Claylicks and tourists

Maaike Rensing and Susan Zwerver of Van Hall Larenstein, the Netherlands, have finished a report on the importance of bird and mammal claylicks in the Madre de Dios region, Peru for the tourism industry of Rainforest Expeditions. In 2004 a bill was signed to create the Interoceanic Highway across the countries of Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. This road will run across the Tambopata reserve in the Peruvian department of Madre de Dios. Several organizations have indicated that the highway will lead to a larger environmental impact than the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A) has taken into account. The most important impacts include deforestation, loss of biodiversity and a decreased aesthetic value. For Rainforest expeditions, one of the major ecotourism companies, this loss of biodiversity could mean the loss of their main tourist attractions; the claylicks. The goal of this research was to determine the importance of the claylicks as a tourist attraction for the ecotourism lodges of Rainforest Expeditions; how important are the claylicks for the tourists of the ecotourism industry? The data for this research were gathered using a questionnaire given to the tourists. This research shows that the presence of claylicks does not play a deciding role for tourists to come to the rainforest, but the experience is rated highly after they have visited one. 38% of the 183 interviewed tourists had heard of the presence of claylicks in the area, but only for 13% did this presence of claylicks influence their decision to come to the rainforest. 96% of tourists visited one or more claylicks(s) during their stay. 67% of this group rated their experience at the claylick as good, very good or outstanding. A claylick visit is the third most highly rated activity after the jungle walks and lake visits. This superb photo of a pair of Scarlet macaws was taken by Susan Zwerver and decorates the front cover of her report. To read the full report, please go to http://www.macawmonitoring.com/researchreports.html