Ecotourism

Among the many definitions of "ecotourism / eco-tourism" are the more 'strict' definitions (see Wikipedia definition below) and more 'loosely labeled' definitions of what constitutes ecologically aware tourism. Ecotouring now includes ocean cruises in the Arctic and Antarctic to witness climate change, group adventure expeditions to remote fast-changing regions, and individually planned trips north and south to the mountains and coasts to see recent environmental changes (see above example in Newfoundland, Canada).

In the near future, 'virtual ecotourism' will enter the lexicon, as virtual reality capabilities added to programs like Google Earth enable 3D / immersive touring via headsets and data libraries gathered from locations as diverse as the biospheres within rainforest canopies, ocean kelp forests and seascapes of seagrass, 'tiny blue-green' environments producing essential oxygen for the planet, to astronaut perspectives who speak of an "Overview Effect" as they take in the overwhelming cognitive experience of floating above the Earth.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism

According to the definition and principles of ecotourism established by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990, ecotourism is "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990). Martha Honey, expands on the TIES definition by describing the seven characteristics of ecotourism, which are:

Involves travel to natural destinations

Minimizes impact

Builds environmental awareness

Provides direct financial benefits for conservation

Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people

Respects local culture

Supports human rights and democratic movements such as:

conservation of biological diversity and cultural diversity through ecosystem protection
promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local populations
sharing of all socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous peoples by having their informed consent and participation in the management of *ecotourism enterprises
tourism to unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern.
minimization of tourism's own environmental impact
affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury
local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions
local people benefit from this form of tourism economically

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SJS: The Costa Rica rainforest canopy web project of Don Perry beginning in the 1980's was one of the first planned ecotourism projects.

One of the key goals was to open up to 'the world' a direct experience of the rainforest canopy, which previously was inaccessible in its unrivaled biodiversity and beauty.

In this way we believed visitors' awareness would more fully carry on with them in their home communities and policies and funding would begin to preserve the unique and critically important flora and fauna comprising one of the richest biospheres on Earth.

http://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Rainforest_Canopy_Don_Perry

http://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Category:Rain_Forest

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism_in_Costa_Rica