Environmental Impact: Habitat Loss, Conservation, and Sustainable Tourism

Habitat Destruction and Its Far-Reaching Effects

Extinction is a natural process which is part of evolution. Today, there is a huge increase in the rate of extinction as a result of human actions. One simple alteration in an ecosystem can trigger a chain reaction that runs through the whole system. The great increase in human population has been at the expense of other species.

Deforestation Impacts

Deforestation: Forests contain useful food and raw material resources. They are an important part of the water cycle.

Loss of Wetlands

Loss of wetlands: Wetlands absorb and store carbon, maintain water quality, and encourage plant growth.

Increased Flooding Risks

Increased flooding risks are a direct consequence of habitat degradation.

Strategies for Environmental Conservation

Embracing Sustainability

Sustainability is the quality of not being harmful to the environment or not depleting natural resources, by supporting long-term ecological balance. For example, indigenous people often practice sustainable living. However, due to population growth and advancements in technology, ecosystems are at risk. Possible solutions include:

• Gene Banks: Preserve a wide range of plants to guard against the loss of hereditary material.
• Biosphere Reserves: Protected environments that conserve biodiversity. These are internationally recognized areas, supported by UNESCO and set up by national governments.
• National Parks: Large protected areas where hunting, logging, and gathering are prohibited, and tourism is kept minimal.
• Nature Reserves: Smaller protected areas, similar to national parks but often with more specific conservation goals.
• Ecotourism: Holidays and travels designed to cause less damage to the environment than usual, and to make people aware of the need to protect the environment. Examples include safaris in Kenya and ecotourism in Costa Rica.
• Habitat Conservation and Banning Hunting/Trading Exotic Species: Many international organizations are fighting for this, including UNEP, Greenpeace, WWF, IUCN, and CITES.

Tourism: Economic Benefits vs. Environmental Costs

Understanding Tourism's Role

Tourism is a service sector activity (tertiary) that is experiencing significant growth, resulting in rising incomes and improved communications. Economic benefits often have to be balanced against environmental and social costs.

Positive Impacts of Tourism

• Earns foreign currency.
• Provides jobs and improves infrastructure.
• Reduces migration loss.
• Increases awareness of environmental problems.
• Money earned can be used for conservation and repairs.

Negative Impacts of Tourism

• Income varies due to visitor fluctuations.
• Many jobs are poorly paid, unskilled, and seasonal.
• Can replace traditional farming and impact local species.
• Local traditions and cultures may be destroyed.
• Contributes to habitat destruction and pollution problems.