\u201cEcotourism\u201d as defined by Michael Klesius, \u201cis responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and sustain the well-being of the local people.\u201d He provided this definition in a September 2002 National Geographic article titled \u201cState of the Planet.\u201d<\/p>\n
When I read the definition of \u201cEcotourism\u201d images of the plains of Africa, mysterious jungles of the Amazon River, and other far away places came to mind. But you don\u2019t have to take one step beyond the borders of our country to experience \u201cEcotourism\u201d or be an \u201cEcotourist.\u201d The link between tourism and our national forests, a.k.a. \u201cEcotourism\u201d, has long been recognized in forest management, community develop, and tourism plans.<\/p>\n
But what does \u201cresponsible travel\u201d mean? In its most basic form, it\u2019s those mantras we grew up with. \u201cOnly you can prevent forest fires<\/span>,\u201d from Smoky Bear and Woodsy Owl\u2019s, \u201cGive a hoot, don\u2019t pollute.<\/span>\u201d Of course, there are plenty of way to expand these two phrases; use only biogradeable soap; plant a tree to celebrate a special event; eat local grown food stuff; and the list goes on. \u00a0But, in their own way, a “responsible traveler” tries to \u201cconserve the environment and sustain the well-being of the local people.<\/p>\n The tiny community of Jacob Lake (AZ), which is the closest thing to a town in this part of the Kaibab National Forest, is totally dependent on the magnificent beauty of the Grand Canyon and robust population of the wildlife found on the Kaibab Plateau. You can\u2019t farm the land, the soil is too thin, rain too rare, and the growing season to short. Maybe you could run some cattle but that would be difficult, too. No, it is “Ecotourism” and the thousands of annual visitors, a.k.a. \u201cEcotourists\u201d that keep this community afloat. \u00a0And it is the “responsible traveler” that that keeps the area outstanding.<\/p>\n Ennis, Montana has the Gallatin, Beaverhead and Deerlodge national forests surrounding it but it\u2019s the river that determines this small ranching community fortunes. Every winter, the local residents watch to snow fall on the mountains as the Madison River freezes. In the Spring they watch the temperatures as the snow melts and the Madison River start to flow again. \u00a0The steady warming of temperatures melts snow, providing moisture to the land and water to the river and all is well. \u00a0There is quality of fishing and hunting with the healthy forest. If the “Ecotourists” to the area do not practice \u201cresponsible travel\u201d and cause damage to the \u201cnatural areas,\u201d then ranching, fishing, hunting, hiking, and all recreation activities are degraded and \u201cthe environment\u201d impacted.<\/p>\n I just learned that there is a group of ranchers here in the Madison Valley that offers people a \u201cEcotourists\u201d experience. I\u2019m told it\u2019s not like one of the those Arizona chic resort ranches but a good old-fashion dude ranch experience. \u00a0Interesting check with Ennis and Jacob Lake are just two examples from our little sojourn where the concept of \u201cEcotourism\u201d can be applied. You too can see and experience \u201cEcotourism\u201d for yourself. Think of yourself not as a passing visitor to our national forests and their communities, but as an \u201cEcotourists\u201d with a responsibility for \u201cnatural areas that conserve the environment and sustain the well-being of the local people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nEnnis, Montana Chamber of Commerce<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n