For info: Steven R, Morrison C, Arthur JM, Castley JG (2015) Avitourism
and Australian Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. PLoS ONE 10(12):
e0144445. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144445
David
Abstract
Formal protected areas will not provide adequate protection to conserve
all biodiversity, and are not always designated using systematic or
strategic criteria. Using a systematic process, the Important Bird and
Biodiversity Area (IBA) network was designed to highlight areas of
conservation significance for birds (i.e. IBA trigger species), and more
recently general biodiversity. Land use activities that take place in
IBAs are diverse, including consumptive and non-consumptive activities.
Avitourism in Australia, generally a non-consumptive activity, is
reliant on the IBA network and the birds IBAs aim to protect. However,
companies tend not to mention IBAs in their marketing. Furthermore,
avitourism, like other nature-based tourism has the potential to be both
a threatening process as well as a conservation tool. We aimed to assess
the current use of IBAs among Australian-based avitour companies’
marketing, giving some indication of which IBAs are visited by
avitourists on organised tours. We reviewed online avitour itineraries,
recorded sites featuring in descriptions of avitours and which IBA
trigger species are used to sell those tours. Of the 209 avitours
reviewed, Queensland is the most featured state (n = 59 tours), and 73%
feature at least one IBA. Daintree (n = 22) and Bruny Island (n = 17)
IBAs are the most popular, nationally. Trigger species represent 34% (n
= 254 out of 747) of species used in avitour descriptions. The most
popular trigger species’ are wetland species including; Brolga (n = 37),
Black-necked Stork (n = 30) and Magpie Goose (n = 27). Opportunities
exist to increase collaboration between avitour companies and IBA
stakeholders. Our results can provide guidance for managing
sustainability of the avitourism industry at sites that feature heavily
in avitour descriptions and enhance potential cooperation between
avitour companies, IBA stakeholders and bird conservation organisations.
--
David McDonald
1004 Norton Road
Wamboin NSW 2620
Australia
T: (02) 6238 3706
M: 0416 231 890
F: (02) 9475 4274
E:
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