Climate Change Effects on Tourisms Major Asset :

1
Climate Change Effects on Tourisms Major Asset
The Environment
( b i o d i v e r s i t y)
A Presentation for the Fourth Global Forum on
Oceans, Coasts Islands April 7 11, 2008,
Hanoi, Vietnam
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
2
Climate Change
3
Climate Change in the NEWS
4
Global Impacts of Climate Change
Sea level rises threaten the viability of many
coastal zones and small islands. Temperature
rises are predicted to change precipitation
patterns - both seasonal and absolute - which
seem likely to exacerbate water supply problems.
A greater risk of both flooding and drought
conditions in many parts of the world. Climate
change also seems likely to increase the
magnitude, frequency and risk of extreme climatic
events, such as storms and sea surges.
5
(Short for biological diversity) The variability
among living organisms from all sources including
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems
and the ecological complexes of which they are
part (CBD)
biodiversity
6
Biodiversity is the totality of all life forms on
earth its interactions
Photos by HARIBON Foundation
7
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY

• Genetic diversity
• Species diversity
• Ecosystems diversity

Photos by HARIBON Foundation
8
Genetic Diversity - variability within genes
Species Diversity - total number of species
occurring in a particular area
Ecosystems Diversity - variety of ecosystems
within a geographical boundary
9
Impacts of CLIMATE CHANGE on Biodiversity and
Ecotourism
Endemic species being highly sensitive to change
are therefore more vulnerable
Animal populations may be affected by
environmental stress or indirectly through
changes in vegetation
Coastal areas are especially vulnerable to
natural disturbances habitat fragmentation and
biological invasions
Rising sea levels will have impacts on coastal
ecosystems, land loss and salinity
Corals show a high sensitivity to minor increases
in sea temperature
10
CLIMATE CHANGE and ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
11

• Highlights from 2003 WTO Conference on Tourism
  Climate Change
• Beach Tourism will suffer damage
• beach erosion
• greater damage from sea surges storms
• increased sea levels
• decrease in water supply

12
Climate change and biodiversity
RICHEST in the WORLD with 430 species
( the Great Barrier Reef has only 350 species)
13
Climate change and biodiversity
Coral Bleaching
Photo by WWF
14
Photo by National Geographic
Photo by WWF
15
Climate change and biodiversity
211 lakes, 18 major rivers, 22 marshes, swamps
and reservoirs
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
Photo Cagayan de Oro whitewater adventure (De
Oro Mountain Explorers Club)
19
Climate change and biodiversity

• Long/dry summers drought
• limit access to natural areas
• frequent forest fire occurrence may restrict
  experiences such as hiking/trekking

20
Photo Noslek Arbor Canopy Walk, Magbais,
Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Philippines De Oro
Mountain Explorers Club (DOME)
21
CLIMATE CHANGE and SPECIES DIVERSITY
22
Climate Change and Plant Migration
As a general rule, plant species will
move northwards and upwards in altitude as their
current location warms and they seek cooler
conditions more akin to their original location
23
Climate change is already having an impact on all
kinds of wildlife. Species worldwide are shifting
their ranges, migrating sooner, and bearing young
earlier than in the past.
24
Photo Donsol, Sorsogon
WWF-Philippines
Whale sharks have a high degree of association
with spawning of coral, fish and crab and other
important ecological processes
25
Climate change threatens turtle population
26
Climate change and biodiversity

• Migratory birds.
• changes in migration feeding patterns
• viewing times impacted

27
How can Tourism Contribute to Biodiversity
Conservation?
offering less destructive livelihood
alternatives to local communities and landowners
in buffer zones and conservation corridors
providing an incentive for public and private
landowners in critical ecosystems to permanently
conserve biodiversity-rich properties, by
offering revenue-producing, low-impact economic
use providing protected-area managers with
additional financial resources from visitation
and donations and raising visitor awareness,
promoting community involvement and interest in
conservation issues, and generating political
support for conservation through environmental
education during travel. - Tourism and
Biodiversity Report UNEP, 2003
28
How can Biodiversity Conservation Promote
Adaptation to Climate Change?

• maintaining and restoring native ecosystems
• Protecting and enhancing ecosystem services
• Managing habitats for endangered species
• Creating refuges and buffer zones and
• Establishing networks of terrestrial, freshwater
  and marine protected areas that take into account
  projected changes in climate.
• - Convention on Biological
  Diversity

29
biodiversity is a vital asset to the tourism
industry

• tourism directly help finance the conservation
  and sustainable use of biodiversity
• tourism is one of the most effective public
  awareness raising tools for environmental
  protection.

30

• "The powerful forces that shape the essence of
  tourism, including the human urge to see and
  experience the natural world, must continue to be
  harnessed to support the achievement of the goals
  of the Convention on Biological Diversity".
• Ahmed Djoghlaf
• Executive Secretary
• Convention on Biological Diversity (2007)

31
Thank you...