Investigating the causes and impacts of environmental degradation and analyzing solutions on a global scale.

1. Investigating causes, impacts, and
solutions on a global scale.
Environmental
Degradation

2. About
Environmental
Degradation
Environmental
Degradation
Impacts
Environmental
Degradation
Solutions
About
Ecotourism
Ecotourism as
an alternative
solution
Ecotourism
risks and
mitigation
In this presentation: To jump
to slide.

3. What is environmental degradation?
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Environmental
degradation is the
destruction of natural
spaces and depletion of
natural resources as a
result of human activity.

4. Land Degradation
Deforestation Desertification Pollution
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
The clearing of forests for
agricultural, urbanization, or
logging industry needs1. The rate
at which we are currently clearing
forests is not allowing forests the
time to replenish, resulting in
permanent forest loss.
The process by which fertile land
becomes desert, caused primarily
by droughts or unsustainable
farming, the latter of which is
within human control. Fertile land
is finite, the continued loss of said
land reduces ability to produce
food in vulnerable areas1.
Landfills occupy valuable space
and contribute to soil
contamination (ex. improperly
disposed batteries may leak
into soil beds). They also
release methane gas that
contributes to climate change2.
1: World Health Organization. (n.d.) “Land degradation and desertification”. Retrieved
from: https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/desert/en/.
2: Worland, J. (22 September, 2015) “Land degradation and desertification”. Time
Magazine. Retrieved from: https://time.com/4042559/trash-climate-change-landfill/

5. Water Degradation
Overfishing Eutrophication Pollution
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Overfishing is a significant drivers of
declines in ocean wildlife
populations, 1/3 of the world's
fisheries are currently operating
beyond their biological limit1,
meaning they are being emptied
before they have the chance to
replenish. This is not sustainable in
the long term.
Occurs when water is enriched with
excessive nutrients, which induces
excessive algae growth. This growth
deprives the body of water of oxygen and
sunlight, leading to wildlife death. When
the algae decomposes, it lowers the
water’s pH, leading to the secondary issue
of water acidification. This is caused by
fertilizer run-off from land2.
Occurs when toxic materials, including
sewage, industrial chemical waste,
and plastic, enter bodies of water. This
is not only disastrous for aquatic
ecosystems (especially if ingested by
wildlife) but can pose a threat to
public health if contaminants were to
seep into groundwater3.
1: WWF. (n.d.) “Overfishing”. Retrieved from:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing.
2: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: US Department of Commerce. (n.d.) “What is
eutrophication?”. Retrieved from: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/eutrophication.html.
3: WWF. (n.d.) “Water Pollution”. Retrieved from:
https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/water_pollution/.

6. Causes of Environmental Degradation
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Profit Interests
 Refers to production and commercialization
 Need for space to establish factories,
warehouses, etc., combined with the demand
for natural resources from unsustainable
logging, agriculture, and mining activities
exerts significant stress on land
 Profit-driven production activities generate
pollution and excessive waste; they have also
made illegal dumping a pervasive issue
 Economic value is commonly prioritized,
leading to environmental protection being a
low priority
Population Interests
 Refers to population growth and urban
sprawl (i.e. the uncontrolled expansion of
urban areas).
 As populations grow, they exert stress the
water supply
 The need for housing and infrastructure (ex.
roadways) increases with population growth,
exerting stress on land
 The need for water-based infrastructure
such as waterways and ports exerts
stress on coastal biodiversity, including
coral reefs

7. Environmental Impacts
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
80% of terrestrial biodiversity
inhabits forests1, meaning
deforestation results in
devastating, large-scale habitat
loss.
The loss of biodiversity
represents a loss in predators
or food sources for wildlife.
Disruption of the food chain in
this manner upsets the balance
of ecosystems, which triggers a
chain reaction of further
environmental degradation.
Habitat loss
Over one million species are
currently facing extinction. With
specific reference to water, over
a third of all marine animal
species and 33% of reef-
forming corals are threatened2.
Environmental degradation
accelerates species extinction.
Biodiversity loss
Leaks origination from landfills,
illegal dumping, and fertilizer
run-off are just a few examples
of degradation that results in
water and soil contamination,
which can result in loss of
biodiversity and arable land.
Water and soil contamination
As mentioned, landfills release
large amounts of methane,
which contribute to climate
change3. Deforestation reduces
the planet’s ability to absorb
CO2 from the atmosphere.
When algae that grows as a
result of eutrophication begins
to decompose, it also releases
larger amounts of CO2
4
.
Contributes to climate change
Destabilizes ecosystems
1: The United Nations. (n.d.) “Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land”. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/biodiversity/.
2: The United Nations. (n.d.) “Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water”. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/.
3: Worland, J. (22 September, 2015) “Land degradation and desertification”. Time Magazine. Retrieved from: https://time.com/4042559/trash-climate-change-landfill/.
4: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: US Department of Commerce. (n.d.) “What is eutrophication?”. Retrieved from: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/eutrophication.html.

8. Social Impacts
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Loss of livelihoods
Over 3 billion people depend on
marine and coastal biodiversity1 for
their livelihoods, while
approximately 1.6 billion people
depend on forests2 for their
livelihoods. In combination, the loss
of marine biodiversity and
deforestation are threatening the
livelihoods of more than half of the
world’s population.
Threats to public health
Reduced ability to produce food
resulting from desertification
increases risk of malnutrition in
vulnerable areas3. Water
contamination leads to increased
risk of water-borne diseases, while
habitat loss prompts migration of
wildlife populations into human
areas and increases the risk of
zoonotic diseases. Distribution
and population size of disease
vectors is heavily affected by
climate change4.
1: The United Nations. (n.d.) “Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water”. Retrieved from:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/.
2: The United Nations. (n.d.) “Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land”. Retrieved from:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/biodiversity/.
3: World Health Organization. (n.d.) “Land degradation and desertification”. Retrieved from:
https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/desert/en/.
4: World Health Organization. (n.d.) “Environmental factors influencing the spread of communicable diseases”. Retrieved
from: https://www.who.int/environmental_health_emergencies/disease_outbreaks/communicable_diseases/en/.
Loss of culture
Indigenous cultures, especially that
of the 70 million Indigenous people
who depend upon forests for their
livelihood2, often practice
sustainability and value respect for
the environment. However, the loss
of natural spaces and/or lack of
employment opportunities force
local people to be swept up in
urbanization, Increasing the chance
of culture loss.

9. What can we do to prevent environmental degradation?
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Personally: Systemically:
Reduce consumption levels,
reject fast fashion.
Reduce waste production,
avoid plastic.
Advocate for environmental
protection, demand
government action.
Stop deforestation, overfishing,
and illegal dumping (pollution).
Enact and enforce greater
legislation around environmental
protection.
Commit to discovering and
implementing sustainable
production and consumption
methods, no matter the cost.

10. Thinking of Terminology
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Environmental Preservation
Refers to ensuring that natural spaces
currently untouched by humans,
remain untouched. It is based on the
belief that humans have already
encroached on too much natural
spaces (i.e. more than their fair share),
and as such, any untouched spaces
should be preserved in their present
condition, regardless of usefulness to
human interests
Environmental Conservation
Refers to attempts to make humans’
relationship with the environment
sustainable whilst still extracting
natural resources. Conservation
involves ensuring that natural
resources are not consumed at a
rate faster than they can be
replenished, and that they are made
available in sufficient quantities for
future generation to ‘enjoy’.
Source: Smith, A. (10 May, 2018) “What's the Difference Between "Conservation" and "Preservation"?”. Piedmont Environmental
Alliance. Retrieved from: https://www.peanc.org/whats-difference-between-conservation-and-preservation.
Environmental preservation and conservation are used interchangeably.
However, there is an important distinction between the two:

11. In light of this, should we be engaging in
environmental preservation or environmental
conservation? I say, both!
75% of the Earth’s surface has been altered by
human activity1, we ought to preserve whatever little
land is currently untouched.
But we must also be realistic. We require resources
to survive and that is not going to change; however,
we can be certain that we are using more than our
fair share of resources, and that we are not doing
nearly enough to replenish them. This is where
conservation becomes relevant. We must find,
commit to, and implement more sustainable ways of
utilizing the planet’s resources.
Thinking of Terminology
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
1: The United Nations. (n.d.) “Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land”.
Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/desert/en/.

12. So, how do we engage in both
preservation and conservation
whilst also serving profit and
population interests? This might
seem impossible, but
nature-based solutions have been
shown to be viable method of
serving this intersection. For this
reason, I propose ecotourism as
an alternative solution to
environmental degradation.

13. What is Ecotourism?
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Ecotourism is the responsible travel to natural areas
that conserves the environment, sustains the well-
being of the local people, and involves
interpretation and education.
Conservation: ecotourism provides economic
incentives for protecting nature.
People: ecotourism increases local capacity
building and employment opportunities.
Interpretation: ecotourism emphasizes
enriching personal experiences and
environmental awareness
Prime examples of ecotourism include the Kalahari
National Park in South Africa, and the Monteverde
Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica.
Source: The International Ecotourism Society. (2015) “What is Ecoutourism”. Retrieved
from: https://ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism/

14. Principles of Ecotourism
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Minimize tourism and travel’s
negative impact on the
environment and local culture.
This includes physical,
behavioral, and psychological
impacts.
Recognize the rights and
spiritual beliefs of the
Indigenous people in the
community. Work with them to
preserve and share this culture
and provide ecotourism
experiences that are authentic
environmentally and culturally.
Produce direct financial
benefits for conservation (i.e.
funds to further conservation
activities), as well as financial
benefits for local people and
private industry.
Build environmental and
cultural awareness and respect.
Advocating for and
demonstrating the importance
of environmental protection
through visitor education is
central to ecotourism.
Design, construct, and operate
low-impact facilities. For
example, eco resorts over
regular hotels. Infrastructure is
a key component of tourism.
Hence, sustainable
infrastructure is integral to
ecotourism.
Provide positive experiences
for both visitors and hosts.
Deliver memorable,
interpretative experiences to
visitors in specific, to raise
sensitivity to the country’s
environmental and social
climate, and nature at large.
Source: The International Ecotourism Society. (2015) “What is Ecoutourism”. Retrieved
from: https://ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism/
Impact Education Appreciation
Financial benefits Facilities Empowerment

15. Ecotourism serves both environmental and
economic interests (i.e. job creation, revenue
generation); as such, it is more likely to be ‘accepted’
and implemented.
Tourism is large and booming industry globally.
Since tourism is not going anywhere, anytime soon,
‘converting’ regular tourism to responsible
ecotourism is more viable.
From the coral reefs in Australia to the rainforests in
South America, there is vast potential for ecotourism
around the world, and therefore, vast potential for
this solution to be implemented and impactful.
Why Ecotourism?
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION

16. Economic Benefits of Ecotourism
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Stimulates economies
As mentioned before, tourism is a
large and growing industry around
the world. Ecotourism is an
emerging subindustry of tourism,
and it provides the same economic
benefits. That is to say, it generates
revenue for communities and
creates greater job opportunities.
As such, it serves both profit and
population interests.
Allows land to ‘pay its way’
Undisturbed land is quickly turned over for
development in anticipation of economic benefit. If
protection of land can be shown to generate
economic profit similar to development of land,
governments will be incentivized to consider
declaring a greater number of protected areas.
Ecotourism is one way in which protected lands
can prove their economic value. If ecotourism is
especially successful (i.e. economic benefits from
ecotourism outgrow the economic benefits from
traditional land development), governments may
even be persuaded to rehabilitate already
disturbed environments (restoration). In this way,
ecotourism promotes preservation and
conservation.
Source: Weaver, D. (2008). “Ecotourism”. Toronto: Wiley.

17. Environmental benefits of Ecotourism
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Fosters appreciation for
the environment
Ecotourism contributes to
public education by
improving knowledge of
biodiversity, protected areas,
and environmental issues
such as global warming and
species extinction, which in
turn will foster
environmentalism and drive
progress towards a global
conservation mindset.
Provides source of funds to
manage preserved areas
Economic benefits from
ecotourism are cyclical in that
they feed back into the
protected areas that
generated them by
becoming the funds needed
to manage and expand the
protected areas. That is to say,
ecotourism ventures can
utilize a portion of profits to
aid preservation and
conservation efforts.
Preserves land and
bodies of water
As demonstrating the
economic benefits of
protecting areas through
ecotourism will provide
governments with the
incentive to protect a greater
number of natural
environments, ecotourism
can be expected to result in
greater preservation of land,
biodiversity, and bodies of
water.
Source: Weaver, D. (2008). “Ecotourism”. Toronto: Wiley.

18. Social Benefits of Ecotourism
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Preserves livelihoods
As discussed earlier, over half
of the world’s population
depends on the planet’s
oceans and forests for their
livelihoods. If greater portions
of these oceans and forests are
preserved and/or conserved, a
greater number of livelihoods
are protected.
Preserves culture
Studies have shown that an
increase in ecotourism
promotes an increase in
cultural and heritage tourism
– a branch of tourism
dedicated to learning about
and experiencing other
cultures. In this way,
ecotourism can help to
preserve local culture.
Offers new opportunities
Per the empowerment
principle of ecotourism,
ecotourism ventures are
powered by local people.
That is to say, tour guides and
administrative staff are hired
locally, and are encouraged
to use their local and cultural
knowledge to enhance the
venture and its environmental
impacts. This provides greater
opportunities for
employment and
empowerment to local
people.
Source: Weaver, D. (2008). “Ecotourism”. Toronto: Wiley.

19. Risks of Ecotourism
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Contributes to climate change: ecotourism would still require travel. However, it is unlikely that this travel would
be ‘abandoned’ were it not for ecotourism. More likely, it would be diverted to regular tourism. As a result, this
should not be a deterrent to ecotourism. Instead, hosts should find ways to utilize sustainable transportation
(ex. bikes, by foot) during the ecotourism experience to offset travel-based emissions outside of their control.
Can disturb wildlife: wildlife observation is central to ecotourism. However, this level of human presence
may disturb the wildlife and result in behavioural changes1 (i.e. changes in feeding, resting, or breeding) or
habitat abandonment2. Obviously, this is the opposite of what ecotourism aims to accomplish. As such, the risk
must be mitigated.
Can result in own forms of degradation: Increased litter and contamination of surface water are sometimes
expressed as concerns of growth in visitation to protected areas as a result of ecotourism3. Specific ecotourism
activities pose ‘niche’ risks, for example, trampling of vegetation is a risk of hiking-based tourism4.
1: Sekercioglu, G.H. (2002). Impacts of birdwatching on human and avian communities.
Environmental Conservation, 29(3), 282-289. doi:10.1017/S0376892902000206
2: Ballantyne, M., & Pickering, C. M. (2016). Recreational trails as a source of negative impacts on the persistence of keystone
species and facilitation. Journal of Environmental Management, 159(Complete), 48-57. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.05.026
3: Norris, R. (1994). Ecotourism in the national parks of Latin America. National Parks, 68(1-2), 32. Retrieved July 28, 2019 from
http://link.galegroup.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/apps/doc/A14785910/AONE?u=wate18005&sid=AONE&xid=5f432b0b.
4: Simpson, D. (2006). Impact of hiking on trails and environment. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International. Retrieved
July 28, 2019 from https://www.cabi.org/leisuretourism/news/16160.

20. Mitigating Risks of Ecotourism
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
Restricting tour group sizes: smaller tour group sizes are more inconspicuous and easier
to ‘monitor’. This reduces the risk of wildlife disturbance, visitor-based littering, and
activity-based risks such as trampling from hiking.
Active monitoring: diligent recording of any wildlife or vegetation disturbance after each
tour and analyzing said records on a weekly basis will reveal trends that can be used to
alter tour pathways to minimize disturbance of the environment.
Codes of conduct: Codes of conduct are effective for communicating appropriate
behaviour. An understanding of unacceptable behaviour ahead of time reduces the risk
of wildlife disturbance and visitor-based environmental degradation. Strict enforcement
of strongly and clearly worded guidelines provided in advance of the tour is key1.
1: Weaver, D. (2008). “Ecotourism”. Toronto: Wiley.

21. Ecotourism
Planet
People Profit
Summary
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
An effective way to summarize this
presentation is to think of ecotourism in the
context of the ‘triple bottom line’ framework
used in business. The philosophy behind
this framework is: people, planet, profit. It is
used to assess a business’s impact on all its
stakeholders.
Ideally, a business will have a strong positive
impact in all three areas. When properly
executed, ecotourism can have the desired
positive impact in all three areas, which
makes it a viable venture and a realistic
solution that satisfies all stakeholders.

22. Complete List of References
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION
World Health Organization. (n.d.) “Land degradation and desertification”. Retrieved from:
https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/desert/en/.
Worland, J. (22 September, 2015) “Land degradation and desertification”. Time Magazine.
Retrieved from: https://time.com/4042559/trash-climate-change-landfill/
WWF. (n.d.) “Overfishing”. Retrieved from: https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: US Department of Commerce. (n.d.)
“What is eutrophication?”. Retrieved from:
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/eutrophication.html.
WWF. (n.d.) “Water Pollution”. Retrieved from:
https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/water_pollution/.
The United Nations. (n.d.) “Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water”. Retrieved
from: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/.
The United Nations. (n.d.) “Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land”. Retrieved from:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/biodiversity/.
World Health Organization. (n.d.) “Environmental factors influencing the spread of
communicable diseases”. Retrieved from:
https://www.who.int/environmental_health_emergencies/disease_outbreaks/communicable_
diseases/en/.
Smith, A. (10 May, 2018) “What's the Difference Between "Conservation" and "Preservation"?”.
Piedmont Environmental Alliance. Retrieved from: https://www.peanc.org/whats-difference-
between-conservation-and-preservation.
The International Ecotourism Society. (2015) “What is Ecotourism”. Retrieved from:
https://ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism/.
Weaver, D. (2008). “Ecotourism”. Toronto: Wiley.
Sekercioglu, G.H. (2002). Impacts of birdwatching on human and avian communities. Environmental
Conservation, 29(3), 282-289. doi:10.1017/S0376892902000206
Ballantyne, M., & Pickering, C. M. (2016). Recreational trails as a source of negative impacts on the
persistence of keystone species and facilitation. Journal of Environmental Management,
159(Complete), 48-57. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.05.026
Norris, R. (1994). Ecotourism in the national parks of Latin America. National Parks, 68(1-2), 32.
Retrieved July 28, 2019 from
http://link.galegroup.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/apps/doc/A14785910/AONE?u=wate18005&sid=AONE&
xid=5f432b0b.
Simpson, D. (2006). Impact of hiking on trails and environment. Centre for Agriculture and
Bioscience International. Retrieved July 28, 2019 from
https://www.cabi.org/leisuretourism/news/16160.

23. HOW WILL YOU
CHANGE THE
WORLD?