Every single holiday we take relies on nature – and impacts on it, too

We should be as […] concerned about nature on our mainstream holidays as we would be on an ecotourism trip, argues Justin Frances, chief executive of Responsible Travel. 

When we think of holidays and nature conservation, we might picture safaris that contribute national park fees or fund lion research projects – not a city break, beach trip or cultural tour.

But the simple fact is that every holiday, including city breaks, not only relies on nature but has an impact on it, too. […].

That’s because the five biggest causes of the loss of nature are seen everywhere in the tourism industry: land use change, overexploitation, pollution, non-native invasive species and climate change.

Land use change

In tourism, land use change – meaning the conversion of healthy natural habitats to degraded ones – happens in many ways. It could be that a resort was built over wild coastlines, or the picture-perfect beach came as a result of ripping out mangroves (vital for fish life and [protection] against storm surges).

Pollution

It’s not difficult to understand the impact tourism has in terms of pollution. It comes in several forms: solid waste, air, light and noise.

For example, artificial snow used in ski resorts reduces biodiversity; noise and light pollution disturbs wildlife in cities; cruise ships contribute to air pollution in ports; and sewage waste from hotels, resorts and visitor attractions suffocate marine life because it causes surplus nitrogen and phosphorous.

Overexploitation

The overexploitation of nature on your holiday might include the threatened fish you are served for dinner, the hardwood bar in your boutique hotel or the infinity pool that drains local water sources or aquifers. It could also be the whale-watching guide who takes you too close for that perfect photo and in the process affects feeding patterns.

Non-native invasive species

Non-native species in the UK […] threaten our local wildlife and costs the UK economy £2bn a year. Globally they love to hitch a ride on the bottom of fishing boats, hiking boots and in the ballast of ships; and research has shown that non-native species are far more common in high tourism areas.

Climate change

Air travel is the biggest contributor to tourism’s carbon emissions. Far more habitats and species will suffer than benefit from climate change, and we must reduce our emissions quickly, ultimately by flying less, and when we do fly, choosing a holiday that supports wildlife and local communities.

How should we travel in the future?

Last summer, Responsible Travel became the first travel company to commit to being nature-positive by 2030. We’ll work with our partners and suppliers to assess and reduce the impacts of all our holidays on nature, not just wildlife trips, and to increase the support we give to restoration and rewilding of habitats and to protect endangered species.

When it comes to rewildling, responsible tourism has a significant role to play. Like it or not, choices about how land is used – for nature, development or intensive agriculture – are financial. If we are seeking to persuade local people and land owners in favour of rewilding over other land uses, it will need to provide some commercial benefit – and responsible nature tourism does just that, bringing jobs and economic opportunity to local communities.

This is an excerpt from an article originally written by Justin Frances and published by inews.co.uk.