BIODIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABILITY Raschi CNR-IBIMET With contribution of H.Hamele ECOTRANS

1. BIODIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABILITY Raschi CNR-IBIMET WithcontributionofH.Hamele ECOTRANS

2. The termsustainabilityisnowadayswidelyused, butwhatdoesitmean? Sustainabledevelopment: a developmentthatguarantees future generations, bypreserving and incrementing the local capital (environmental, human, social, infrastructural (Moseley, 2004) Touristicsustainability: a carefuluseoftouristicresources, thatguaranteestheir future availability (Jenkins, 1991) Sustainabledevelopment in tourismaimsnotonlytosatisfy the currentneeds, butalsotoprotect and improve the environment, promoteeconomicequity, and improvepeople’s life, bycooperatingto 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)

3. BIODIVERSITY The Convention on BiologicalDiversitywasoneof the outcomesof Rio Earth Summit (1992), and definesBiodiversityas “the variabilityamong living organismsfromallsourcesincludinginteraliaterrestrial, marine and otheraquaticecosystems and the ecologicalcomplexesofwhichthey are part…diversitywithinspecies, betweenspecies and ofecosystems”. The aimof the Rio convention isnotonlyto “conserve”, buttopursue “sustainableuse” and “equitablesharingofbenefits”

4. BIODIVERSITY IS A DYNAMIC CONCEPT, AS ECOSYSTEMS AND POPULATIONS CAN MOVE IN DEPENDENCE OF NATURAL AND ANTHROPIC CAUSES Withagriculture and gardening man hasdiffusedalienspecies: ALL THESE ARE NOW CULTIVATED IN EUROPE From Iran FromJapan From America From China

5. ON THE OTHER HAND, INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE REDUCES BIODIVERSITY EACH FARM WAS A MOSAIC OF DIFFERENT CROPS Traditionallandscape PLANTS ARE MORE AND MORE UNIFORM, AND LANDSCAPE AS WELL (buttouristsseemtoappreciateanyway

6. OTHER CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY CAN BE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

7. 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

8. Many impacts on nature /ecosystems /biodiversity have been widely analyzed, well known and documented! Degradation and destruction of ecosystems Reduce /avoidrestrictions in protectedareasbecause of tourismdevelopment (example Mallorca), orreductionofprotectedareassurface Tourisminfrastructures – often in protectedareas, hotspots of biodiversity Emissions, waste, wastewater, noise (e.g. lakes, rivers, coasts, beaches), CO² andotherGreenhouse Gas emissionscontributingtoClimate Change Transport infrastructure, e.g. roads, airports, parkings Indirect

9. Theseparks’ shapeisdesignedtokeep some touristictowns out of the protectedareas Beach biodiversity Beaches are biodiversity hotspots, and are verydynamic

10. Theseparks’ shapeisdesignedtokeep some touristictowns out of the protectedareas Beaches are biodiversity hotspots, and are verydynamic And wheredoes the wastewater go? Nottomentionaboutshipwrecks in nationalparks

11. What impacts does tourism have on biodiversity? Overexploitation of naturalresources Exeedance of thecarryingcapacity of a landscape /destination Lack ornoacceptance of managementplans / landuseplans High waterconsumption in regionswithwatershortage Exploitation of wild lifewithoutrespectingrules /scientificadvise, without well trainedguides Recreationalactivitieswithhighimpact on biodiversity, e.g. heliskiing, Acceptance of selling illegal products (e.G. CITES) Offering /promotingactivitiesagainstanimalwelfare (zoos not fullfilling international standards, dolphinarios . Purchase of unsustainableproducedproducts (food, souvenirs etc.)

12. What impacts does tourism have on biodiversity? Invasive Species Design of premises (hoteloutdoorfacilities) with non native plants Introduction of non native fishspecies for fishing Cruise Ships (e.g. watertanks), souvenirs (e.g. galapagos turtle) Emissions /Contamination Climate Change

13. Alienspeciesused in gardens. Some are invasive Alienspeciesreach the Mediterraneanthrough Suez, And withcuiseships

14. Thisfish, introducedfor sport tourism, Isdestroyingalllocal fauna in Italy Bears, reintroduced on the Alps, are putting at risk Sheepfarmssurvival, and tourismitself. Wild boarsintroducedforhuntingisreproducing out ofcontrol Creatingseriousdamagetoagriculture

15. 2. Screening of the Standards/Certificates/Awards in Tourism

16. 2. Screening of the Standards/Certificates/Awards in Tourism

17. 3. Discussion of Exemplary Criteria from the Standards and Conclusions Input: Exemplary criteria found in the screening Criteriatopreventdegradation /destruction of ecosystems Green Key: XI.5  The establishment provides activities for raising awareness, focused on sustainable  development, environment and nature in or around the premises (G). 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 environmentsThe destination has a system to monitor the impact of tourism on sensitive environments and protect habitats and species. 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.

18. But, whatdoes the customerunderstandaboutbiodiversity? Verylittle! As usuallyheisnot a specialist/scholar Thisiswellshownby the informative material ofruraltourismenterprises Elementsusedtodescribe the environment. Countrysidemeans nature, but in a verygeneric way

19. Sunfloweris a very evocative toolto Promoteruraltourism The text referstotypicality, nature And otherconceptsthathavelittleto do withan intensive crop.

20. 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 oftraditionalcereals, often takingplace in feasts, and fostering the creationof short production chains

21. Chestnut: frominternational market ofimportedfruitstolocalproductions and transformationtechniques

22. To the creationoflocalcooperatives, abletopromotelocalbiodiversityamongtourists, to create jobs and toberealdevelopmentagents

23. As aboutnaturalbiodiversity, tourists are sedomableto go beyondaestethicalappreciation. Studiesperformed in African National Parks show thatmainly big charismaticspeciesattracttourists (lion, elephant…), while in marine environments the appreciationofbiodiversitydoesnot go beyond 20 species. BUT GOOD RESULTS CAN BE ACHIEVED ON A LOCAL BASIS: The Caldara di Manziana, near Roma, a very peculiarbiodiversity spot, isvisitedbythousands ofvisitorseveryyear. Othersimilarsites are unknown and usedas rubbishdumps

24. A similar site became part of the localtouristicoffer Entranceto the pathleadingto the site

25. In conclusion, apartofwhatcustomersmayknow and think, biodiversityis a value in itself, as part of the local capital. Itsprotection can go withitstransmissiontovisitors. So, tourism can havean informative/educational role and promote the localheritage. But first ofall, the local capital (natural, agricultural, humanetc) mustbeknownby the localstakeholders/agent BECAUSE THERE CANNOT BE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE VALUE OF LOCAL HERITAGE

26. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!