Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T15:04:33.246Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Ecotourism as a Means of Conserving Wetlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

Carlisle A. Pemberton
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
Kathleen Mader-Charles
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

The Nariva Swamp on the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean is being degraded due to increasing human activity. However, its conservation is desirable, as it is an internationally recognized wetland. The study examined an ecotourism project, with an emphasis on community participation, as a conservation approach to the Swamp, via benefit–cost analysis, where the benefits of conservation were measured by contingent valuation. Contingent valuation showed that the residents of Trinidad were willing to pay an average of $56 for conserving the Swamp. The analysis also showed that ecotourism represents an economically feasible use of ecologically fragile resources of this wetland.

Type
Invited Paper Sessions
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aitken, T.H.G.Bush Bush Forest and the Nariva Swamp.” Journal of the Trinidad Field Naturalists' Club (1973). Internet site: http://www.wow.net/ttfnc/livworld/Papers/BushBush/bushbush.html (Accessed January 22, 2005).Google Scholar
Bacon, P.R., and Ffrench, R.P., eds. The Wildlife Sanctuaries of Trinidad and Tobago. Wildlife Conservation Committee, Trinidad and Tobago: Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries, 1972.Google Scholar
Center for Development Information and Evaluation, U.S. Agency for International Development. Win-Win Approaches to Development and the Environment, Ecotourism and Biodiversity Conservation. Washington, DC. Internet site: http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/pnaby204.pdf (Accessed January 22, 2005).Google Scholar
Chiang, A.C.Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc., 1984:464.Google Scholar
Convention on Biological Diversity. Biological Diversity and Tourism Introduction. Internet site: http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/socio-eco/tourism/default.asp (Accessed January 22, 2005).Google Scholar
Haab, T. C., and McConnell, K.E.. Valuing Environmental and Natural Resources: The Econometrics of Non-Market Valuation. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., 2002:2336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanley, N., and Spash, C.L.. Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Environment. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., 1998:820.Google Scholar
Mood, A.M., Graybill, EA, and Boes, D.C. Introduction to the Theory of Statistics, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc., 1974:542.Google Scholar
Ramachandra, T.V.Restoration and Management Strategies of Wetlands in Developing CountriesElectronic Green Journal 15(2001). Internet site: http://egj.lib.uidaho.edu/egjl5/ramachal.html (Accessed January 22, 2005).Google Scholar
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Ramsar Advisory Missions: Report No. 35, N ariva Swamp. 1995. Internet site: http://www.ramsar.org/ram_rpt_35e.htm (Accessed January 22, 2005).Google Scholar
Schiller, E., and Flanagan, S.. “Protecting Wetlands is Good Business for Local Government.Public Management 79(1997):1926.Google Scholar
Shores, J.N.The Challenge of Ecotourism: A Call for Higher Standards. 1996. Internet site: http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/library/shorj96a.htm (Accessed January 22, 2005).Google Scholar
Wetlands International. “Trinidad & Tobago 6TT001.” Ramsar Database: A Directory of Wetlands of International Importance. 1997. Internet site: http://www.wetlands.org/RDB/Ramsar_Dir/Trinidad&Tobago/TT001D02.htm (Accessed January 22, 2005).Google Scholar