BIOL1500 Argument Essay: CON Of Ecotourism Textbook Reference

Con of Ecotourism
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Institution
Con of Ecotourism
Ecotourism has received widespread attention over the last decade because of its potential benefits in the conservation of the environment. However, the focus of this paper is on the negative effects of ecotourism, on both the communities and the environment. Just like any other issue that brings good to the world, there are challenges associated with ecotourism that need to be addressed. Basically, ecotourism is a recreational visit to natural destinations that conserves the environment and also improves the quality of life of the local community (Thompson, Gillen, & Friess, 2017). Yet, sometimes, ecotourism brings about effects that are contrary to this definition. This specific issue of the drawbacks of ecotourism relates to a topic on chapter three and nine of the book by Primack and Sher (2019), which addresses the value of unprotected habitat and the value of the ecosystem as a whole. These two chapters reveal that most of the natural habitats have been affected by human activity. In a way, ecotourism has also affected the natural habitats negatively, as will be revealed later in this paper. But some topics, such as the one on ecosystem productivity in chapter three, point out to the need for proper management so that the ecosystem is not destroyed by human activities. Ecotourism poses a risk to the environment and the communities because it disrupts the natural behavior of species in their natural habitats, leads to the loss of biodiversity, and erodes or depreciates the local community’s culture.
Understanding the negative effects of ecotourism is very instrumental in guiding decision-making. As revealed by Primack and Sher (2019), most of the natural habitats are destroyed by human activities. Thus, it is up to human beings to develop better, environmentally-friendly activities so that the ecosystem can be conserved. Yet, it would be difficult to do so if people do not understand which activities, and how those activities, affect the environment. This is why the cons of ecotourism need to be examined to ensure that human beings are making an informed decision by not only understanding the benefits, but also the challenges of ecotourism. In fact, without information on this specific issue, it would be difficult to identify the areas of weakness in relation to ecotourism, yet it affects the entire ecosystem.
Tourists engage in various activities as part of their recreational travel and plans. Some of the activities interfere with the natural behaviors of species. According to Thompson, Gillen, and Friess (2017), sometimes, tourists and their tour guides engage in activities such as bird feeding, which disrupts the birds’ natural feeding habits. In addi...