Biodiversity and Tourism : Conflicts on the World’s Seacoasts and Strategies for Their Solution

It is in the best interest of all concerned that tourism become sustainable and environmentally compatible. This need for "sustainable development" is and more by the responsible parties. Moreover, in the being recognised more search for solution strategies the realisation is gaining ground that tourism must be viewed as a worldwide phenomenon whose development must be co-ordinated in a co-operative effort spanning regions and continents. That the preservation of biological diversity also requires global co­ operation has been confirmed by over 170 countries which have already acceded to the "Convention on Biological Diversity". It is thus an important task to provide the foundations for joint action. Germany, one of the largest source countries of international tourism, must feel particularly obligated in this regard. The report published here is the result of a research project com­ missioned by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. The study pursued and examined the thesis that the Convention on Biological Diversity be used as a central instrument for arriving at international principles and regulations for combining nature conservation and tourism which could lead to a sustainable development of tourism. To further the discussion, the authors brought the study to a logical conclusion by working out a proposal for a "tourism protocol" additional to the existing Convention on Biodiversity. Such a protocol additional to the Convention would entail the stipulation of internationally binding implementation and regulations for achieving sustainable tourism. Zusammenfassung -- Section A. The Global Situation -- 1 Global Biodiversity -- 2 The Development of Tourism -- 3 Impacts of Tourism on Species and Ecosystems -- 4 Solution Strategies -- Section B. The European Situation -- 5 Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in Europe -- 6 European Biodiversity -- 7 Threats to Coastal and Marine Ecosystems -- 8 Coastal Tourism in Europe -- Section C. Exemplary Cases of Conflicting Use and Solution Strategies in European Coastal Areas -- 9 Exemplary Cases -- 10 Strategies for Achieving Sustainable Tourism in Coastal Regions -- Section D. The Legal Aspects -- 11 Legal Aspects Involved in the Research Project -- 12 On the Problems of Sustainable Tourism and the Need for International Regulations -- 13 Existing International Regulations Dealing with or Applicable to Sustainable Tourism -- 14 On the Question of the Need for Further International Regulations on Sustainable Tourism -- 15 Options for International Regulations on Sustainable Tourism -- 16 On the Level of Detail of a Worldwide Agreement on Sustainable Tourism -- 17 Proposal for a Worldwide Regulation Concerning Sustainable Tourism as a Protocol Additional to the Convention on Biological Diversity -- 18 Conclusion -- E. Tourism statistics for individual countries -- F. Alps Convention/Draft Protocol on Tourism (excerpt) -- G. Antarctic Treaty/Protocol on Environmental Protection (excerpts) -- H. Guideline for Visitors in Antarctica (excerpt) -- I. Guideline for Those Organising and Carrying Out Tourism and Non-governmental Activities in the Antarctic (excerpt) -- J. Council of Europe, Recommendation No. R (94) 7 -- K. Charter for Sustainable Tourism -- L. Bibliography Front Matter....Pages I-XXIII Summary....Pages 1-5 Zusammenfassung....Pages 7-11 Front Matter....Pages 13-15 Global Biodiversity....Pages 17-30 The Development of Tourism....Pages 31-48 Impacts of Tourism on Species and Ecosystems....Pages 49-62 Solution Strategies....Pages 63-71 Front Matter....Pages 73-76 Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in Europe....Pages 77-90 European Biodiversity....Pages 91-107 Threats to Coastal and Marine Ecosystems....Pages 109-120 Coastal Tourism in Europe....Pages 121-135 Front Matter....Pages 137-139 Exemplary Cases....Pages 141-196 Strategies for Achieving Sustainable Tourism in Coastal Regions....Pages 197-221 Front Matter....Pages 223-223 Legal Aspects Involved in the Research Project....Pages 225-225 On the Problems of Sustainable Tourism and the Need for International Regulations....Pages 227-228 Existing International Regulations Dealing with or Applicable to Sustainable Tourism....Pages 229-246 On the Question of the Need for Further International Regulations on Sustainable Tourism....Pages 247-249 Options for International Regulations on Sustainable Tourism....Pages 251-256 On the Level of Detail of a Worldwide Agreement on Sustainable Tourism....Pages 257-257 Proposal for a Worldwide Regulation Concerning Sustainable Tourism as a Protocol Additional to the Convention on Biological Diversity....Pages 259-272 Conclusion....Pages 275-276 Back Matter....Pages 279-343 Tourism is a way to use global biodiversity, and it may have impacts on it. As tourism activities concentrate on coastal areas, the purpose of the present study is twofold: first, to analyse where and to what extent conflicts exist, or may be expected to arise, between conservation of biological diversity and development of tourism; secondly, to work out approaches and concepts which may be used to avoid and settle such conflicts. The global level is considered first; a discussion of the European context and case studies from various regions follow. The last part of the study concerns aspects of international law with regard to sustainable tourism