1.Front section - IUCN

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Friends for Life: New partners in support of protected areas
© Conservation Corporation Africa
Ngala tented accommodation, Conservation Corporation Africa
provides ecotourism experiences to discerning visitors from around
the world. The profits directly fund conservation work and
community development programmes.
Fostering attachment to heritage through
visitation and effective conservation
education
Due to rapid urbanization, many citizens have little
connection with nature. Consequently they are less
aware of the benefits of natural areas, and may be less
likely to support conservation (Tryzna, this volume).
Visitation to protected areas is valuable, not just in
an economic sense, but also to take people back to
nature, and to foster environmental awareness and a
conservation ethic. The benefits associated with
visitation to protected areas can be significant,
ensuring more people enjoy and value nature.
Greater research is needed into the role and
effectiveness of conservation education/interpretation,
and the multicultural dimensions of these strategies.
Comprehensive information on visitors (visitation
numbers, source markets, demographic profile of
visitors, patterns of visitation, motivation for visiting)
is lacking for many protected areas. Little effort has
gone into understanding the different ways people
construct and relate to nature, and how this
understanding should inform approaches to
environmental education programmes (Staiff et al.,
2002) that are engaging and effective for visitors of
different ethnicity, ages, interests and levels of literacy.
An effective conservation message changes attitudes
and behaviour. Considerable effort has gone into
modes of delivery and communication techniques,
including ecotour-guide training programmes and
accreditation schemes, such as the Savannah Guides
programme in Australia. Much less attention has been
given to content of the message and how it translates
into actions.
Tourism can be a powerful vehicle for conservation
messages through guides, story telling, brochures,
displays, souvenirs including books, games, products
and performances, that all extend well ‘beyond the
boundaries’ and can actively build support for
conservation.
Encouraging a stewardship ethic among
the public
Residents often hold large amounts of knowledge
about their local area. Protected areas often hold
spiritual or cultural significance to locals and visitors.
Managers can exploit these interests through visitor
programmes that develop sensitivities to the
conservation mission of the area, and through
management actions that acknowledge local interests
and encourage involvement from all age groups in
conservation initiatives, such as volunteers, guides
and through environmentally aware actions at home.
Working with local stakeholders and
industry
As the shortcomings of government policies and
funding for protected area conservation become more
apparent, increased support from non-government
sources such as local communities, private
landowners, landusers and NGOs become more
important (McNeely, 1994). The tourism industry is
included among these important stakeholders.
Tourism in and around protected areas should lead to
economic benefits to the local community such that
they have incentives to support conservation and
tourism. Other non-material values relating to
aesthetics, recreation and health aspects of protected
areas should not be underestimated in their influence
on community attitudes (Putney, this volume).
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