Introduction
Many people today have heard of ecotourism. There are many definitions for it. At its most simple level, it can be defined as nature-based tourism with minimum impact on the environment and the local community. It may even involve and usually does, some way of "giving back", especially to the community. In its strictest interpretation, ecotourism can involve working or volunteering at a specific destination. That is, the ecotourist will be involved in some sort of project to help the environment or improve the well being of the community. Ecotourism is a growing sector of the tourism industry. It has been around since the 19th century (although it was not known as ecotourism), but has also grown as a consequence of tourism and its impact on the environment and the affected communities.
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Scope
The purpose of this pathfinder is to provide information for the novice as well as for those people already familiar with ecotourism. The items listed here provide general as well as specific information about ecotourism, and most of them also provide information about organizations, associations and destinations. There are many other books (guidebooks, etc.) with specific destination information which have not been included here.
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Library of Congress Subject Headings & Browsing Areas
Most books related to ecotourism will be found under the following Subject Headings and Call Number areas in Davis Library. Some may have to be borrowed from North Carolina State University's Natural Resources Library.
Ecotourism - G156
Tourism - G154 - G155
Tourist trade--Environmental aspects - G155
Related Subject Headings:
Environmental sciences - GE - GF
Ecology - QH540 - QH549
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Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
There are no dictionaries or encyclopedias devoted to ecotourism. Most travel dictionaries cover tourism in general and may include an entry on ecotourism, sustainable tourism or other related terms. For better treatment use the dictionaries and encyclopedias found in the environmental sciences subject areas.
Medlik, S. Dictionary of Travel, Tourism and Hospitality. 2nd ed. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1996. (Davis Reference G155 .A1 M397 1996)
A relatively good source that contains definitions of interest to the ecotourist. Entries include conservation, earth summit, ecotourism, etc. Has good cross-referencing. Includes bibliography.
Kemp, David D. Environment Dictionary. New York: Routledge,
1998. (Davis Reference GE10 .K45 1998)
Although a somewhat technical dictionary, it includes a descriptive definition of ecotourism. In addition, it presents some negative aspects related to ecotourism. Cross references are in bold and further readings are given at end of entries. Of interest to the ecotourist, other entries include conservation, Nature Conservancy and recycling.
Franck, Irene and David Brownstone. Green Encyclopedia: an A to Z Sourcebook of Environmental Concerns and Solutions. New York: Prentice Hall, 1992. (Davis Reference GE10 .F73 1992)
A good ready reference source for information on ecotourism, including the adverse impacts it may have on its destinations. Has a "special information section" at the end which includes an "ecotourism information and action guide" which provides names, contact information and description of foundations, clubs, societies, organizations and publishers. A non-technical encyclopedia with cross-references.
Cunningham, William P. Environmental Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998. (Davis Reference GE10 .E57)
Gives a broad, general description to the term ecotourism. One drawback is that it makes no mention of community and its importance in relation to ecotourism. Other related entries include, conservation and Conservation International. A good source for non-technical coverage of environmental topics.
Weaver, David B. The Encyclopedia of Ecotourism. CAB International, 2001.(In press)
This has not been published and therefore there is no information available yet. However, being the first encyclopedia solely about ecotourism it is hoped that it will contain a lot of useful information about the subject. It is included in this pathfinder not as a recommended source but as a resource to look out for when published. It hopefully will contain useful information about ecotourism and if so, would be a welcome addition to this pathfinder.
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General
Books
Fennell, David A. Ecotourism: an Introduction. New York: Routledge, 1999. (NCSU Natural Resources Library G155 .A1 F372 1999)
Provides a thorough yet not too theoretical introduction to the subject of ecotourism, covering topics such as social and ecological impacts, policy development, economics, marketing and management, ecotourism development and ethics. Offers comparisons with other types of similar tourism such as adventure travel and cultural tourism. Includes case studies.
Ocko, Stephanie. Environmental Vacations: Volunteer Projects to Save the Planet. 2nd ed. Santa Fe, N.M.: J. Muir Publications, 1992. (NCSU Natural Resources Library Q182.3 .O24 1992)
For the ecotourist who wants to volunteer while vacationing. Provides informative accounts about types of volunteer activities that exist as well as practical and organizational information. An interesting text regardless. Includes photographs.
McLaren, Deborah. Rethinking Tourism and Ecotravel: the Paving of Paradise and What You Can Do to Stop It. West Hartford, Conn.: Kumarin Press, 1998. (Davis G155 .A1 M388 1998)
Good for the person who wants to know the realities about tourism including ecotourism. Takes a critical look at the industry and tourists in general. However, it provides a good list of resources at the end, including books, magazines, journals and organizations.
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Guides and Directories
One of the most important resources for a tourist or ecotourist is a guide or a directory. Listed here are several general guides and directories on ecotourism, some of which contain specific country/destination information.
Grotta, Daniel and Sally Wiener Grotta. The Green Travel Sourcebook: a Guide for the Physically Active, the Intellectually Curious, or the Socially Aware. New York: Wiley, 1992. (NCSU Natural Resources Library G155 .A1 G79 1992)
A good source that introduces people to green travel - what it is and what it involves. Serves as a guide to the types and styles of green, responsible travel, including practical information. Includes a directory of green travel organizations and programs, as well as magazines and books.
Neale, Greg. The Green Travel Guide. London: Earthscan Publications, 1999. (NCSU Natural Resources Library G156.5 .E26 N43 1999)
This is a good reference for finding out what a green traveler is, what it involves and what constitutes a green vacation. It provides general information about various regions of the world as well as a traveler's directory with information on organizations, groups and destinations. A few drawbacks include the fact that it interprets green travel rather broadly, has listings for luxury hotels and it includes advertisements for items that definitely do not fall under the umbrella of ecotourism. A good source of information however, with plenty of photographs.
Feldman, Andrew J. The Sierra Club Green Guide: Everybody's Desk Reference to Environmental Information. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1996. (Davis Reference GE30 .F45 1996)
A directory with information on dictionaries, encyclopedias, organizations, handbooks and other important information relating to the environment. Although it includes only a short section on travel, this guide should be of interest to those who are environmentally aware, which generally includes the ecotraveler.
Geffen, Alice M. Ecotours and Nature Getaways: A Guide to Environmental Vacations around the World. New York: Clarkson Potter, 1993. (UL Reference G155 .A1 G355)
Provides information about trips all over the world led by different tour operators. Entries are brief, but this guide is a good place to get started and find out what sorts of trips exist. Information about the tour operators listed is included at the end. The book is rather dated, so the information may no longer be correct.
Foehr, Stephen. Eco-Journeys: the World Guide to Ecologically Aware Travel and Adventure. Chicago: Noble Press, 1993. (NCSU Natural Resources Library G155 .A1 F63 1993)
Contains descriptions of different eco-friendly vacations divided into sections such as safe thrills, comfortable wilderness, raw adventure and family. Each section includes information on destinations in different countries. Includes a list of tour operators with contact information. Again, the book is several years old so contact information may be incorrect.
Alternative Travel Directory: The Complete Guide to Work, Study and Travel Overseas. Amherst, Mass.: Transitions Abroad Pub., 1996. (Davis Reference LC6681 .A48)
A good source for guides, resources and directories for the ecotourist, including seniors and people with disabilities interested in responsible travel, voluntary service, study abroad or work abroad. All entries are listed by country. Includes information on books, magazines, organizations and websites.
The Buzzworm Magazine Guide to Ecotravel: 100 unforgettable adventures throughout the world, where the new ecotraveler will find the rewarding delights of travel with the Earth in mind. Boulder, Colo.: Buzzworm Books, 1993. (NCSU Natural Resources Library G155 .A1 B89 1993)
A listing of 100 ecotravel tours, including information about the trips, cost, what to bring, and information about the company leading the tour. Includes a directory of EcoTravel Outfitters (tour operators). A good book to get basic information on ecotourism destinations. Should not be used as only source of information, however, as entries are rather brief and information may no longer be correct as it is rather dated.
Ecotourism Society. A Collection of Ecotourism Guidelines. North Bennington, VT: Ecotourism Society. (No date)
This is a compilation of guidelines put out by different organizations ranging from the Audubon Society to REI (gear and equipment providers) to national parks (SouthEast Alaska).
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Electronic Indexes
The following general electronic indexes contain articles of interest to the ecotourist or anyone interested in non-scholarly information about the subject.
General Science Abstracts Via NCLive - OCLC FirstSearch
An index of articles from journals and magazines from the U.S. and Great Britain, including subjects such as anthropology, biology and earth sciences.
Periodical Abstracts Research II Newspapers and Periodicals Via NCLive - Bell & Howell ProQuest Direct
Provides current coverage of The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY and other newspapers, as well as more than 1,800 periodicals in the arts, business, humanities, health, social sciences and sciences. Includes some full text of the articles.
MasterFILE Premier Via NCLive - EBSCOHost
Provides abstracts and some full text of periodicals. Subjects covered include general reference, business, health, multi-cultural and more.
Academic Search FullTEXT Elite Via NCLive - EBSCOHost
An Indexing of periodicals in a wide range of subjects including social sciences, humanities, general academic, general science. Includes some full text articles.
ABI/Inform Global Via NCLive - Bell & Howell ProQuest Direct
Includes coverage of business-related issues and provides indexing and abstracts to articles from more than 1,000 leading business and management publications, including over 350 English-language titles from outside the US Some of the articles are full text.
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Periodicals
There are many periodicals that are of interest to the nature traveler (without necessarily being about travel and tourism), some of which include specific information about ecotravel. Some of them are listed here.
International Wildlife. Washington, D.C.: National Wildlife Federation.
A magazine about wildlife and environmental issues worldwide. Some articles are also available online (http://www.nwf.org/nwf/intlwild - last viewed December 10, 2000).
Sierra (1977+ earlier, see Sierra Club Bulletin) San Francisco: Sierra Club (Davis S900 .S5).
A magazine about the natural world for readers who enjoy the outdoors and are concerned with environmental issues. Some articles are also available online (http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ - last viewed December 10, 2000)
Audubon. New York: National Audubon Society. (Zoology Section Library - not currently received; NCSU Natural Resources Library has current subscription)
A magazine about the natural world covering topics such as birds, wildlife and their habitat. Includes an eco-travel guide. Some articles are also available online (http://magazine.audubon.org/ - last viewed December 10, 2000).
National Geographic. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society (Davis G1 .N27)
A magazine that seeks to broaden geographic knowledge and to bring the world to its readers. Although it is not a magazine about ecotourism, it is of interest to the ecotraveler. Excerpts are available online (http://www.nationalgeographic.org/ngm/ - last viewed December 10, 2000).
Transitions Abroad: the magazine of International Travel and Life. Lebanon Junction, KY: Publishers Press. (Duke Perkins Periodicals T772TT R585x)
A magazine providing responsible and enriching alternative travel programs involving working or living abroad, or just vacationing. Some articles are also available online (http://transitionsabroad.com)
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Websites
There is a great deal of information on ecotourism available on the web. Here are just a few important websites which also link to other sources of information on ecotourism.
http://www.ecotourism.org The International Ecotourism Society (last viewed December 10, 2000)
Provides all kinds of information about ecotourism, for the tourist, the professional in the field, and anyone interested in learning more about ecotourism. (Formerly known as The Ecotourism Society)
http://www.ecotour.org The Ecotravel Center (last viewed December 10, 2000)
"An Ecotourism Resource" from Conservation International (http://www.conservation.org/), offering information on travel that benefits conservation and local communities.
http://www.earthwatch.org Earthwatch Institute (last viewed December 10, 2000)
Promotes sustainable conservation through various means, one of which is expedition projects in which members of the public can help scientists with their work.
http://www.ietravel.com International Expeditions (last viewed December 10, 2000)
A nature travel tour operator that promotes interest, development and appreciation of nature. Naturalist guides lead travelers at the various destinations.
http://voyagers.com/ Voyagers International (last viewed December 10, 2000)
Offers travel adventure programs for the nature lover, photographers or those wanting to go off the beaten path. Includes travel tailored for families and offers different learning experiences.
This pathfinder was
created by Nicole Urquhart, School of Information
and Library Science, UNC-Chapel Hill.
Please send any comments or suggestions to urqun@ils.unc.edu
All photos taken from Microsoft Clip Gallery except otherwise noted.
Last updated: December 12, 2000
Photo from Rainforest Expeditions