ECU lecture 21_september2012

‘Planning & Development’Lecture

Friday 21 September, 2012

Commercial and philanthropic opportunities for

enhancing wildlife conservation through ecotourism

Angus M Robinson, Adjunct Lecturer

School of Marketing, Tourism

& Leisure

Car

ing

for

Aus

tral

ia’s

Nat

ural

and

Cul

tura

l Her

itage

sin

ce 1

970

Car

ing

for

Aus

tral

ia’s

Nat

ural

and

Cul

tura

l Her

itage

sin

ce 1

970

Lecturer –Angus M Robinson

�Certified ecotourism

operator.

�Board m

ember, Foundation for National Parks

& W

ildlife (FNPW.

�Chair, Geotourism

Sub Committee, Geological

Society of Australia.

�Varied career background in a range of

industries, including in tourism

, executive

roles at Taronga Zoo, Earth Exchange

Museum, and M

t Hotham Alpine Resort.

Lecture Points

�A question of definitions and principles

�Foundation for National Parks & W

ildlife

�Current Ecotourism

related partnerships

�Australian National Landscapes

�Philanthropy Opportunities and Vision

�Summary of Lecture Points

National Estate

�The term

(‘N

ational Estate’) w

as incorporated into

the Australian Heritage Commission Act and is used

to describe a collection of buildings and sites that

are w

orthy of preservation for a variety of reasons.

It covers natural environments

as well as European

history and Aboriginal culture.

�The National Estate includes national parksand

other lands reserved for public usage i.e.

‘protected areas’.

Understanding Natural Heritage

Natural heritageis the legacy of natural objects

and intangible attributes encompassing the

countryside and natural environment, including

flora and fauna, scientifically known as

biodiversity, and geology, landform

s and soil

landscapes i.e. geodiversity.

‘Geotourism

’incorporating

all types of ‘place-based’tourism

Boley, B.B. after Thompson, S. 2009

Sightseeing

Cuisine

Agritourism

Indigenous

Tourism

Heritage

Tourism

Cultural

Tourism

ECOTOURISM

i.e.

i.e.

‘‘ experiential

experiential

tourism

tourism

’’

A Q

ues

tio

n o

f D

efin

itio

ns

Recreation activities:

�Nature tourism

–involves travel to unspolied places to

experience and enjoy nature

�Wildlife tourism

involves travel to observe anim

als,

birds and fish in their native habitats.

�Adventure tourism

is nature tourism

‘on steroids’

�Ecotourism

–responsible travel to natural areas that

conserves the environment and improves the w

ell-being

of local people, defined by a set of principles

Source: Honey, 2008: Ecotourism

and Sustainable Development and The International

Ecotourism

Society, 1990

Seven Principles of Ecotourism

1.

Involves travel to natural destinations

2.

Minim

ises im

pact

3.

Builds environmental awareness

4.

Provides financial benefits

and empowerm

entfor

local people

5.

Respects local culture

6.

Supports human rights

and democratic m

ovements,

AND

7.

Provides direct financial benefits for conservation


and Sustainable Development

Invo

lves

Tra

vel t

o N

atur

al D

estin

atio

ns


1.


2.

Minim

ises im

pact

Min

imis

es Im

pac

t


1.


2.

Minim

ises im

pact

3.


Bu

ilds

En

viro

nm

enta

l Aw

aren

ess


1.


2.

Minim

ises im

pact

3.


4.

Provides financial benefits and empowerm

ent for

local people

Bo

rneo

Eco

tou

rs

�For every tour that is purchased, travellers w

ill

help m

ake a difference to the local community

and natural environment in North Borneo.

�A portion of tour revenue is set aside to fund

various projects

in Kudat, Kinabatangan and

Kundasangthrough a non-profit organisation,

Borneo Ecotourism

Solutions and Technologies

Society.

�A sister company, Su

kauRainforest Lodge also

contributes RM4.00 since 2000 for every

international guest w

ho stays at the lodge.


1.


2.

Minim

ises im

pact

3.


4.


ent for

local people

5.


Res

pec

tin

g L

oca

l Cu

ltu

re

Sev

en P

rin

cip

les

of

Eco

tou

rism


1.


2.

Minim

ises im

pact

3.


4.


ent for

local people

5.


6.

Supports human rights and democratic m

ovements

Yur

aygi

r C

oast

al W

alk

Sup

port

s hu

man

rig

hts


1.


2.

Minim

ises im

pact

3.


4.


ent for

local people

5.


6.

Supports human rights and democratic m

ovements

7.

Provides direct financial benefits for conservation


and Sustainable Development

Au

stra

lian

Def

init

ion

of

Eco

tou

rism

�Ecotourism

is ecologically sustainable tourism

with a

primary focus on experiencing natural areas that

fosters environmental and cultural understanding,

appreciation and conservation.

�Ecotourism

Australiabelieves that the ultim

ate

definition of ecotourism

is compliance w

ith the core

criteria stated w

ithin the Eco Certification Program.

Eco

Cer

tifi

cati

on

Cri

teri

a

�In Australia, ECO Certification has three levels of

achievement which have been developed to

accommodate for a range of businesses and,

•their level of commitment to sustainability,

dedication/applicability to social and cultural

responsibilities,

and

•the level of interpretationand educationinvolved

in the product(s).

�Currently no specific focus on philanthropyand

funding of wildlife conservation research.

Definition of Philanthropy

�the desire to promote the w

elfare of others,

expressed especially by the generous

donation of money to good causes.

�a philanthropic institution; a charity.

Source: Oxford Dictionary

Foundation for National Parks & W

ildlife

The Foundation

�When then Premier of NSW, the Hon Tom Lewis M

P, first

established the NSW National Parks & W

ildlife Service,

he had a vision of establishing a complementary

organisation, constituted m

ainly from the corporate

sector , to acquire parks for the Service. Hence the birth

of the Foundation for National Parks & W

ildlife

in 1970.

�Today the Foundation continues the tradition of growing

parksand caring for them and the species that inhabit

them.

Fou

ndat

ion

achi

evem

ents

Volunteering Land for Conservation

�The Foundation for National Parks & W

ildlife is

the only organisation in Australia w

hose

philanthropy is an investment in our public

estate, for all to enjoy.

�There are tax incentives for landholders

donating landbut the real value is the growth

of our national parksand the protection given

to our plants and anim

als cared for under their

management.

1. Foundation Achievements

�Over its history the FNPW has added over

500,000 hectaresto Australia’s national

reserve system, for the enjoyment of all.

�The FNPW funds threatened species recovery

programs. The FNPW has saved anim

als such

as the Lord Howe Island w

oodhen, Gould’s

Petrel and the Yellow-footed Rock-w

allaby

from extinction.

2. Foundation Achievements

�The Foundation protects our heritage icons as

sources of inspiration for future generationsof

Australians and visitors from across the w

orld.

Some examples of cultural heritageFNPW has

helped protect include the W

orld Heritage Old

Great North Road, Kosciuszko Historic Huts,

Fort Denison, and Mungo.

�Finally, the FNPW involvesthe community in

the conservation of Australia's native plants and

anim

als through environmental education.

Willandra Lakes

World Heritage

Area and M

ungo

National Park

Pleistocene dune system

& ancient lake highlighting

50,000 years of continuous

human habitation

FNPW and Philanthropy

�Since its inception in 1970, the Foundation

has been funding scientifically based projects

for the benefit of Australian native species.

�To date the Foundation has saved four species

from extinction and funded projects to

research and conserve over 30 other

Australian plant and anim

al species.

Over 40 Years of Caring

Fou

ndat

ion

achi

evem

ents

Fou

ndat

ion

achi

evem

ents

Fou

ndat

ion

achi

evem

ents

Growing Our National Parks

�Growing our parks is essential to safeguard

our natural heritagefor future Australians.

�National Parks remain the core of our

protected land system.

�The Foundation continues to purchase

suitable land to add to and extend our

national reservesfor future generations.

Strategic Partnerships

Eco

tour

ism

& P

rote

cted

Are

as –

Yur

aygi

r C

oast

al W

alk

Yuraygir Coastal Walk, NSW

Yur

aygi

r C

oast

al W

alk

Min

imal

impa

ct, l

ocal

ben

efits

Yuraygir Coastal Walk

‘Follow the Coastal Emu’

Yur

aygi

r C

oast

al W

alk

Pro

vidi

ng d

irect

fina

ncia

l ben

efits

for

cons

erva

tion

Yuraygir Coastal Walk

Respecting Local Culture

Strategic partnerships -

Accommodation providers

within Protected areas

Strategic Partnership Opportunities

Eco

tour

ism

& W

ildlif

e C

onse

rvat

ion

–E

aste

rn Q

uoll,

Tas

man

ia

Philanthropy Vision

Now:

�To act ‘on call’as an interested sponsor of threatened

species wildlife conservation projects w

hich have as

their principal objective, the m

aintenance and/or

regeneration of wildlife habitat. These projects can be

located either within national parks or within public or

private lands in any location in Australia.

Future:

�To undertake these projects in the area in w

hich the

ecotour is being undertaken.

Eastern Quoll Trapping, Tasm

ania

Eastern Quoll M

onitoring

Eastern Quoll Pathology Testing

Eastern Quoll –A Bloodied Experience!

Earthwatch Great Otway NP, Victoria

Koala Research Program for Volunteers

�Help scientists study the response of koalas to climate

change to conserve their habitats and population.

�Traverse the Great Otw

ay NP w

hile conducting valuable

research on koala habitats to understand the impact of

climate change on population and behaviour.

�During organised expeditions, volunteers w

ill get the

chance to w

ork closely w

ith koalas and be involved in

all aspects of the research.

�Leisure Solutions®

is a current year sponsor.

Koala ‘Tree Choice’Gunnedah, NSW

Wildlife Conservation

�Koalas are dependent on selecting the right

treein the right placeat the right time.

�The project seeks to explore the direct effect

of climate change on koalasby examining w

hich

parts of the landscape and w

hich tree species

koalas use, and w

hat condition they are in

during a heat wave.

Koala Tree Choice Participants

�National Parks & W

ildlife Service

�Gunnedah Research Centre

�Landcare NSW Inc

�University of Sydney School of Biological

Sciences & Veterinary School

�Foundation for National Parks & W

ildlife

Gunnedah Natural Heritage

�Gunnedah Basin Perm

ian Coal Measures and covered by

Triassic sedim

ents and rich volcanic derived soils –

broad flood plains with class 1 to 5 soils.

�Mixed dry land eucalypts and Pilliga Scrub varieties

e.g. Cypress Pine, Casuarinas etc.

�Macropods, koalas, profilic birdlife common –Koala

Capital of Australia!

�European farm

ing settlements, Dorothy M

ackellar, and

indigenous culture (Kamilaroi peoples etc.)

Tracking Koalas

Koala in a Tree

Koala W

rangling

Koala W

rangling

Koala Examination

Koala Unwrangling

Koala Back in the W

ild

Thanks A Lot!

Koala Scat Research!

Australia’s

National

Landscapes

Flin

der

s R

ang

es N

atio

nal

Lan

dsc

ape

Flin

der

s R

ang

es N

atio

nal

Lan

dsc

ape

Th

e C

azn

eau

x T

ree

-F

lind

ers

Ran

ges

NP

National Landscape/GSA Protocol

�The Geological Society of Australia and Parks

Australia have recently concluded a protocol to

enable the input of geoscience inform

ationinto

National Landscapes programs.

�This protocol has already seen the inclusion of a

geotrailproject as an endorsed program of the

Experience Development Strategy (EDS)for the

Green CauldronNational Landscape.

Scenic Rim

–Green Cauldron

National Landscape

Travelers Philanthropy -Ethiopa

�The USAID-funded Ethiopia Sustainable Tourism

Alliance,

with support from Sustainable Travel International, is

proud to introduce the Ethiopia Travelers Philanthropy

Fund.

�The fund opens the door for travelers to give back to

Ethiopia, ensuring their visits leave a positive impact.

�The program supports sustainable tourism

development

by connecting travelers to projects that im

prove the

environment, boost local incomes, andenhance the

destination for future visitors.

Travelers Philanthropy -Ethiopa

�Tour operators are including visits to conservation and

community development projects

in their itineraries.

�Travelers can donate to and visit local communitiesthat

are w

orking hard to protect their forests and rehabilitate

degraded land. Visitors can book a trip through one of

their partnering tour operators

and request that the

itinerary includes a visit to one/both of the project sites.

�There are two w

ays to give–directly to the responsible

non-profits

that have been vetted through the fund or on

the Global Giving w

ebsite. e.g. plant a tree in a village

or provide an energy saving stove to a family.

Philanthropy Opportunities linked to Ecotourism

�Royalty payments from tour operators on prorata

basis.

�Corporate sponsorship of part or full project costs.

�Per unit donations for research costs e.g. pathology

tests, GPS collars.

�Sponsorship of vehicle leases.

�‘voluntourists’

e.g. Earthwatch, Conservation

Volunteers Australia, World Expeditions etc.

http

://w

ww

.eco

tour

ism

.org

/vol

unto

uris

m-g

uide

lines

�Field Research ‘experiential’tourism

-‘ecotourists’.

Tauern National Park, Austria and the Endangered

Rock Partridge Case Study

�The 'two-edged' e

ffect of ecotourism

, whereby visitors provide

revenues for costly conservation efforts,

whilst at the same tim

e

potentially affecting endangered species, can be m

anaged to

ensure species' population levels are not affected.

�Three types of measureswere specifically highlighted by the

mathematical model:

�visitor control limiting visitors

�habitat conservation m

easures, i.e. expanding buffer zo

nes

or creating quiet zo

nes with the help of signposts, and

�species conservation m

easures, such as species restocking.

Source:

Bed

nar-

Frie

dl, B

., B

ehre

ns, D

.A. a

nd G

etzn

er,

M. (

2012

) O

ptim

al D

ynam

icC

ontr

ol o

f Vis

itors

an

d E

ndan

gere

d S

peci

es in

a N

atio

nal P

ark.

Env

ironm

enta

l and

Res

ourc

e E

cono

mic

s. 5

2: 1

-

22. D

OI 1

0.10

07/s

1064

0-01

1-95

15-5

.

Lecture Points Summary

�By definition, ecotourism

requires a commitment by tour

operators and accommodation providers

to contribute to

providing direct financial benefits for conservation.

�Demonstrated opportunitiesare now readily available for

industry participation.

�With an increasing level of promotion of ‘nature based’tourism

into both established protected areas and National Landscapes,

more opportunities will arise.

�In tim

e, it is predicted that eco-certification w

ill directly

embrace w

ildlife conservation support.

�TheFNPW

is one leading ‘not for profit’

NGO w

hich can provide

a vehicle for ecotourism

driven philanthropy.

For more Inform

ation about FNPW

Visit our website

www.fnpw.org.auand sign up for our new

sletter!

Become our friend on Facebook

www.facebook.com/fnpw.1970

www.facebook.com/backyardbuddies

Follow us on twitter

http://twitter.com/fnpw

Call us

(02) 9221 1949

Email

[email protected]

angus@

leisuresolutions.com.au