Birdwatching Costa Rica Birding Costa Rica
Costa Rica Ecotourism
Birdwatching costa rica is for Ecotourism birders. You can experiment the best ecotourism in Costa Rica and se the most amazing birds from an aerial view, the toucan fly, and from the forest canopy. Birdwatching costa rica at the best for birders who want experiment the best birding costa rica. Hacieda Baru is a birders ecolodge specialized in ecotourism since many years ago, we have wide experience in ecotourism, ecotours for birders.
ECOLOGICAL TOURISM
More than Green Paint! -- by Jack Ewing
“Hey, look at this!” I looked up from the advertisment. “There is an ‘Ecological Rent-a-Car” in San Jose. Their cars must be hybrids or run on fuel cells or maybe butane. Ecological tourists and bird watching enthusiasts will love them.”
My daughter’s tolerant smirk, told me I was way off base. “Oh Daddy, you’re so naive. ‘Ecological’ is a popular word. It attracts customers, so everybody uses it.” That car rental is no different than all the rest.
No to be daunted, I dialed the number and asked the question: “Why are your rental vehicles more ecological than the others.” The line went dead. I called back again, and again the person hung up. Later, a friend called and actually got an answer: “It is only a name. So, what’s the big deal?” said the clerk curtly.
That was 1993 when birding and wildlife observation had become very popular in Costa Rica, and my daughter was right. “Ecology” had become a magic word, and it did attract business. The terms “ecology” and “ecological tourism” eventually became so overused, misused and abused that we, at Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge quit using them in our publicity.
My diccionary defines “ecology” as: “The system of relationships between organisms and their environments.” Ecological Tourism doesn’t appear in the diccionary, but logically it must be beneficial for organisms and their environments.
There are a number of non profit organizations for ecologically consciencious tourist businesses that cater to bird watchers and nature lovers. They have names like: “The International Ecotourism Society” and “National Chamber of Ecotourism.” Each organization has its own definition for “Ecological Tourism.” These definitions vary somewhat but all have certain points in common. A business that claims to do Ecological Tourism in the true sense of the word must conform to the following guidelines.
- Conserve Nature-- Participate actively in the protection and restoration of flora and fauna and contribute to environmental causes. If the business doesn’t actually protect any natural habitat, it should contribute to organizations that do. Having a pretty garden and a few hummingbird feeders is not enough.
- Conserve Cultural Values-- Support local culture and community development, without trying to mold them to its own needs. The business should be active in community affairs and supportive of local schools and community organizations.
- Improve the Local Economy-- Hire, buy and reinvest locally. This is the opposite of businesses that import all of the furniture and fixtures, hire a staff from somewhere else and export the profits.
- Have Minimum Environmental Impact-- Have facilities and practices that minimize damage to ecosystems. You can’t bulldoze a road through a rainforest, level off a forested hill top with a spectacular ocean view, build a concrete monster and call your business ecological tourism.
- Educate Visitors about Ecology-- Put clients in contact with nature and help them to understand relationships between organisms and their environment. Knowledge begets understanding and compassion. The more people know about nature the more fascinated they will become with it and the more likely they are to make an effort to conserve it.
Shortly after my disillusionment over Ecological Rent-a-Car, I was driving through a tourist area near a well known National Park when a sign caught my eye, and then caused me to jerk my head around. It read “Ecological Casino.” Being the sucker that I am, I stopped and asked an employee where the name comes from. He didn’t hesitate a second: “The walls are many shades of green, with a rainforest scene of leaves and trees, birds and monkeys.”
The magic of “Ecological” soon wore off, and we at Hacienda Barú, got over our phobia of using it. You may again see the term “ecological tourism” in our ads.
If you are looking for true ecological tourism, the guidelines listed above may be helpful. As you can see, there is a lot more involved than just a name or simply painting the walls green.
Tel. (in C. R.): (506) 787-0003
Fax (in C. R.): (506) 787-0057
Email: info@haciendabaru.com
Focussed in Birdwatching Costa Rica and Ecotourism
