species are in managed programs. Construction of Amphibian Encosures: Regardess of the size, materia, or brand, a encosures shoud be satisfy the physioogica and behaviora needs of the anima, Prevent escape of specimens and food item, Be easy to maintain and Make it easy to monitor the animas. Amphibian Husbandry Amphibians comprise a group of vertebrates that dispay an enormous diversity of natura histories. Within the three orders, anurans (frogs and toads), saamanders, and caeciians, there are more than 6,900 species ( with potentiay many hundreds more awaiting discovery and description. There are many reasons to keep amphibians in captivity incuding for purposes of exhibition, education, conservation, preservation, and for hobby and persona interests. Historicay, zoos have incuded amphibians within their herpetoogy programs and dispays; however, as they become more conservation-oriented (versus the menageries of the past), zoos wi have to ater their coections to refect their resources and capacities to carry out this work (Rabb, 2004) (Fig.8). The Amphibian Ark ( has estimated that approximatey 500 species of amphibians are in need of carefuy managed ex situ hep; yet, today ikey fewer than 31 species are in managed programs. Construction of Amphibian Encosures Regardess of the size, materia, or brand, a encosures shoud be satisfy the physioogica and behaviora needs of the anima, Prevent escape of specimens and food item, Be easy to maintain and Make it easy to monitor the animas. Fish Aquariums & Aquacuture An Aquarium is a transparent tank or a bow or an artificia poo where ive fishes and other aquatic animas are kept. Fig.8: Woodand Park Zoo uses arge Rubbermaid tanks for deveoping embryos, eggs, and frogets and exhibit and dedicate the space to Amphibian Conservation 55

8 22 MAY 2016 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining Peope and their Liveihoods The Fish House at ZSL London Zoo- the first Pubic Aquarium: ZSL London Zoo's `Fish House' opened in May 1853, it was revoutionary for its time, the possibiity of making tanks from arge sheets of pate gass enabed visitors to have an underwater view of the ife in tanks. Additionay it had ony recenty been recognized that fishes absorbed oxygen from water and repaced it with carbonic acid. Pants absorb this and return oxygen to the water eaving a more baanced system within the tanks. Athough fairy simpe in principe it was more difficut in practice to maintain a baance. These deveopments and the opening of the Fish House ed to a Victorian craze for aquaria in the home (Fig.9). Aquacuture incudes fish farming in both fresh and satwater. The term maricuture is often used for aquacuture that occurs in brackish and satwater. Aquacuture products are grown in ponds on and or aong the coast, and in the ocean in pens and cages or on ines. Fisheries Have Critica Socia and Economic Impacts: Fisheries ong have payed an historica, cutura, and economic roe in coasta communities. For many, fishing isn't just a job it's a ifestye. Commercia and recreationa fishers aike have deep cutura, socia, and financia ties to fishing. Fisheries management strategies affect not ony how many fish are aowed to be caught but aso who gets what share of the tota catch. Seafood is an important source of protein gobay. More than 3.5 miion vesses currenty fish the ocean waters wordwide, and NOAA (the Nationa Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) projects that the goba seafood demand wi more than tripe by Recognizing the need to continue to engage a broad and diverse group of peope in the deveopment of standards for responsibe aquacuture, the Word Widife Fund initiated eight roundtabes, caed Aquacuture Diaogues, to create standards that wi minimize the key negative environmenta and socia impacts for seected species. Turte Based Ecotourism The Queensand state government began the process of creating Mon Repos Conservation Park for the conservation of sea turtes in It offers a unique opportunity for visitors to catch a gimpse of a turte's word. Turte watching takes pace at night under the guidance of QPWS rangers and vounteers. During the turte season, evening visitors to Mon Repos Conservation Park pay a sma fee for entry. The fee enabes visitors to see the dispay on sea turtes at the information centre, participate in the presentation at the outdoor amphitheatre and join a group of up to 70 persons to be guided to the beach to 56 Fig. 9: Fish House: Exterior from the South,Circa 1875 and Inside the Fish House

9 see turtes nesting, if they appear, or to see hatchings emerging at times when this occurs. Tourist operations are combined with coection of data about turtes which is used for scientific purposes. Reptie Rehabiitation & Research Centre There are various organizations, NGO's and conservationa societies are working for their conservation ike in India Kukrai breeding centre, Katerniaghat crocodie breeding centre, Kane crocodie sanctuary, Turte surviva aiance, WARCO, Madras crocodie trust etc. and Internationa reptie conservation foundation, Widife SOS and Reptie conservation internationa etc. are few internationa associations working for their conservation. For turtes, conservation programs are being ran by organizations and breeding centers are estabished in different cities for providing the breeding space to ay eggs, especiay to fresh water turtes, red-crowned roof turte, spotted pond turtes etc. Kukrai Reserve Forest / Picnic spot The centre at Kukrai came up in the year 1978, in which there is a Gharia Centre. It is funded by Uttar Pradesh forest department (Fig.10). The Crocodie Sanctuary and breeding centre is the most renowned centres in India. Apart from breeding crocodies in the park, crocodie eggs are aso coected from the amganga, Suhei, Girwa and Chamba river banks. When young crocodies come out of these eggs after artificia hatching at the center, they are fed and ooked after ti they become capabe of defending themseves against other predators. This programme has contributed to the rapid improvement in the gharia's status not ony in Uttar Pradesh but aso in the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. In fact, the captive-breeding programme for gharia is one of the two such successfu widife conservation programs in the country. The Crocodie Rehabiitation and Research Centre is a crocodie breeding and rearing park at Neyyar, a popuar tourist destination near the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Keraa, India. A crocodie farm was started at the site in 1977, accommodating around 44 mugger crocodies. The number of crocodies varies as muggers are raised and reeased to the Neyyar river and ake near the dam site. Snake Park There are 270 species of snakes in India out of which about 60 are highy venomous. The King Cobra found in India is one of the most beautifu snake and the argest venomous snake in the word. The big four member of highy toxic snakes in India are Nag Indian cobra, krait, Russe's viper and Saw-scaed viper. Snake Park in Badu Kokata and Nehru Zooogica Park Hyderabad aso refer as snake parks for conservation and educationa purposes. Fig.10 : Ghariya Rehabiitation Centre,Kukrai Picnic Spot,Lucknow. (Source:Lucknow) 57

10 22 MAY 2016 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining Peope and their Liveihoods Snake Park: A we-appointed pace for snake 58 Katraj Snake Park, Pune One of the best of the few snake parks in India, Katraj Snake Park is housed in the much more modest Rajiv Gandhi Zooogica Park. There is a penty of repties incuding Indian rock python, king cobra and Russe's viper. There are over 22 species of snakes. Bannerghatta Snake Park, Near Bangaore: Located in a huge bioogica park, this snake park is famous for kraits and monitor izards. Parassinikkadavu Snake Park, Kannur: There is a arge variety of both venomous and non-venomous snakes incuding python, spectaced cobra, king cobra, kraitand pit vipers. There's aso a ive show where trained experts pay and interact with snakes to try and eradicate various myths about snakes. Guindy Snake Park, Chennai: Formery known as the Madras Crocodie Bank Trust, Guindy Snake Park is home to a varied coection of snake species ike king cobra, pythons and vipers. Wetands Ecotourism Bird watching has become a particuary important form of ecotourism and one that is particuary common for wetands (Fig. 11). Canoeing, kayaking, and fishing aso take pace in wetands. Ecotourism can educate andowners and businesses with regard to the functions and vaues of wetands. It can provide andowners, oca governments, and oca businesses with economic and cutura incentives for conservation of wetands and other resources. Wetand-reated faciitates can, if propery sited and designed, both meet the needs of ecotourists whie protecting resources. They aso incude interpretive centers, picnic faciities, parking ots, and food and odging faciities on adjacent ands if propery sited and constructed. Even imited wetand-reated faciities may pay an important part in meeting regiona needs. At present stage, researches on wetand ecotourism mainy focused on status anaysis and characteristic description and there have been no systematica theoretica method or research method for wetand ecotourism and research methods in andscape ecoogy and wetand ecoogica system were adopted as reference. Wetand ecotourism has a promising deveopment prospect and constant

11 Fig.11: Ecotourism can educate students, andowners and tourists with regard to the functions and vaues of wetands exporation needs to be conducted by reevant researches to promote its deveopment. Recommendations Ecotourism has become an important economic activity in natura areas around the word. It provides opportunities for visitors to experience powerfu manifestations of nature and cuture, and to earn about the importance of biodiversity conservation and oca cutures. Ecotourism aso generates income for conservation and economic benefits for communities iving in rura and remote areas. Joint research in ecotourism is a necessary too in management of ecotourism activities. There is a need for ong-term research on issues, as we as the investigation of other sites experiencing tourist pressures. Research is aso needed to determine what eves and rates of tourist traffic trigger negative impacts on wid ife. This wi enabe park managers to set eves that wi minimize the impacts on the biodiversity the parks are estabished to protect. Promoting community-based enterprises that benefit the oca communities, incuding carrying capacity of ecotourism sites are aso important aspects that shoud be ooked into future. In effect, science-based management of ecotourism and biodiversity conservation woud make sound decision-making. Investing in research makes good business sense since the information generated in such activities pay off in customer satisfaction, vaue of the fina tourist product, ong-term economic sustainabiity, and appea to mass media. Economic activity is one of the major drivers of biodiversity oss; Successfu ecotourism requires maximizing its environmenta and economic benefits whie minimizing ecoogica damage. But unfortunatey a the eco - tourism projects are not competey successfu in attaining their objectives. Environmenta deterioration and inequitabe deveopment, many a times has been found as i impacts of eco- tourism. 59

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