Ecotourism has been maligned as a travel fad and embraced as a conservation phenomenon. But the popular media has rarely touched upon the true story behind one of the fastest growing travel phenomenon on earth. This column looks behind the veil of promotion and sees beyond the question of ecolegitimacy. It investigates the lives of the entrepreneurs, idealists, indigenous people, and activists that are bringing true ecotourism to life - and it brings the reader to their doorstep.
This column will recount a series of personal journeys to be taken by the author in Central and South America in 1998 and early 1999. No one individual can cover the number of ecotourism projects now taking place in Latin America - because they certainly exist in the thousands. Many argue that ecotourism began in Latin America, and it roots are in the jungles of the New World. The number one desire of ecotourists is to visit the rain forest - and for good reason, these biological jewels are fragile, and population growth is leading to rapid devastation of remarkable landscapes and unique life forms on a daily basis. As founder of The Ecotourism Society, I have seen extraordinary projects and worked with many brave and original people. They are working in the most remote outposts on this planet to save their patch of heaven and redefine the travel experience. Like pioneers, they are struggling on the periphery of the mass tourism machine. Their goals are clear: to give a sense of purpose to the travel experience and create genuine contact with ecosystems and cultures.
As I set off into the rain forests of Latin America, I am very aware of the meaning of a journey and the life enhancing experience it can be for any traveler. I will recount my adventures from a personal perspective - but I am eager for others to share this experience and learn how we, as simple wayfarers, can contribute to the sustainability of the planet.
The stories I will recount will be of refuges for the traveler that feed the heart and soul -- places where visitors can find hope by directly encountering solutions that are helping to conserve our planet. I will stay with hunter gatherers of the Amazon who are using ecotourism to rescue their rain forest homes from oil development, and jungle entrepreneurs who have created harmonious lodges that conserve the land, sustain local people, and enlighten the visitor. This column will correct the inaccurate view tourists may have of ecotourism and help them find an internal ethical compass to search out authentic travel experiences in the future.
Author Bio: Megan Epler Wood is a writer, filmmaker, scientist, and conservationist who has been working on rain forest conservation issues since 1980. Part of the World Wildlife Fund communications team that broke the story of rain forest destruction to the U.S. public, she has long been an expert on the art of communications in the field of environmental conservation. As founder of The Ecotourism Society in 1990, she became, to her surprise, a leader of an international movement that is using small-scale tourism to create ecological refuges that benefit local and traditional peoples and use their knowledge in every aspect of design and implementation. This fascinating experiment in development has spread like wildfire, creating a multiplicity of authentic experiences for the traveler. These heart-felt and genuine projects are the stuff of true ecotourism - but they must receive attention in order to survive.
You can contact the author via email: MEGAN@together.net.
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