Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 16.2
Locally produced fruit spreads sold in the RSCN Guest House shop.
conservation had been shown to be directly linked to local economic development
that the political decision makers became interested in the RSCN's efforts. And it
also represented an important shift in how the RSCN came to be regarded in the
country. At one time, the organization was marginalized as nothing more than “a
group of bird watchers and nature nuts” (Irani 2004). Now, however, they are consid-
ered a serious group involved with creating jobs and regional economic regeneration.
The RSCN was so successful in convincing decision makers that protected areas
were needed that today these former critics not only support the RSCN's efforts but
also even occasionally go as far as to solicit their help in suggesting which other
protected areas should be established about the country. And this all comes about
from the important observation that in impoverished communities, protected areas
can indeed support the local economy.
Dana began a decade ago with only a few dozen visitors a year and now receives
more than fifty thousand. Today, tourists brush shoulders with local farmers working
the newly renovated irrigation channels that sustain the fruit orchards (Salti 1997;
Figure 16.5). It is important to note that these visitors are carefully managed so
as not to exceed determined carrying capacities. The area is zoned and conserva-
tion has not been sacrificed and is still the overriding bottom line in all manage-
ment decisions. In fact, wildlife has actually increased in abundance as the managed
influx of tourists has pushed out the hunters (Johnson 2007). In the end, it was the
once-perceived limitations that became the best promotion. Every protected area
in the country now has a business plan based on the Dana success (Irani 2004). All
decision making is firmly based on a model that integrates economic, social, and
cultural with environmental considerations (Khouri 1997). Recently, in the Dana
Reserve for example, the villagers are returning to their formerly neglected houses
and renovating them into bed-and-breakfast establishments or small hotels with help
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