Conservation/Eco-Tourism Ideas

What is Eco-Tourism?

Moose in north Maine woods

“Ecotourism is now defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” (TIES, 2015). Education is meant to be inclusive of both staff and guests.”
https://ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism/

Examples

  • “Travel to nature destinations (think flora, fauna, and natural resources)
  • Learning about local cultural heritage
  • Sustainable wilderness adventures
  • Viewing or volunteering with wildlife
  • Trips dedicated to activities that promote the planet’s well-being, like beach cleanups 
  • Homestays that involve coexisting with a local family, integrating with their lifestyle, and helping to care for their property/animals/etc.”

https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-to-know-about-ecotourism 

Conservation/Eco-Tourism Tour Ideas

  • Nature-based tourismEco River Tour
    • A tour along the river that is narrated and provides information about the rivers and ways to preserve it or travel on it
    • Eco Bingo game- create a bingo card of what tourists might see on the eco river tour and if they get a bingo they get a prize
  • Eco Photo Tours on River
    • Boat allows for photographers to get a good view of wildlife or plant species otherwise hard to capture
  • Kayaking Tours Along River
    • Point out facts and information about river 
  • Foraging Lessons 
    • Tour through areas to collect fiddleheads 
    • Blueberry picking (surrounding towns)
  • Guided Moose Tour
    • Tour through a woods area that could give tourists a safe view of moose
    • By van or canoe/kayak
  • IAT tours
    • Guided tour through the trail 
    • Talk about history and conservation of trail 
  • Potato Fields and Information Session
    • Tour of potato farms and how the farming process works 
  • Volunteering Opportunities
    • Clean up along trails/rivers
    • Grooming trails
    • Activities that are important to town…

What is Conservation Tourism?

“Commercial tourism which makes an ecologically significant net positive contribution to the effective conservation of biological diversity.” Springer Press