Authors: Shelton, Eric J.; Tucker, Hazel

Source: Tourism Review International, Volume 11, Number 3, 2007 , pp. 197-204(8)

Publisher: Cognizant Communication Corporation

Abstract:

New Zealand and its sub-Antarctic dependencies had an abundance of birdlife, endemic flora, and invertebrates but no terrestrial mammals before the arrival of Homo sapiens. Subsequent mammalian imports have severely adversely affected the endemic and native fauna and flora. In response to the impossibility of nationwide mammalian predator eradication, endangered species are transferred to relatively safe environments: either offshore islands or "mainland islands." Individuals of species at risk in their traditional environments can be transferred to one or more of these islands. New Zealand has pioneered this form of restoration program and substantial nature-based tourism occurs in these settings. Traditional binaries such as captive/free and captivity/wild are problematic because these descriptors do not capture the nature and range of the possible environments and experiences provided by "islands." It is proposed that a more useful descriptive and analytic framework involves focusing on the matrix of power relationships that exist between native and endemic fauna and flora, introduced fauna and flora, and groups of humans. Furthermore, it is argued that such a focus usefully reformulates longstanding controversies within conservation, highlights the utility of a restoration narrative, and promotes the development of sustainable nature-based tourism.

Keywords: NARRATIVE; NATURE-BASED TOURISM; CONSERVATION; NEW ZEALAND; ENDANGERED SPECIES; ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3727/154427207783948793

Publication date: 2007-12-01

More about this publication?

• Tourism Review International is a peer-reviewed journal that advances excellence in all fields of tourism research, promotes high-level tourism knowledge, and nourishes cultural awareness in all sectors of the tourism industry by integrating industry and academic perspectives. Its international and interdisciplinary nature ensures that the needs of those interested in tourism are served by documenting industry practices, discussing tourism management and planning issues, providing a forum for primary research and critical examinations of previous research, and by chronicling changing tourism patterns and trends at the local, regional and global scale.

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Geography ,  Business
• By this author: Shelton, Eric J. ;  Tucker, Hazel

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers