Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
• Arctic climate changes present serious challenges to the health and food security of
some indigenous peoples, challenging the survival of some cultures if they are to
attempt to try and maintain traditional foodways and life strategies.
• Over the next 100 years, climate change is expected to accelerate, contributing to major
physical, ecological, social and economic changes, and the Assessment has
documented that many of these changes have already begun.
CONCLUSION
This chapter has highlighted a number of areas in which geographers have contributed to
research and scholarship in the tourism and recreation periphery. From the topophilia of
Tuan (1974), the sacred space of Graber (1978) and the breathtaking historical analysis of
Glacken (1967), geographers have been at the forefront of understanding the human
relationship not only to the natural environment and wild lands in particular, but also to
the behaviours of tourists and recreationists in the wilderness. In addition, geographers
have assisted in developing techniques to identify wilderness areas, undertake
environmental histories and to cast light on their values. More recently, geographies have
been at the forefront of understanding the development and management of nature-based
tourism development (P.Valentine 1992; Fennell 1999, 2001; Weaver 2001), including
the impact of human visitation on wildlife (MacLellan 1999; Orams 2002, 2005).
As a resource analyst, the geographer therefore 'seeks to understand the fundamental
characteristics of natural resources and the processes through which they are allocated
and utilised' (Mitchell 1979:3). The geographer's task is also relayed by Coppock
(1970:25), who has made remarks of direct relevance to a better understanding of the
relationship between tourism, recreation and wilderness conservation: 'A concern with
problem solving and with the processes of human interaction with resources, particularly
in respect of decision making, will powerfully assist a more effective geographical
contribution to conservation.'
QUESTIONS
• Is wilderness only a concept of the New World or does the concept also have relevance
to western Europe?
• Is the methodology of Australia's national wilderness inventory easily transferable to
other countries?
• What are the main factors which influence crowding norms?
