Transcript CSR BIODIV english
BIODIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABILITY
A. Raschi CNR-IBIMET With contribution of H.Hamele ECOTRANS
The term sustainability is nowadays widely used, but what does it mean?
Sustainable development: a development that guarantees future generations, by preserving and incrementing the local capital (environmental, human, social, infrastructural (Moseley, 2004) Touristic sustainability: a careful use of touristic resources, that guarantees their future availability (Jenkins, 1991) Sustainable development in tourism aims not only to satisfy the current needs, but also to protect and improve the environment, promote economic equity, and improve people’s life, by cooperating to integrate conservation, cultural integration and participation (Inskeep, 1991) "sustainability is improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting eco systems“ (
IUCN / UNEP / WWF 1991)
BIODIVERSITY The Convention on Biological Diversity was one of the outcomes of Rio Earth Summit (1992), and defines Biodiversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part…diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”. The aim of the Rio convention is not only to “conserve”, but to pursue “sustainable use” and “equitable sharing of benefits”
BIODIVERSITY IS A DYNAMIC CONCEPT, AS ECOSYSTEMS AND POPULATIONS CAN MOVE IN DEPENDENCE OF NATURAL AND ANTHROPIC CAUSES
With agriculture and gardening man has diffused alien species:
ALL THESE ARE NOW CULTIVATED IN EUROPE
From Iran From Japan From America From China
ON THE OTHER HAND, INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE REDUCES BIODIVERSITY EACH FARM WAS A MOSAIC OF DIFFERENT CROPS Traditional landscape PLANTS ARE MORE AND MORE UNIFORM, AND LANDSCAPE AS WELL (but tourists seem to appreciate anyway
OTHER CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY CAN BE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
SO, HOW CAN TOURISM IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY? EASY TO DEFINE IN GENERAL TERMS, BUT SITUATION IS DIFFERENT FROM SITE TO SITE BECAUSE:
-TOURISM IS A COMPLEX ACTIVITY -ECOSYSTEMS ARE COMPLEX, AND THEIR INTERNAL DYNAMICS ARE
KNOWN ONLY IN PART.
- POLICIES ARE BASED ON VALUE JUDGEMENTS, THAT ARE IN NTURN
BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF RISK, ON INTERESTS AND ON SOCIAL CONSTRUCT OF NATURE.
- THIS LEADS TO FACE AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM: CONFLICTS
Many impacts on nature /ecosystems /biodiversity have been widely analyzed, well known and documented!
Degradation and destruction of ecosystems Reduce /avoid restrictions in protected areas because of tourism development (example Mallorca), or reduction of protected areas surface Indirect Tourism infrastructures – often in protected areas, hotspots of biodiversity CO² and other Greenhouse Gas emissions contributing to Climate Change Transport Emissions, waste, waste water, noise (e.g. lakes, rivers, coasts, beaches), infrastructure, e.g. roads, airports, parkings
These parks’ shape is designed to keep some touristic towns out of the protected areas Beach biodiversity Beaches are biodiversity hotspots, and are very dynamic
These parks’ shape is designed to keep some touristic towns out of the protected areas Beaches are biodiversity hotspots, and are very dynamic And where does the wastewater go?
Not to mention about shipwrecks in national parks
What impacts does tourism have on biodiversity?
Overexploitation of natural resources Exeedance of the carrying capacity of a landscape /destination Lack or no acceptance of management plans / land use plans High water consumption in regions with water shortage Exploitation of wild life without respecting rules /scientific advise, without well trained guides Recreational activities with high impact on biodiversity, e.g. heli Offering /promoting activities against animal welfare (zoos not fullfilling international standards, dolphinarios .
skiing, Acceptance of selling illegal products (e.G. Purchase of products (food, souvenirs etc.) CITES) unsustainable produced
What impacts does tourism have on biodiversity?
Invasive Species Design of premises (hotel outdoor facilities) with non native plants Introduction of non native fish species for fishing Cruise Ships (e.g. water tanks), souvenirs (e.g. galapagos turtle) Emissions /Contamination Climate Change
Alien species reach the Mediterranean through Suez, And with cuise ships Alien species used in gardens. Some are invasive
This fish, introduced for sport tourism, Is destroying all local fauna in Italy Bears, reintroduced on the Alps, are putting at risk Sheep farms survival, and tourism itself.
Wild boars introduced for hunting is reproducing out of control Creating serious damage to agriculture
2. Screening of the Standards/Certificates/Awards in Tourism
Standards: coverage of biodiversity aspects in analysed standards (in %) Access and Benefit Sharing: 7% Special commitment of the company towards Biodiversity 3% Dissemination of invasive alien species 7% Degradation/destruction of ecosystems 38% Overexploitation of natural resources 24% Loss of species 21%
2. Screening of the Standards/Certificates/Awards in Tourism
No. of biodiversity aspects listed in standards
Special commitment of the company towards biodiversity ABS: involvement of local initiatives, local community support of the protection of Biodiversity
9 24
Dissemination of invasive alien species
25
Loss of species Overexploitation of natural ressources Degradation/destruction of ecosystems 0
71 81
20 40 60 80 100
128
120 140
3. Discussion of Exemplary Criteria from the Standards and Conclusions
Input: Exemplary criteria found in the screening
Criteria to prevent degradation /destruction of ecosystems Green Globe, EETLS: Biodiversity Conservation. Criteria: The business contributes to the support of biodiversity conservation, including supporting natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value. Quality Coast: D2 Protection of sensitive environments The destination has a system to monitor the impact of tourism on sensitive environments and protect habitats and species.
Green Key: XI.5 The establishment provides activities for raising awareness, focused on sustainable development, environment and nature in or around the premises (G).
Various international Standards
require: “The business contributes to the support of biodiversity conservation …”. This is a useful approach, but Standards should include an indication regarding
cuantitiy and quality of support.
But, what does the customer understand about biodiversity? Very little! As usually he is not a specialist/scholar This is well shown by the informative material of rural tourism enterprises
Mountains Valleys Sunset Sunflowers Trees Light Cereals Olive trees/ Vineyards Forests Nature Hills Green 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Campania Tuscany 70
Elements used to describe the environment. Countryside means nature, but in a very generic way
Sunflower is a very evocative tool to Promote rural tourism The text refers to typicality, nature And other concepts that have little to do with an intensive crop.
Terra/from the land Tuscan Natural Typical Traditional Home made Flavours Genuine Valorisation 0 Campania Tuscany 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
ON THE OTHER HAND, NOT ONLY NATURAL BIODIVERSITY,BUT ALSO AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY CAN BE AN ASSETT FOR AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS TOURISM: SOME EXAMPLES: The promotion of traditional cereals, often taking place in feasts, and fostering the creation of short production chains
Chestnut: from international market of imported fruits to local productions and transformation techniques
To the creation of local cooperatives, able to promote local biodiversity among tourists, to create jobs and to be real development agents
As about natural biodiversity, tourists are sedom able to go beyond aestethical appreciation.
Studies performed in African National Parks show that mainly big charismatic species attract tourists (lion, elephant…), while in marine environments the appreciation of biodiversity does not go beyond 20 species.
BUT GOOD RESULTS CAN BE ACHIEVED ON A LOCAL BASIS: The Caldara di Manziana, near Roma, a very peculiar biodiversity spot, is visited by thousands of visitors every year.
Other similar sites are unknown and used as rubbish dumps
A similar site became part of the local touristic offer Entrance to the path leading to the site
In conclusion, apart of what customers may know and think, biodiversity is a value in itself, as part of the local capital. Its protection can go with its transmission to visitors.
So, tourism can have an informative/educational role and promote the local heritage.
But first of all, the local capital (natural, agricultural, human etc) must be known by the local stakeholders/agent BECAUSE THERE CANNOT BE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE VALUE OF LOCAL HERITAGE