Burger J
Division of Life Science, Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8082, USA.
Sci Total Environ. 2000 Apr 17;249(1-3):39-49. doi: 10.1016/s0048-9697(99)00509-4.
One key aspect of global change is a decrease in ecological integrity as more and more landscapes are developed, leaving a mosaic of intact refuges and degraded patches that may not be sufficient for conserving biodiversity. While increases in human population and shifts in the distribution of people affect land use, the temporary movement of people can have major implications for conservation and biodiversity. Three examples are presented where recreation/tourism can enhance the conservation of land on a landscape scale, leading to habitat protection and biodiversity preservation: (1) Shorebirds often require a matrix of different habitat types during migratory stopovers, and ecotourism can serve as a catalyst for landscape scale protection of habitat. (2) Riparian habitats can serve as corridors to link diverse habitat patches, as well as serving as biodiversity hotspots. (3) Remediation and rehabilitation of contaminated lands, such as those of the US Department of Energy, aimed at developing recreational activities on the uncontaminated portions, can be the most economical form of re-development with no increase in human or ecological risk. Since large areas on many DOE sites have been undisturbed since the Second World War, when they were acquired, they contain unique or valuable ecosystems that serve an important role within their regional landscapes. In all three cases the judicious development of recreational/tourist interests can encourage both the conservation of habitats and the wise management of habitats on a landscape scale. While some species or habitats are too fragile for sustained tourism, many can be managed so that species, ecosystems and ecotourists flourish. By contributing to the economic base of regions, ecotourists/recreationists can influence the protection of land and biodiversity on a landscape scale, contributing to ecosystem management. The human dimensions of land preservation and biodiversity protection are key to long-term sustainability, and ecotourists/recreationists can be one management option.
全球变化的一个关键方面是生态完整性的下降，因为越来越多的景观被开发，留下了由完整的避难所和退化斑块组成的镶嵌体，这可能不足以保护生物多样性。虽然人口增长和人口分布的变化会影响土地利用，但人口的临时流动可能对保护和生物多样性产生重大影响。本文介绍了三个例子，说明休闲/旅游如何能够在景观尺度上加强土地保护，从而实现栖息地保护和生物多样性保护：（1）滨鸟在迁徙中途停留时通常需要不同栖息地类型的组合，生态旅游可以成为景观尺度栖息地保护的催化剂。（2）河岸栖息地既可以作为连接不同栖息地斑块的走廊，也可以作为生物多样性热点。（3）对受污染土地进行修复和恢复，例如美国能源部的那些土地，旨在在未受污染的部分开展休闲活动，这可能是最经济的重新开发形式，不会增加人类或生态风险。由于许多能源部场地的大片区域自第二次世界大战期间被收购以来一直未受干扰，它们包含独特或有价值的生态系统，在其区域景观中发挥着重要作用。在所有这三个例子中，明智地发展休闲/旅游兴趣可以鼓励在景观尺度上保护栖息地并对栖息地进行明智管理。虽然有些物种或栖息地对于持续的旅游来说过于脆弱，但许多可以得到管理，以使物种、生态系统和生态旅游者都能蓬勃发展。通过为地区的经济基础做出贡献，生态旅游者/休闲者可以在景观尺度上影响土地和生物多样性的保护，促进生态系统管理。土地保护和生物多样性保护的人文因素是长期可持续性的关键，而生态旅游者/休闲者可以成为一种管理选择。
