Course:CONS200/2025WT2/Ecotourism in BC - Conservation and Community Impacts

Ecotourism in BC - Conservation and Community Impacts

Tourism is more popular today than ever, encompassing a wide range of activities related to travel, vacationing, and sightseeing. While tourism contributes significantly to economic growth, generating $20.9 billion in revenue for the Canadian government in 2021, the industry also carries many negative environmental impacts. These include deforestation and ecosystem alteration, pollution, release of carbon dioxide and biodiversity loss. Ecotourism offers a possible solution.

Traditionally, conservation efforts can often be perceived as at odds with economic gain. As an ecosystem service, ecotourism bridges these two goals, where the protection and restoration of natural areas and species can ultimately provide income for local communities and tourism operators. Ecotourism is described as a type of tourism that considers economic activity and sustainable practices, with the goal of minimizing the negative impacts traditional tourism has had on local communities and the environment. It educates tourists about surrounding nature and cultures, sustainability, and conservation, while considering local interests and perspectives. Hasana et al. (2021) identified ecotourism as promoting “the fewest resources and the highest satisfaction” (pg. 27), highlighting its focus on environmentally conscious practices.

Currently, British Columbia’s conservation goals include protecting biodiversity and recovering diversity of species. British Columbia has major tourism potential with the vast landscapes spanning from the serene mountains to the endless coast. It is crucial for BC to harness this potential and prioritize promoting the economy, while still preserving its beauty.

The Tourism Industry of British Columbia

View of mountain scenery in British Columbia

British Columbia is Canada’s provincial leader in tourism , largely due to the province’s beautiful landscapes, set within a vast number of mountain ranges full of wildlife bordering on the Pacific Ocean. B.C. is divided into six tourism regions based on location: 4TVI, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Northern British Columbia Tourism Association, and the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region (VCM). There is also entire partner-based organization dedicated to managing Indigenous tourism in BC, Indigenous Tourism British Columbia (ITBC), which has signed an accord with the Province of British Columbia to help support this growing area of the industry.

The tourism industry of British Columbia is extremely beneficial to the province’s economy. According to the Government of British Columbia “the tourism sector is one of the largest employers in BC, significantly contributing to economic growth and community well-being”. Additionally, the tourism industry in BC is growing faster than the provincial economy altogether. Increasing demand provides employment opportunities and revenue for small businesses, while also providing BC residents with a greater range of amenities made possible by the revenue and popularity which stem from the industry.  

The growth in the province's economy allows it to thrive in certain areas, while conversely placing pressure on its natural resources. Physical impacts of construction projects, pollution, water quality, waste and the loss of biodiversity are all major issues. British Columbia is in the process of pushing for a more sustainable approach to tourism.

Current Initiatives in British Columbia

Ecotourism initiatives can be found in many different areas of BC, targeting areas in the coastal rainforests to the vineyards of the interior. Activities include tours of natural areas, wildlife viewing, parks and conservatories, luxury resorts surrounded by nature, and more. While many ecotourism organizations operate as businesses, there are also several large-scale non-profit organizations in the province that facilitate and manage ecotourism in their respective sectors.

The Great Bear Rainforest

The Great Bear Rainforest is a popular tourism destination in BC for avid nature lovers. It is a vast, untouched coastal temperate rainforest full of wildlife and pristine wilderness. It follows the coast for 400 kilometers, extending from Knight Inlet in central BC to the Alaska Panhandle, and is roughly the size of Ireland.

Coast Funds

Together, the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii are two of the largest old-growth temperate rainforests remaining in the world and are located on the unceded traditional territories of numerous coastal Indigenous peoples of BC. Unwanted extractive activities in the 19^th century damaged these communities’ economic, social, and cultural systems, resulting in high unemployment rates and very few economic opportunities. In response, the Coastal First Nations (also known as the Great Bear Society) was established as an alliance between the Wuikinuxv Nation, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Gitga’at, Haisla, Metlakatla, Old Massett, Skidegate, and Council of the Haida Nation. Together with the BC government, environmental groups, forestry companies, and other investors, they created a new conservation finance organization in 2007 called Coast Funds to support sustainable businesses and build a conservation-based economy for the area. Many of the Indigenous-led projects Coast Funds has funded fall into the eco-tourism industry. These include Shearwater Resort and Marina, Bella Guest Cabins, and Homalco Wildlife Tours, as well as several conservancies and provincial parks.

BC Grizzly Tours in Bella Coola

Bella Coola Grizzly Tours and Resort is a family-run, guided tour company that demonstrates ecotourism in the Great Bear Rainforest. A very important part of working, living and playing in BC is acknowledging the Indigenous people that were here before us. This tourism company actively works with and employs locals who know the history of the land and culture. On tours, guides explain the significance of different parts of nature to the Indigenous culture, as well as educate about conservation tactics used by Natives. There is also an emphasis on respecting wildlife since the tours enter their habitat. They are also very conscious of their environmental impact. At the resort, they grow their own produce, buy eggs from local farmers and opt for renewable energy options. Bella Coola Grizzly Tours is an example of how tourism can respect the natural world and educate visitors, while still enjoying what BC has to offer.

Nimmo Bay Resort

Nimmo Bay Resort is a secluded resort in the Great Bear Rainforest that is focused on reconnecting guests to nature. They aim to provide guests with a luxurious, peaceful stay while experiencing the forests, waters and wildlife around them. Their operations have a large emphasis on sustainability and minimizing environmental footprint. Floating docks are used to seat the lodges, as opposed to deforesting land and altering the surrounding ecosystem. A hydro power system using surrounding streams and waterfalls to power itself provides drinking water and 80% of the power needed to the resort. Ingredients and produce are sourced sustainably and aims to support locals, and waste water is treated to re-enter the environment. The wildlife viewing they offer is also done in a way that respects the surrounding ecosystems and animals. Nimmo Bay Resort is an example of what sustainable efforts should resemble.

Vineyard overlooking Okanagan Lake, BC

Thompson Okanagan Vineyards & Regenerative Farming

Regenerative farming focuses on not only protecting the environment and having no negative impact but also reversing climate change effects. It primarily works on improving soil health and carbon footprints in attempt to restore biodiversity, fertile soils and water cycles. There are many wineries and vineyards in the Thompson Okanagan that are following this initiative. Monte Creek Winery has a compost program that helps by increasing soil organic matter, and therefore soil fertility. They are also implementing cover crops using Indigenous species blends. Cover crops are a management practice that are grown to improve the health of soil in many aspects like preventing erosion, increasing organic matter, improving moisture retention and attracting pollinators. Another winery, Covert Farms Family Estate Winery also utilizes cover crops, as well as crop rotations and integrating livestock. Crop rotations keep ecosystems balanced and varied and livestock integration helps push nutrients from the surface of the soil deep into it, improving the fertility and health of the soil. They also plant humus, which is soil very rich in organic matter and nutrients. Humus acts as a sponge for water, which contributes to an improved water cycle by keeping it on their land so it can be recycled and kept free of possible runoff contaminants. Thirdly, Tantalus Vineyards focuses on no-till cover crops, reduced mowing and a compost program. Tillage increasing erosion and mowing causes compaction, both of which negatively affects soil health.

Agriculture accounts for 18.4% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Regenerative farming aims to reduce this percentage by taking conscious actions to minimize carbon emissions. Promoting soil health and biodiversity eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides which emit high levels of GHG, and simple practices like no tilling prevent carbon release into the atmosphere. The overall goal of regenerative farming is to have soils that are healthy and fertile, and ecosystems that are biodiverse so that the land can be self sufficient and not rely on synthetic inputs.

Goals for the Future

Moving forward, it is essential to adopt a green growth perspective in which the environment and its health is the number one priority. Considering that BC conservation goals include the protection of environments and biodiversity, the Government of British Columbia should focus on ecological economics when thinking about the future of ecotourism as this is a proposed worldview in which the economy is embedded within the ecosystem. Expanding on this definition, ecological economics is a concept in which the economy can grow only within the bounds of the ecosphere, as the activities of the economy rely on resources from the Earth. With a shift from the wealth-focused economy to a green growth economy, it is possible to expand economic activity while supporting the ecosystems in BC. This is possible by following core principles of ecotourism proposed by economists and scientists that have conducted studies.

Since BC is a coastal province and has many rivers, it has become a highly visited location for Ocean tours and fish spawning attractions. However, a study done on fish habitats in Mexico and the impact of ecotourism found a decrease in fish species and abundance when exposed to human activities, such as boating and noise pollution. With salmon habitats already facing reductions, it is crucial for BC to implement policies to protect these areas from human interactions. The Government of Canada and the Provincial Government of British Columbia have released a British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund to promote the protection of salmon habitats. Ecotourism should focus on increasing biodiversity while funding local communities, and that is difficult to do with sensitive populations. With this in mind, British Columbia should reduce ecotourism, and tourism in general, in areas that are important for fish productivity as noise pollution and human interventions can decrease salmon activity.

Additionally, in a study done on ecotourism efficiency, it was reported that it is imperative to include local communities in ecotourism as they are well versed in the area. With this finding, BC should implement purely Indigenous-led ecotourism initiatives in which the locals are the primary shareholders. Given their immense knowledge on the land, they can understand the needs of the environment while maintain the needs of the community. Focusing on including Indigenous communities in ecotourism aligns with BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019) section 6 and 7, in which the provincial government has promised to expand agreements with Indigenous governments to make decisions in cooperation. Therefore, the local Indigenous communities are benefitting from their land, have the right to govern their land, and work in part with the ecotourism expansion. This can also promote ecological economics because Indigenous-led ecotourism initiatives consider the bounds of the environment while increasing economic activity in the local area.

Furthermore, BC should consider emphasizing ecosystem services as ecotourism often does not consider the full services the ecosystem provides. A study looking at tourism benefits found that tourists and tour operators do not realize the full potential and function of the environment they are experiencing. This is reflected through ecosystem services approach which tries to evaluate the full economic services the environment provides . If the services that the environment being toured is studied, it can be used to evaluate the true price of tourism. This can boost economic activity while appreciating the ecosystem because prices for tours can be adjusted based on the full range of amenities. The extra boost of revenue can be applied to ecosystem enhancement by funding conservation actions.

In conclusion, moving forward, BC should focus on protecting vulnerable species and habitats while increasing Indigenous inclusion. Species interactions should be limited for populations that are facing stressors and experiencing decline, as this will protect biodiversity. In collaboration with Indigenous-led initiatives, it is possible to promote ecosystem function while increasing economic activity as Indigenous communities have lived off these lands for thousands of years and understand how to keep harmony with the environment. Combined with ecosystem services, these renditions to ecotourism can increase economic activity in a sustainable method. The goals of economic activity should come after biodiversity needs, as ecological economics depends on the health of the ecosystems.

Conclusion

Ecotourism initiatives can be found throughout British Columbia in a variety of different contexts, allowing this Canadian province to be a top destination for tourists. From rainforests to vineyards, these special implementations in our communities' balance economic benefits with conservation goals as explained. This large potential for tourism revenue fuels the need for ecotourism as it can support the environment and economic activities. While there is still work to be done in the tourism sector, there have been obvious advancements in ecotourism through the sustainable business practices seen today, from examples such as the Bella Coola Grizzly Tours to regenerative farming in the Okanagan. Through their tours and acknowledgement of the historical attributes of the land, these current initiatives advance the ecotourism sector in British Columbia. To further increase the potential of ecotourism, BC can implement more Indigenous-led initiatives, decrease tourism in vulnerable habitats, and value ecosystem services. While there is room for improvement, ecotourism is a sustainable option to balance the economy and environment, as there is no economy without the environment.

References

This conservation resource was created by Course:CONS200.