Previous posts outlined the Virtual Ecotourism team’s current objectives and strategies, as well as plans for the near future. This final blog post briefly introduces two long-term objectives of the project. Although they are ambitious and may not be realized for some time, they remain extremely important to the vEco vision.
Phase IV: Outreach in Host Communities
Main Objective: Use pre-recorded tours to conduct outreach in villages and spread environmental awareness amongst local communities.
It is well documented that short-term unsustainable resource use is a leading cause of biodiversity decline and environmental degradation worldwide. By bringing pre-recorded tours to parts of the world without internet access, school children, young adults and local communities at large may increase their appreciation for the natural world, recognize its potential as a source of income, and modify their behaviour to mitigate threats to the environment.
Phase V: Creation of Alternate Livelihoods
Main Objective: Create an alternate source of income for communities living near conservation areas by encouraging tourists to donate to conservation projects after taking a virtual ecotour.
This aspect of the Virtual Ecotourism project will promote personal and social responsibility by encouraging tourists to donate to conservation projects that they have experience through a virtual tour.
Ecotourism has been widely heralded as a means to provide an income in a way that encourages protection of biodiversity. However, even Ecotourism done sensitively has disadvantages including: high carbon footprint, wildlife disturbance, potential for disease introduction, and development of roads and infrastructure which have a detrimental effect on wildlife. Furthermore, many people are unable to afford the high price of ecotourism, or are too old, young, or otherwise unable, or unwilling, to travel.
In the future, we envision Virtual Ecotourism as bringing conservation projects to a new audience and source of funds, without the detrimental side effects of traditional ecotourism. Ultimately, we hope this will contribute to the protection of wildlife and conservation sites around the world.
Image: Jackson Efitre, Professor and Tour Guide, Uganda.