Paying money to volunteer your time...???
This concept is one that still puzzles me (and many other people) so I have done some investigation in attempt to figure out what is the deal with ecotourism.
According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.
For many conservation organizations, like the reserve I am currently staying at, their primary (and sometimes only) source of income is from volunteers. These organizations heavily rely on donations and volunteer payments to run their entire operation. The money at the reserve goes to pay the people who work here, the food, the bills, maitenance, transportation, and the financing of trips to go to important meetings and assemblies. As a volunteer, a paying volunteer, it is an interesting concept.
On one hand, without the money from the volunteers, organizations that are working towards conservation would not be able to operate. I truly believe that by inspiring people to make an effort towards conservation by immersing them in the beauty of nature, they will be more likely to take action and affect change. However, it is a completely unsustainable practice. These organizations rely 100% on volunteers, therefore they are unable to sustain themselves. Without volunteers, everything would collapse.
In this sense, I believe that ecotourism is a start towards conservation but not a final or sustainable solution. We have to start somewhere, but eventually organizations, much like the one I am currently volunteering for, need to be self-sufficient.
This concept is one that still puzzles me (and many other people) so I have done some investigation in attempt to figure out what is the deal with ecotourism.
According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.
For many conservation organizations, like the reserve I am currently staying at, their primary (and sometimes only) source of income is from volunteers. These organizations heavily rely on donations and volunteer payments to run their entire operation. The money at the reserve goes to pay the people who work here, the food, the bills, maitenance, transportation, and the financing of trips to go to important meetings and assemblies. As a volunteer, a paying volunteer, it is an interesting concept.
On one hand, without the money from the volunteers, organizations that are working towards conservation would not be able to operate. I truly believe that by inspiring people to make an effort towards conservation by immersing them in the beauty of nature, they will be more likely to take action and affect change. However, it is a completely unsustainable practice. These organizations rely 100% on volunteers, therefore they are unable to sustain themselves. Without volunteers, everything would collapse.
In this sense, I believe that ecotourism is a start towards conservation but not a final or sustainable solution. We have to start somewhere, but eventually organizations, much like the one I am currently volunteering for, need to be self-sufficient.
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