Jane Hardman
Cambridge University
Studying a lot of information which is connected to climate changing in the Australian Alps, It was surprising for me that tourism has an important impact on it. I understand that business industry harms nature in the all possible ways, but I didn’t think over tourism industry, especially the ski tourism. Winter is the most intensive time for visitation of the Australian Alps. We can notice it, studying the total number of visitation days in 2009 which is equal to 2,538,891.When there is no snow, tourism is also based on nature activities in the Australian Alps. Because of different climate change prediction, I decided to study a lot of researches conducted in four resorts. I came across a lot of opinions and I have my own.
Prediction for the Alps shows that the temperature will increase and in a result of high temperature there will be less snow (Hennessy et al., 2008). I decided to find information about affection of flora and fauna. There is a real risk for mammal population and their distribution (Körner 2002; Nagy et al. 2003).Especially it may cause dramatic reduction as well among mammals as plants. Because of climate changes there will be increasing of fire, which may occupy big areas (Williams & Costin 1994).Regeneration of trees takes a lot of time, so if occurrence of fire increases, the Australian Alps suffer.
When stakeholders were asked a question about climate adjustment strategy, four participants focused on snowmaking system, two stated about improving technology, two persons think over water recycling. Also there was an opinion about reducing of carbon footprints. I think that all these opinions are true and important for the adaptation strategy. One participant stated that they earn their living by skiing, so if they cannot provide enough snow for the resorts, they will search possibility for the summer resorts (Morrison & Pickering, 2013).
The most interesting information for me was tree planting in order offset greenhouse gas emission. The most impressive is that tourists were asked to plant trees. Researches stated that 48 percent of tourists agreed to do this. I suppose that our world has a big chance to survive because of the helpful tourists.
I disagree with the opinion that the climate change isn’t an issue for tourism. Tourism is the fourth largest industry in the world, so it is obvious that it is an important issue for climate change. The survey stated that 8 percent claim that this is not a problem because of tourism.17 percent of respondents think that idea of planting trees is only wasting of money and showing of. I would like to take part in a carbon sink scheme in order to strengthen our environment.
A challenging action for me will be avoiding of private vehicles. I clearly understand that vehicles pollute air and harm ozone layer, but I think that not only for me refusing of cars, buses and trains will be challenging. The research showed that perception of environmental impact on the vehicle’s example is a ‘net benefit’ for the respondents, because it is a personal benefit rather than bad influence on a nature (Löfstedt, 1991).
Also I found revealing information about ecolabels. I didn’t know that it is a controversial subject in tourism. Ecolabels are used for preventing attention for ecotourism, in marketing, lobbying and income provision. As ecolabeling is a tourism which develops, some programs are becoming entrenched. These programs promote to develop sustainable economic in countryside in improving, ecotourist product educating and enabling local people. Green Globe 21promotes sustainable ecotourism environmentally and recognize the best practice ecotourism.
References
Hennessy K. J., Whetton P. H., Smith I. N., Batholds J. M., Hutchinson M. F. & Sharples J. J. (2002). Climate Change Impacts on Snow Conditions in Australia: First Interim Report. Canberra, CSIRO.
Körner C. (2002). Mountain Biodiversity, Its Causes and Function: An Overview. In: Mountain Biodiversity, a Global Assessment. London, Parthenon Publishing.
Löfstedt, R.E. (1991). Climate change perceptions and energy-use decisions in Northern Sweden. Global Environmental Change, 321–4.
Morrison, C. & Pickering, C. (2013). Perceptions of Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Limits to Adaption in the Australian Alps: the Ski-tourism Industry and Key Stakeholders, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(2), 173-191.doi:10.1080/09669582.2012.681789
Williams R. J. & Costin A. B. (1994). Alpine and Subalpine Vegetation. In: Australian Vegetation. Cambridge University Press, pp. 467 -500.
