the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

These wider regional and global issues have also been recognised in the literature.
Brandon (1996), for example, considers the relationship between environmental
quality, airlines and tourism on a world-wide scale, and suggests that there is a need
for concern for the natural environment by both the airlines and the tourism industry
through the adoption of measures to reduce emissions into the atmosphere. These
sentiments are echoed by Pattullo (1996), who argues that aviation contributes
some two per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, and that
airlines should become more sensitive to the tourism and environment debate,
especially with regard to long-haul tourism to developing countries. Hamele (1988)
argues that aircraft, tourists' private cars and heating systems in tourist
accommodation all contribute to air pollution, causing acid precipitation, forest blight
and soil degradation. Briand et al (1989) claim that urgent action is needed to
prevent further tourism-related damage to the vulnerable landscapes of the
European Alps, which are increasingly suffering from forest blight. Hausler et al
(1995) report a decrease in tourism income to the Black Forest area of Europe as a
result of reduced appeal due to damage caused by acid precipitation. These authors
also cited the example of the St Goatherd Pass in Switzerland, where weekend
traffic alone releases 30 tonnes of nitrogen oxides, 75 kg of lead and 25 tonnes of
hydrocarbons into the local atmosphere, resulting in tree damage. Acid deposition
also leads to the degradation of fresh water quality, with a range of impacts on
aquatic flora and fauna, and on human health.
On a more localised level, dust generated by various forms of construction for the
tourism industry is a common problem for both locals and tourists. Noise pollution in
the form of excess noise from air and road transport, construction, music, etc., is a
very common annoyance for residents, tourists and wildlife alike in many resorts.
Harris (1991) notes the disturbance to nesting penguins and other species by tourist
aircraft in the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. The noise pollution caused by
artificial snow generators used extensively in skiing resorts is highlighted by Smith
and Jenner (1989). Tourists to the Shark Bay area of Western Australia have ranked
noise resulting from hovercraft as a high adverse environmental impact, which also
disturbs fish and wildlife (Harris and Leiper, 1995).
Tourism, however, does not necessarily always create or add pollution problems.
Increasingly, it would appear that infrastructure for the treatment and disposal of
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