Educación del ecoturismo en las áreas protegidas: una meta urgente hacia la conservación del patrimonio natural
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Autores
Rojas González, Carmen María
Wyatt, Sarah A.
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Universidad de Costa Rica
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Descripción
En Costa Rica, un 26,3 % del territorio lo constituyen 169 áreas protegidas. En el 2008, aproximadamente, un 60% del turismo vino por motivos recreativos (ICT, 2009), y parte de ese turismo fue atraído por la belleza, la diversidad y la oferta de la riqueza natural patrimonial de las áreas protegidas. No obstante, es preocupante la tendencia en el estado de la biodiversidad actualmente, pues se está perdiendo la riqueza biológica en forma acelerada (caso de las especies amenazadas de extinción y críticamente en peligro, como felinos, manatí, danta, mono araña, tortugas marinas y lapa verde). Como parte de una estrategia para mejorar el estatus de estas poblaciones, se deben combinar procesos educativos con expresiones artísticas en las áreas protegidas. Esto puede funcionar como llamada de atención para que los turistas se integren a los esfuerzos nacionales en conservación y protección de la Naturaleza.
Costa Rica is home to 169 protected areas which represent 26.3% of the land surface. In 2008, approximately 60% of total tourism in Costa Rica was for recreational purposes (ICT, 2009), and one of the main attractions for this tourism was the natural beauty, diversity, and heritage of these protected areas. On the other hand, there is increasing rate of biodiversity loss (such as threatened species including felids, manatees, tapirs, spider monkeys, sea turtles, and green macaws). With the large number of tourists both domestic and international that visit protected areas within Costa Rica, there is a real opportunity for education about the natural resources and natural heritage; yet, there are minimal education activities in protected areas. This article is a call to action to develop traditional and creative educational activities to develop awareness of conservation issues that threaten the natural heritage of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is home to 169 protected areas which represent 26.3% of the land surface. In 2008, approximately 60% of total tourism in Costa Rica was for recreational purposes (ICT, 2009), and one of the main attractions for this tourism was the natural beauty, diversity, and heritage of these protected areas. On the other hand, there is increasing rate of biodiversity loss (such as threatened species including felids, manatees, tapirs, spider monkeys, sea turtles, and green macaws). With the large number of tourists both domestic and international that visit protected areas within Costa Rica, there is a real opportunity for education about the natural resources and natural heritage; yet, there are minimal education activities in protected areas. This article is a call to action to develop traditional and creative educational activities to develop awareness of conservation issues that threaten the natural heritage of Costa Rica.
Palabras clave
costa rica, áreas silvestres protegidas, conservación de la biodiversidad, lista roja de la uicn, costa rica, protected areas, biodiversity conservation, lista roja de la uicn