Ecotourism has emerged as a sustainable tourism approach that seeks to reconcile nature-based recreation with biodiversity conservation and local development. Unlike conventional mass tourism, ecotourism emphasizes responsible travel, environmental education, low-impact activities and the sustainable use of natural resources. Its contribution to conservation occurs through several pathways, including the generation of revenue for protected areas, support for wildlife protection and habitat restoration, promotion of environmental awareness and creation of economic incentives for conserving natural resources. However, ecotourism is not automatically sustainable. Uncontrolled visitor numbers, infrastructure development, waste generation, resource consumption and carbon emissions can create ecological pressures and undermine conservation objectives. Experiences from Costa Rica, the Galápagos Islands and Kenya demonstrate both the opportunities and management requirements associated with ecotourism. Increasing use of GIS, remote sensing and community-based approaches can further improve monitoring and conservation outcomes. Thus, scientifically planned and effectively managed ecotourism can contribute to biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration and long-term ecological resilience.
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Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Ecotourism, Sustainable tourism
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