International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Issues of empowerment of local people for Ecotourism Development: A Case Study: Shir-Ahmad wildlife refuge-Iran

    , ,

Author Affiliations

  • 11 Department of Environmental Science, University of Pune, INDIA
  • 2 Department of Geography, University of Pune, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 3, Issue (8), Pages 72-76, August,22 (2014)

Abstract

The current study aims to explore the feasibility of ecotourism for development of environment of ShirAhmad wildlife refuge with empowerment of local people. The researcher found that the study region since the last decade have been facing the challenging circumstances such as drought, degradation of farm land, heat wave, pests and etc. and which have adverse impact on degradation of postural production and raise the issue of livelihood of the locals people. This situation forced them to go after illegal hunting of fauna in their wildlife and destruction of pastures. The study has pointed out that Shir Ahmad wildlife refuge has a great potential for ecotourism and can attract a lot of tourist each year who are seeking for the great feeling of being surrounded by the nature, based on its nature and existing animal species. Results of this paper are based on survey method (questionnaire). This research study revealed that the local residents have low level of education of their surrounding area. As a matter of fact studies like this in over the world revealed; ecotourism can bring wealth and different job opportunities for the resident of these regions especially local people. On the other hand it has generate positive effect on the agricultural land, reduction of animal hunting and destruction of green species in the region, while encouraging local people to protect the environment. This study revealed that the needs for more detail investigation on the nature and scope of environmental education in ShirAhmad refuge in relation to ecotourism and its results in economic development and environmental protection.

References

  1. Amaro B., Ecotourism and Ethics. Earth Island J., 14(3),33-52 (1999)
  2. Belsky M.J., The Politics of Community-Based Rural Ecotourism in Gales Point Manatee, Belize, Rural Sociological Society, 64(2), , 641-666 (1999)
  3. Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 763.Jones Samantha, Annals of Tourism Research, 32(2), 303–324, Elsevier Ltd. Britain (2005)
  4. Bridgewater P., (a), New approaches needed to Environmental Education and Public Awareness, Prospects, XXXIII, 263–272 (2003)
  5. Behzad R., Feasibility of ecotourism for conservation of environment and economic incentives. A case study: the Shir-Ahmad wildlife refuge-Iran, Ph.D. Theses, 45-63, University of Pune-India (2014)
  6. Khan Maryam M., 1997, Tourism Development and Dependency Theory: Mass Tourism vs. Ecotourism, Annals of Tourism Research, 24(4), 988-991 (2005)
  7. Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell, (a) Comparison of Rural and Urban Attitudes to the Conservation of Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka, Biological Conservation, 110, 327-342 (2003)
  8. Streever W., Callaghan-Perry J.M., Searles A., Stevens T. and Svoboda P., Public attitudes and values for wetland conservation in New South Wales, Australia, Journal of Environmental Management, (54), 1-14, (1998)
  9. Hanemann M.W., (a), Welfare evaluation in contingent valuation experiments with discrete responses, American Journal of Agricultural economics, 66(3), 332-41 (1984)
  10. Rawat G.S. and V.K. Uniyal, Pastoralism and plant conservation: The valley of flowers dilemma, Environment Conservation, 20(2), 164–167 (1993)
  11. Machlis G. and Bacci M.E., Is ecotourism ideologically biased, elitist, short-sighted, anti-democratic and unsustainable? International Union For Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) IV World Conference on National Parks and Protected Areas, Caracas, Venezuela, February, 10-12 (1992)
  12. Campbell L.M., Conservation narratives and the received wisdom of ecotourism: case studies from Costa Rica,International Journal of Sustainable Development, 5(3), 300-325 (2002)
  13. Bridgewater P., (b) New approaches needed to Environmental Education and Public Awareness, Prospects, XXXIII, 263–272 (2003)
  14. Hanemann M.W., (b), Welfare evaluation in contingent valuation experiments with discrete responses, American Journal of Agricultural economics, 66(3), 332-41 (1984)
  15. Ranjith Bandara and Clem Tisdell., (b), Comparison of Rural and Urban Attitudes to the Conservation of Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka, Biological Conservation, 110, 327-342 (2003)
  16. Wunder S., Payments for environmental services: some nuts and bolts. CIFOR Occasional Paper No. 42. Center for International Forestry Research, Jakarta, Indonesia, (2005)