Forests and Livelihood 183
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a way to earn money
from visitors coming to see the
natural beauty of an area, or to
learn about the plants and animals
that live there. Some ecotourism
projects bring people only to
enjoy the natural beauty. Others
invite them to live with people
in the community to learn about
protecting the environment. Still
other projects invite tourists to
actively work on projects to protect
the environment.
Ecotourism is a good way for
forest communities to earn money.
But starting and running a project
can be costly, and needs careful
Carefully managed ecotourism
can protect forests.
planning. Tourists require food, comfort,
lodging, guides, and lots of patience in dealing with cultural differences. They
may have accidents or need health care. Getting tourists to visit requires
advertising in magazines or on the internet, printing brochures, and doing
other forms of publicity.
Ecotourism projects are not always sustainable. They must be carefully
managed so the money they bring benefits the community, not just outside
agents or businesses, or a few local families. Successful ecotourism projects
often limit the number of tourists who visit, in order to cause less pressure on
the community and less damage to the environment.
Non-timber forest products
Non-timber forest products are anything besides wood that can be taken and
sold without damaging the forest. This includes nuts, fruits, medicinal plants,
and fibers. Communities that have success selling non-timber forest products
have found it important to follow these guidelines:
• Set clear rules about who may harvest and sell the product, and how to
best harvest it in a sustainable way. Once a product becomes successful,
it is in danger of being overharvested. Collect only enough of the product
that it can continue to grow and reproduce.
• Find or develop a market for the product. There is no point harvesting
products if they will not sell or be used.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012