The Economic Promise of Ecotourism for Conservation The following is a summary of the results from the following publication, based on work conducted at the Infierno community and their lodge, Posada Amazonas: Stronza, A., 2007. The economic promise of ecotourism for conservation. Journal of Ecotourism 6, 170–190. Many conservationists have promoted ecotourism as a strategy to protect natural resources while also meeting human needs. The effects of ecotourism on natural resource use and livelihoods have now been studied in the indigenous community of Infierno, consisting of around 80 families. Household interviews and participant observation were used to track social and economic changes in the community as it partnered with Rainforest Expeditions to build and co manage the ecotourism lodge, Posada Amazonas. Effects of ecotourism were measured among the same households before and after the lodge opened, and between households with varying levels of participation. The hypothesis is that economic benefits from ecotourism would provide incentives for people to alter their livelihoods and change their uses of natural resources. Results showed that ecotourism effects were ambiguous. Though employment led to a general decline in farming and hunting, new income enabled greater market consumption and expansion of production. Ecotourism also prompted sentiments not easily measured in economic analyses alone, including willingness to be involved in ecotourism work, despite relatively minimal economic returns. These findings are a reflection of the fact that ecotourism is not merely an economic tool for conservation, but also the cause of new values and social relations. The Economic Promise of Ecotourism for Conservation The following is a summary of the results from the following publication, based on work conducted at the Infierno community and their lodge, Posada Amazonas: Stronza, A., 2007. The economic promise of ecotourism for conservation. Journal of Ecotourism 6, 170–190. Many conservationists have promoted ecotourism as a strategy to protect natural resources while also meeting human needs. The effects of ecotourism on natural resource use and livelihoods have now been studied in the indigenous community of Infierno, consisting of around 80 families. Household interviews and participant observation were used to track social and economic changes in the community as it partnered with Rainforest Expeditions to build and co manage the ecotourism lodge, Posada Amazonas. Effects of ecotourism were measured among the same households before and after the lodge opened, and between households with varying levels of participation. The hypothesis is that economic benefits from ecotourism would provide incentives for people to alter their livelihoods and change their uses of natural resources. Results showed that ecotourism effects were ambiguous. Though employment led to a general decline in farming and hunting, new income enabled greater market consumption and expansion of production. Ecotourism also prompted sentiments not easily measured in economic analyses alone, including willingness to be involved in ecotourism work, despite relatively minimal economic returns. These findings are a reflection of the fact that ecotourism is not merely an economic tool for conservation, but also the cause of new values and social relations.
