Dr. Amanda Stronza to Release New Book

Ecotourism and Conservation in the Americas
Edited by A. Stronza and W.H. Durham

Ecotourism has been credited with conserving biological and cultural diversity, alleviating rural poverty, increasing public awareness of environmental concerns and strengthening ties between tourism operators and local populations. For these reasons, ecotourism has grown in popularity with tourists as well as governmental development agencies and conservation organizations.

Over twenty years after its inception, it now needs to be questioned if ecotourism has measured up to its environmental, social and economic ideals. Using detailed case studies, regional overviews and thematic analyses, Ecotourism and Conservation in the Americas evaluates the pros and cons of ecotourism for communities and ecosystems. Focusing particularly on the Americas, perspectives are drawn from private tour operators, non-governmental conservation and development organizations, local and indigenous communities and tourism researchers.

Chapters discuss local benefits and conservation value through discussions of social impacts, the assessment of conservation potential, environmental education and the setting and maintaining of standards. Evaluating ecotourism’s ability to support sustainable development and conservation, this book will be particularly useful for professionals in conservation and ecotourism organizations as well as tourism researchers.