Linking Culture and the Environment

190 Local Participation and Attaining Sustainable Tourism
what it meant. Despite the lack of familiarity with the terminology, the
respondents considered tourism a positive and worthwhile development
for their area. A frequent view of tourists was defined as ‘rich people who
come to the beach for Holy Week; they are good for businesses’. Most felt it
stimulated the economy, generated cultural exchange and brought positive
changes. However, only few had contemplated how these changes would
affect their society or them personally. They tended to believe that ‘others’
benefit from tourism; that tourism is something that only the upper classes
enjoyed and benefited from.
Level of support for changes affecting local natural resource use
Whether landowners or farm labourers, most of those living in proximity to
the reserves have a close relationship with the natural resources that surround
them. Most express a fondness for fishing and hunting, but referred to
these activities as something of the past, claiming that animals, such as tapirs,
deer, turkeys and agouti, could no longer be found in their area. This is
among some of the reasons mentioned for ideologically supporting conservation
efforts. They express concern for the state of the ecology (in comparison
to the past) and agree that measures are needed to prevent further
deterioration. Environmental problems are often seen as an important issue
but rarely in their own area of influence or as a result of their own actions.
Where local problems are admitted, external causes such as large corporations
or immigrants are often blamed for them. ‘Since the cooperatives were
established during the land reform and people moved from other parts of the
country, we started having problems with over fishing in the lagoon.’
Even though most favour conservation, many sympathize with migrant
farmer activities (considered to be at the very bottom of the socio-economic
scale) as every man’s right to possess a piece of land with which to feed his
family. That is, they do not find it irregular for someone to clear a parcel of
forest for growing food. When asked if they would mind if that forest were on
their own private property, most said they would. According to a Gallup poll
conducted for USAID, a majority of Hondurans believes that there is a need
to control migrant agriculture in order to save the forests. Thus, even though
many sympathize with the needs of the poorest class, they also realize that
their practices are detrimental to the preservation of the national forests and
threaten the quality of water.
The controlled use of natural resources is supported by nearly all people,
especially if such controls do not directly affect them. Surprisingly, most people
claim that they are willing to accept changes in their customary use of
resources (i.e. limit their extraction), if there exists a valid reason for them,
such as an improvement in the environment and alternative gains from the
activity. Objections to regulations were raised, not as a result of subsequent
sacrifices but rather, in regards to the equitable implementation of such practices.
In both areas, each Foundation was accused of preferential treatment
in the enforcement of established rules. People overwhelmingly claim that