Proposal
Description of Proposal: “Preserving New Zealand” is an adventurous and inspiring tour designed to introduce the participants to the unusual flora and fauna of Fiordland the largest National Park of New Zealand. The guests will be provided with a two-week or a month-long opportunity to camp in Fiordland. The activities included in the tour are hiking, tramping, boat trips, scuba diving, bike riding, and kayaking.
Fiordland National Park literally has everything a tourist could dream about from fiords to waterfalls, from snowy mountain peaks to steep hills, rivers, and coastlines. The guests will also have a chance to meet the workers of the Park focused on its preservation and learn what it takes to keep this area safe.
Justification: For centuries New Zealand has been isolated from the rest of the world. This is how its nature managed to stay more pure and pristine than anywhere else. Ever since the country started to be populated by the Europeans, a variety of major ecological impacts occurred and led to a large number of negative outcomes such as pollution, over-hunting, littering, modification of wildlife and ecosystems, which lead to the extinction of a number of endemic species of animals, insects, fish, and birds. The Park has been announced the World Heritage Area, this is why it requires a lot of care and attention from ecologically concerned individuals, organizations, and businesses (World Heritage Area par. 1). Besides, its huge size creates a constant need for helpers.
Target customer: The tour targets environmentally concerned, fit and adventurous people of 20-40 years of age in good shape ready to handle the challenges and adventures Fiordland has prepared for them.
Location: Fiordland National Park, which is located in the south-west part of South Island, New Zealand, and covers 1.2 million hectares (Fiordland par. 3).
Overview of Environmental Impacts
- Didymo algae transmission: Didymo is an invasive freshwater algae species extremely harmful to the environment and ecosystems around (Devastated: Didymo confirmed in remote Fiordland par. 1). It can be transmitted on shoes of fishermen or hunters and damp clothes or equipment.
- Predators and pests: the population of New Zealand by the Europeans brought new species of predators such as rats, mice, and possums. Domestic fauna such as rare birds and bats has not had time to adjust and are gradually eliminated by the new neighbors (It’s all about predator control par. 1).
- Extinction of endemic lizards: Mountain hikers and rock climbers may damage the nests and holes of rare lizards, which could lead to their extinction, as when eggs are destroyed, the new offspring becomes endangered.
- Fishing in the fiords: Marine bodies of Fiordland do not obey the restrictions that cover its forest and mountain areas (Ryan 4). This way, a large number of fishing boats are present there every day. They may cause pollution of water through oil spills.
- Over-fishing: Excessive fishing can lead to the extinction or decline of various fish species (one of the current examples is whitebait that can barely be found today) (McDougal par. 11). The ruination of balance may lead to a shift in ecosystems and create a range of unpredictable outcomes.
- Agriculture and dairy farms: The territory of Fiordland gets constantly affected by the impacts created by the local farmers. These may include the discharge of chemicals and waste into the water, destruction of soil, and littering.
- Cars: It is a well-known fact that cars pollute the air creating toxic emissions. In a pristine area such as Fiordland, this negative impact is especially noticeable and harmful it poisons the unadjusted species of animals, insects, and plants and stimulates the decline of their population.
- Noise: Cars, cruise boats, and fishing boats are responsible for the creation of loud noises that stress out the unadjusted fauna and may lead to disruption of breeding behaviors that are likely to create a serious shift in local ecosystems and result in unpredictable outcomes such as the extinction of some species and loss of biodiversity.
- Littering: tourism in this area is highly popular since Fiordland is a “must see” for every person visiting New Zealand. Unfortunately, not all tourists are equally environmentally concerned and responsible. They may create littering of the area, which is a serious ecological threat for the species of animals and birds living in the territory of Fiordland.
Scoping Process for Ecotourism Proposal
Short Discussion
Magnificent landscapes and rare species can be found almost in every country of the world, yet it goes without saying that New Zealand is one of the most fascinating places on our planet. Due to its lengthy natural isolation, New Zealand entered the world of industrialization, globalization, and technological progress much later than most of the countries. As a result, its nature remained pure and untouched and even kept a variety of amazing species that do not exist anywhere else.
The environmental concerns of New Zealand and its numerous National Parks are related to technological influences, the intrusion of people, and the unusual intermix of domestic and foreign species. This way, while humans clash with nature, domestic and alien fauna participate in their own uneven battle. Therefore, pure and pristine areas of New Zealand such as Fiordland National Park require constant responsible control and protection. Ecotourism to such areas could significantly help preserve the nature there in a number of ways. Ecotourism works as a great attention raiser, besides, part of its revenues are directed to the environmental organizations.
Moreover, ecotourism is a good source of volunteers for organizations such as DOC focused on environmental protection. Finally, ecotourism provides education. Knowledgeable and experienced guides could take the visitors to the most beautiful and endangered places and explain what needs to be done to prevent tragedy. Besides, environmental organizations and activists with strong influence could impact the national government and enforce policies concerning fishing in fiords, driving cars without a necessity in the Park, or practicing ecologically dangerous processes in agriculture. Ecotourism is a powerful phenomenon that is able to make a difference for the contemporary environment all around the world.
It does not have to be an extreme sport; it can be rather relaxed and safe, as National parks are equipped with camping areas, huts, walking tracks, and safe zones (Fiordland National Park par. 9). Targeting more people ecotourism allows National Parks such as Fiordland to launch big preservation projects gathering workers and volunteers willing to make the world better and safer. In my opinion, ecotourism should find a way to develop family tours to engage children in the environmental protection and teach them about the beauty and importance of the nature around us.
Works Cited
Devastated: Didymo confirmed in remote Fiordland. DOC. 2013. Web.
Fiordland. Fiordland. n. d. Web.
Fiordland National Park. NewZealand. n. d. Web.
It’s all about predator control. Fiordland House. n. d. Web.
McDougal, Nicci. Southern whitebait in jeopardy. 2011. Web.
Ryan, Paddy. Story: Fiords. 2012. Web.
World Heritage Area. Fiordland. n. d. Web.