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Ecotourism
If you like birds and plants, and strange geological formations, than you are just the Seattle tourist we've been looking for. Visit my barn, I mean exciting tourist destination, that's it, and support the local economy. Just don't trust slick Willie at the corner if he tries to seel you some organic moon pies, that's definitely not chocolate you're eating.
Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is usually defined as travel to natural or cultural sites that informs the visitor, conserves the site and benefits the local economy. Typically, ecotourism involves travel to destinations where plants, animals and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. The most common ecotourism activities are wildlife viewing (including bird watching), visiting wildlife refuges and unique natural geological formations, hiking, nature photography, snorkeling and safaris.
According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people." An example of responsible ecotourism is an activity that promotes recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and the creation of economic opportunities for the local communities. In such ways, it can contribute to long-term benefits for both the environment and local societies.
Ecotourism destinations are predominantly located in developing countries, which possess a wide range of natural features. In these areas the benefits to a local economy are likely to be greater than those arising from conventional tourism and, as the emphasis is on nature, ecotourism provides an economic incentive for conservation.
The United States also has a long tradition of ecotourism on public and private lands and water. The ecotourism industry is predominantly privately owned and locally managed. However, the U.S. government has several major land and water management agencies that support and promote ecotourism, including the National Park Service (NPS), Forest Service (FS), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). State and local levels of government also manage a number of ecotourism destinations.
For more information, the Department of State (DOS) provides an overview of sustainable ecotourism in the U.S. that includes the ecotourism activities of selected federal agencies.
The DOS also provides a list of links to additional information on ecotourism.
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