RESOURCE+SUGGESTIONS+BY+TEACHERS

MOTION: ECOTOURISM IS AN OXYMORON

** Students can look through this page's content that Ms. Safaya and Mr. Brian created, to kick start their research into the topic ****. **  TABLE OF CONTENTS ** RESOURCES﻿ **  1. Source: Pros & Cons of Ecotourism in Costa Rica NOTES: 2. Source: The International Ecotourism Society NOTES:
 * 1) Pros & Cons of Ecotourism in Costa Rica (website)
 * 2) The International Ecotourism Society (website)
 * DEFINITION: **"purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem; producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people."**
 * environmental benefits of ecotourism development in Costa Rica have been far reaching. Since 1963 when the first environmental protection reserve was created, Costa Rica's conservation initiatives have expanded to include 70 protected areas or national parks covering 21% of the nation's territory, as well as the creation of Costa Rica's National Park Service in 1970. (Weaver, 1998, 87). It can be deduced that this incredible increase in the area marked for conservation would not have been possible without the economic incentives of ecotourism. As locals were relocated and logging industries shut down, Costa Ricans were able to turn to the tourism industry for employment. This would not have been possible if Costa Rica had adhered to former protectionist measures that tended to wall off protected areas from the public.
 * comprehensive website about environmental, social, cultural, political and economical aspects of the movement
 * links to several examples of ecotourist destinations around the world

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