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This book breaks new ground in the management of tourism in natural areas. It explains the ecology of natural areas in simple terms, and goes on to describe the major sources of environmental impact from tourism. Comprehensive means of planning for and managing these impacts are then covered. A central theme of the book is how to manage tourism in natural areas in a sustainable way while at the same time providing visitors with a high quality experience. Special attention is given to interpretation and education as key elements in this approach. One underlying theme is that natural area tourism is an appropriate vehicle for achieving deeper understanding of the environment in a way that other forms of tourism are not. If people in the developed world seek to leave some form of positive legacy to the earth then one of the best ways of doing this is by gaining an understanding and appreciation of our environment which will inspire action for its protection. The authors hope that readers of this book will share with them the notion that tourism, when planned, managed and implemented in an appropriate manner, can act as a tool for conservation. About The Author David Newsome is a lecturer in the at , , . Susan A. Moore is a senior lecturer in the same department. Ross K. Dowling is Associate Professor of Tourism and Head of the , Tourism & Leisure at , . He is a foundation Executive Member of the Ecotourism Association of Australia, is Vice Chairperson of the Forum Advocating Cultural and Ecotourism in , and is Treasurer of the Australian International Year of Ecotourism 2002 Organising Committee. Table Of Contents Introduction Natural Areas Tourism Natural area tourism Tourism?s impacts in natural areas Planning and management Outline of the book Further reading The ecological perspective An introduction to ecosystems & landscapes Ecological characteristics and tourism in different types of ecosystems Wildlife as a specific component of ecosystems The philosophy of ecosystem tourism Further reading Environmental impacts Sources of impact Biophysical impacts: A case-study of off-road vehicle driving Visitor planning Stakeholder involvement in visitor planning Planning concepts Recreation/ Tourism planning frameworks Conclusion Management strategies and actions Creating protected areas Site management actions Visitor management actions Choosing management actions Managing the tourism industry Environmental management systems Interpretation Principles and application The role of interpretation Techniques and examples A case-study in the use, application and effectiveness of interpretation Monitoring Monitoring visitor impacts on natural areas Setting standards for indicators Integrated approaches Conclusion The centrality of ecology Understanding impacts Emerging views of management The importance of sustainability Future? research