biodiversity for sustainability a.raschi cnr-ibimet with contribution of h.hamele ecotrans
TRANSCRIPT
BIODIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABILITYA. Raschi CNR-IBIMET With contribution of H.Hamele ECOTRANS
The term sustainability is nowadays widely used, but what does it mean?
Sustainable development: a development that guarantees future generations, by preserving and incrementing the local capital (environmental, human, social, infrastructural (Moseley, 2004)
Touristic sustainability: a careful use of touristic resources, that guarantees their future availability (Jenkins, 1991)
Sustainable development in tourism aims not only to satisfy the current needs, but also to protect and improve the environment, promote economic equity, and improve people’s life, by cooperating to integrate conservation, cultural integration and participation (Inskeep, 1991)
"sustainability is improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting eco-systems“ (IUCN/UNEP/WWF 1991)
BIODIVERSITY
The Convention on Biological Diversity was one of the outcomes of Rio Earth Summit (1992), and defines Biodiversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part…diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”.
The aim of the Rio convention is not only to “conserve”, but to pursue “sustainable use” and “equitable sharing of benefits”
BIODIVERSITY IS A DYNAMIC CONCEPT, AS ECOSYSTEMS AND POPULATIONS CAN MOVE IN DEPENDENCE OF NATURAL AND ANTHROPIC CAUSES
With agriculture and gardening man has diffused alien species:
From IranFrom Japan
From America From China
ALL THESE ARE NOW CULTIVATED IN EUROPE
ON THE OTHER HAND, INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE REDUCES BIODIVERSITY
PLANTS ARE MORE AND MORE UNIFORM, AND LANDSCAPE AS WELL(but tourists seem to appreciate anyway
EACH FARM WAS A MOSAIC OF DIFFERENT CROPSTraditional landscape
OTHER CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY CAN BE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
SO, HOW CAN TOURISM IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY?
EASY TO DEFINE IN GENERAL TERMS, BUT SITUATION IS DIFFERENT FROM SITE TO SITE BECAUSE:
-TOURISM IS A COMPLEX ACTIVITY
-ECOSYSTEMS ARE COMPLEX, AND THEIR INTERNAL DYNAMICS ARE KNOWN ONLY IN PART.
- POLICIES ARE BASED ON VALUE JUDGEMENTS, THAT ARE IN NTURN BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF RISK, ON INTERESTS AND ON SOCIAL CONSTRUCT OF NATURE.
- THIS LEADS TO FACE AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM: CONFLICTS
Many impacts on nature /ecosystems /biodiversity have been widely analyzed, well known and documented!
Degradation and destruction of ecosystems
Tourism infrastructures – often in protected areas, hotspots of biodiversity
Reduce /avoid restrictions in protected areas because
of tourism development (example Mallorca), or reduction of protected
areas surface
CO² and other Greenhouse Gas
emissions contributing to Climate Change
Emissions, waste, waste water,
noise (e.g. lakes, rivers, coasts, beaches),
Indirect
Transport infrastructure, e.g.
roads, airports, parkings
These parks’ shape is designed to keep some touristic towns out of the protected areas
Beaches are biodiversity hotspots, and are very dynamic
Beach biodiversity
These parks’ shape is designed to keep some touristic towns out of the protected areas
Beaches are biodiversity hotspots, and are very dynamic
And where does the wastewater go?
Not to mention about shipwrecks in national parks
What impacts does tourism have on biodiversity?
Overexploitation of natural resources
Lack or no acceptance of management plans / land
use plans
Exeedance of the carrying capacity of a landscape
/destination
Exploitation of wild life without respecting
rules /scientific advise, without well trained
guides
High water consumption in regions with water
shortage
Purchase of unsustainable produced
products (food, souvenirs etc.)
Recreational activities with high impact on biodiversity, e.g. heli
skiing,
Acceptance of selling illegal products (e.G.
CITES)
Offering /promoting activities against animal
welfare (zoos not fullfilling international
standards, dolphinarios .
What impacts does tourism have on biodiversity?
Invasive Species
Design of premises (hotel outdoor facilities) with
non native plants
Introduction of non native fish species for
fishing
Cruise Ships(e.g. water tanks),
souvenirs (e.g. galapagos turtle)
Climate Change
Emissions /Contamination
Alien species used in gardens. Some are invasive
Alien species reach the Mediterranean through Suez, And with cuise ships
This fish, introduced for sport tourism,Is destroying all local fauna in Italy
Wild boars introduced for hunting is reproducing out of controlCreating serious damage to agriculture
Bears, reintroduced on the Alps, are putting at risk Sheep farms survival, and tourism itself.
Degradation/destruction of ecosystems
38%
Loss of species21%
Overexploitation of natural resources
24%
Dissemination of invasive alien species
7%
Access and Benefit-Sharing: 7%
Special commitment of the company towards Biodiversity
3%
Standards: coverage of biodiversity aspects in analysed standards (in %)
2. Screening of the Standards/Certificates/Awards in Tourism
Degradation/destruction of ecosystems
Overexploitation of natural ressources
Loss of species
Dissemination of invasive alien species
ABS: involvement of local initiatives, local community support of the protection of Biodiversity
Special commitment of the company towards biodiversity
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
128
81
71
25
24
9
No. of biodiversity aspects listed in standards
2. Screening of the Standards/Certificates/Awards in Tourism
Input: Exemplary criteria found in the screening
3. Discussion of Exemplary Criteria from the Standards and Conclusions
Criteria to prevent degradation /destruction of ecosystems
Green Globe, EETLS: Biodiversity Conservation. Criteria: The business contributes to the support of biodiversity conservation, including supporting natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value.
Quality Coast: D2 Protection of sensitive environmentsThe destination has a system to monitor the impact of tourism on sensitive environments and protect habitats and species.
Green Key: XI.5 The establishment provides activities for raising awareness, focused on sustainable development, environment and nature in or around the premises (G).
Various international Standards require: “The business contributes to the support of biodiversity conservation …”. This is a useful approach, but Standards should include an indication regarding cuantitiy and quality of support.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Green
Hills
Nature
Forests
Vineyards
Olive trees/
Cereals
Light
Trees
Sunflowers
Sunset
Valleys
Mountains CampaniaTuscany
Elements used to describe the environment. Countryside means nature, but in a very generic way
But, what does the customer understand about biodiversity? Very little! As usually he is not a specialist/scholarThis is well shown by the informative material of rural tourism enterprises
Sunflower is a very evocative tool toPromote rural tourism
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Valorisation
Genuine
Flavours
Home made
Traditional
Typical
Natural
Tuscan
Terra/from the land CampaniaTuscany
The text refers to typicality, nature And other concepts that have little to do with an intensive crop.
ON THE OTHER HAND, NOT ONLY NATURAL BIODIVERSITY,BUT ALSO AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY CAN BE AN ASSETT FOR AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS TOURISM:
SOME EXAMPLES:
The promotion of traditional cereals, often taking place in feasts, and fostering the creation of short production chains
Chestnut: from international market of imported fruits to local productions and transformation techniques
To the creation of local cooperatives, able to promote local biodiversity among tourists, to create jobs and to be real development agents
As about natural biodiversity, tourists are sedom able to go beyond aestethical appreciation.Studies performed in African National Parks show that mainly big charismatic species attract tourists (lion, elephant…), while in marine environments the appreciation of biodiversity does not go beyond 20 species.
BUT GOOD RESULTS CAN BE ACHIEVED ON A LOCAL BASIS:
The Caldara di Manziana, near Roma, a verypeculiar biodiversity spot, is visited by thousandsof visitors every year.
Other similar sites are unknown and used asrubbish dumps
A similar site became part of the local touristic offer
Entrance to the path leading to the site
In conclusion, apart of what customers may know and think, biodiversity is a value in itself, as part of the local capital. Its protection can go with its transmission to visitors.
So, tourism can have an informative/educational role and promote the local heritage.But first of all, the local capital (natural, agricultural, human etc) must be known by the local stakeholders/agent
BECAUSE THERE CANNOT BE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE VALUE OF LOCAL HERITAGE
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!