How Ecotourism Can Help Preserve the Rainforests of Amazon
The Amazon rainforest is one of the largest forests in the world, with a land area of more than two million miles. It spans nine different countries in South America, including Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Suriname, and Bolivia.
This forest sustains up to 500 indigenous communities and millions of ecosystems in the surrounding area. It is highly biodiverse with both animals and plants. The size of this forest makes it possible to create its own weather, which influences climates in different parts of the world. Unfortunately, this rainforest is under constant threat from illegal human activities such as deforestation and poaching, leaving it vulnerable to wildfires and erosion.
Excessive deforestation is going on in the Amazon rainforest to create products that are sold worldwide. Trees that have stood the test of time are now being destroyed to create goods that have little or no impact on our daily lives. The rate of deforestation is only increasing. In 2021, there was a 22 percent increase in deforestation from the previous years. These numbers are frightening and a clear indication that the lives of millions of indigenous people and wildlife are being threatened due to these illegal activities. The Amazon rainforest is one of our last lines of defense against permanent climate change. And if we lose this forest, we will lose the fight against global warming.
However, governments and private organizations are pushing back and fighting against deforestation in these regions through environmental control and accountability, encouragement of sustainable activities, and restriction of some areas. The application of modern technology such as forest monitoring is also another way to protect the rainforest from illegal activities. You can learn more about these tools at https://eos.com/products/forest-monitoring/. This type of tool can also provide accurate information to decrease the occurrence of hazards such as wildfires.
Can we help the Amazon forests as tourists on a personal level?
The main goal of ecotourism is to preserve what is left of the rainforest while providing people with a wonderful experience of nature. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as sustainable tourism that aims to educate tourists about the local environment and people while raising funds to protect that area from illegal activities. It gives tourists and environmental activists a chance to visit and be part of protecting the largest rainforest on our planet.
Ecotourism sends travelers into the Amazon rainforest to witness its greatness and splendor. This way, they can go back and educate others on the benefits of protecting natural resources. One of such movements is a group in Brazil called the Aldeia do Lagos, created by the Association For Environmental and Cultural Preservation of Silves, which aims to reduce the overexploitation of fish in that area. This group’s main goal is to educate visitors on the lifestyle and indigenous foods of the locals while also educating them on the importance of the Amazon rainforest to the world.
Another good way to protect the rainforest is for the government to recognize the rights and give ownership of the land to the indigenous people. This is because they have lived there for generations in harmony with the forests and will do everything to protect their home.
This strategy is backed by the Rainforest Foundation Norway as they state that the locals have lived and interacted with the forests for lots of generations and should be granted official rights over the lands. These rights give the locals protection to live in peace and be able to protect the land against unlawful activities, which is a violation of their rights. Also, if any activities need to be carried out on the land, then the representatives of the indigenous people should also have a say, and their opinions acknowledged. This will avoid unnecessary conflicts and work for the benefit of all parties involved.
The Xingu Indigenous Park located in Brazil is a good example of how empowering the local communities can save the environment. The park still remains standing even though the surrounding area has been converted into soy plantations.
Allocating tourist tours to local communities is also a good way to preserve the virgin parts of the forests. This is because local settlements already have passable roads or footpaths that tourists can use. There would be no need to fell down trees, causing more destruction for the construction of roads.
There are also some negative aspects to tourism. So, before sending tourists to any rainforests, all these factors need to be considered. A huge influx of people to these locations could displace the locals to make accommodations for the tourists. That is why it is important for travel companies to work closely with the natives, ensuring that the tourists arrive in small, controlled groups.
Protecting the environment and natural resources should be a crucial task for governments and local authorities because our future generations depend on it. Ecotourism is one of the ways to do that. It helps to educate tourists about the benefits of the Amazon while providing them with unique experiences.