Keep in Touch: Make Tourism Sustainable

1

Table of Contents Chapter 1.

The Value of Biodiversity in Tourism ........................................................... 3

Chapter 2.

The Impact of Biodiversity on Tourism ........................................................ 7

Chapter 3.

Tourism, Poverty alleviation and Biodiversity............................................ 11

Chapter 4.

The Potential of Biodiversity on Tourism in Molise- Water ........................ 15

Chapter 5.

The Potential of Biodiversity on Tourism in Molise- Forest and Mountains 22

2

Chapter 1.

The Value of Biodiversity in Tourism

THE VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY IN TOURISM Biodiversity is the variety of living beings, animals and plants, existing on Earth; it can be evaluated in terms of genes (genetic variability within the same species, for which each individual is unique), species (due to the number of species in a given habitat), ecosystems (due to the multiplicity of habitats and their interaction). Biodiversity is essential for maintaining that network of vital connections and systems that provide us with food, health, energy sources but also fun and entertainment. Preserving biodiversity means maintaining not only diversity but also unique cultural heritage that could be dispersed or disappear.

Biodiversity is vital for tourism too. Coasts, mountains, rivers and forests are major attractions for tourists around the world. Biodiversity plays different roles in different types of tourism. For most other types of tourism, biodiversity contributes significantly to the attractiveness and quality of destinations. In the last decade, holiday destinations have changed and tourists, more and more often, are looking for untouched places to practice activities in direct contact with nature. This new interest in the wild and little artificial places, testifies to a change in the relationship between man and the environment, which translates into a tourist offer increasingly marked by the diversification of activities and the enhancement of the territory. Valorisation, however, does not necessarily mean safeguarding; in fact, the presence of man in certain areas needs careful specialist care, aimed at protecting biodiversity, because it is precisely the variety of animal and plant species that makes every natural environment unique. Human activities may also be intrusive and the economic improvement from tourism may be damaging to some areas in need of protection, it is precisely those uncontaminated destinations increasingly desired by those who are looking for a different holiday and in contact with nature. Even in the city areas, tourism depends on the supply of food, clean water, and other ecosystem services that comes from the bio-diversity of the ecosystem. Sustainable tourism consists of 3 points: 1) Human well-being, 2) respect of the environment, 3) satisfy the economy.

As for the first point, nature satisfies the well-being of man. man can breathe clean air, stay in contact with animals. As for the second point, of course it is important that men respect nature, so they must not pollute and disturb the animals. So, in this way, you can have a good relationship with nature. As for the last point, this type of tourism satisfy economy thanks to the creation of “agriturismi”. In “agriturismi” we can eat products at km0, and this respects the environment because it reduces what there is

3

THE VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY IN TOURISM Biodiversity is the variety of living beings, animals and plants, existing on Earth; it can be evaluated in terms of genes (genetic variability within the same species, for which each individual is unique), species (due to the number of species in a given habitat), ecosystems (due to the multiplicity of habitats and their interaction). Biodiversity is essential for maintaining that network of vital connections and systems that provide us with food, health, energy sources but also fun and entertainment. Preserving biodiversity means maintaining not only diversity but also unique cultural heritage that could be dispersed or disappear.

Biodiversity is vital for tourism too. Coasts, mountains, rivers and forests are major attractions for tourists around the world. Biodiversity plays different roles in different types of tourism. For most other types of tourism, biodiversity contributes significantly to the attractiveness and quality of destinations. In the last decade, holiday destinations have changed and tourists, more and more often, are looking for untouched places to practice activities in direct contact with nature. This new interest in the wild and little artificial places, testifies to a change in the relationship between man and the environment, which translates into a tourist offer increasingly marked by the diversification of activities and the enhancement of the territory. Valorisation, however, does not necessarily mean safeguarding; in fact, the presence of man in certain areas needs careful specialist care, aimed at protecting biodiversity, because it is precisely the variety of animal and plant species that makes every natural environment unique. Human activities may also be intrusive and the economic improvement from tourism may be damaging to some areas in need of protection, it is precisely those uncontaminated destinations increasingly desired by those who are looking for a different holiday and in contact with nature. Even in the city areas, tourism depends on the supply of food, clean water, and other ecosystem services that comes from the bio-diversity of the ecosystem. Sustainable tourism consists of 3 points: 1) Human well-being, 2) respect of the environment, 3) satisfy the economy.

As for the first point, nature satisfies the well-being of man. man can breathe clean air, stay in contact with animals. As for the second point, of course it is important that men respect nature, so they must not pollute and disturb the animals. So, in this way, you can have a good relationship with nature. As for the last point, this type of tourism satisfy economy thanks to the creation of “agriturismi”. In “agriturismi” we can eat products at km0, and this respects the environment because it reduces what there is

for impact and consumption. In addition, we are surer of what we eat because we know where it comes from.

In conclusion, the future of the tourism sector, therefore, is closely linked to the quality of the environment and the territory. In recent years, eco-sustainable tourism has spread considerably, becoming an element in strong rise. The goal set by all countries is to safeguard the biodiversity that each year has the ability to attract lot of visitors. Respect for nature, the various species and the environment is therefore an excellent opportunity to ensure the flow of tourists. For this to happen, we too must be an integral part and help.

5

6

Chapter 2.

The Impact of Biodiversity on Tourism

The impact of tourism on biodiversity Iaffaldano Antonella,Di Pietro Angelo, Burattini Letizia 5c

7

positive and negative impacts Tourism has both positive and negative impacts on biodiversity:

Positive impacts

Negative impacts

1.

2.

3.

4.

Employment and economic development Export earnings Income for management of protected areas Raising awareness amongst tourists of biodiversity and the need for conservation

1.

2.

3.

Land conversation for tourism Climate change Overexploitation of natural resources for food, materials, freshwater and recreation Pollution and disturbance of wildlife

4.

positive impacts The main positive impacts include the following: Employment and economic development

Income for management of protected areas

According to UNWTO, tourism provides more than 75 million direct jobs linked to nature due to the fact that is the main attraction. This is helpful because it provides a source of employment.

Revenues from entrance and user fees in protected areas and parks provide funds that can be used for their management.

8

positive impacts Raising awareness amongst tourists of biodiversity and the need for conservation

Export earnings Tourism is a major source of export earnings in many countries, such as kenya, South Africa and many Caribbean States, where the dominant tourism activities are based on biodiversity and high quality ecosystem services.

Overexploitation of natural resources another main negative aspect is the overexploitation of natural resources for food, materials, freshwater and recreation. The tourism sector has a high demand for natural resources, including for foods and materials that are considered prestige items in order to large amounts of freshwater in hotels, sports grounds and landscaped areas and also for access to natural areas for recreation.

Planning and development control are extremely important for preventing overexploitation of natural resources

The experience of biodiversity and high quality environments can increase the understanding of and support for biodiversity conservation amongst tourists.

negative impacts

Climate change tourism affects climate change and that is a consequence of rainfall patterns, water availability, temperature and other related factors.

Another main negative aspect is carbon emissions into the atmosphere Land conversion for tourism to expand tourism, land is converted to tourism use to provide accommodation and tourism facilities (such as golf courses). This conversion of land affects biodiversity is surrounding areas (free movement of animals)

9

Disturbance of wildlife Many animals and plants are sensitive to disturbance by human activities. Animals can be affected by disturbance from tourism in many ways, with the large number of tourists and vehicles. Turtles are affected by the light in hotels situated near the beaches, and they can disorientate them. The negative impacts of tourism can be reduced by simple measures: planning controls to protect biodiversity sites, sensitive areas from tourism development, management of tour groups to minimize disturbance of wildlife.

negative impacts

Introduction of invasive alien species the introduction of invasive alien species can cause a damage to nature. In fact this damage could, for example, cause clog waterways, destroy local ecosystems and damage important resources.

Pollution from wastes produced by tourism and by use of fertilizers and pesticides on tourism facilities can have adverse impact on biodiversity. In many parts of the world, the disposal of wastewater leads to eutrophication, a process in which nutrient enrichment stimulates the growth of some organism. Solid waste management is also poor in many tourism destinations and wastes damage wildlife. Use of fertilizers and pesticides can damage natural vegetation.

10

Chapter 3.

BIODIVERSITY

Tourism, Poverty alleviation and Biodiversity

TOURISM

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

11

BIODIVERSITY What is biodiversity? It refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels , from genes to ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological and culurals processes that sustain life. Biodiversity includes not only species we consider rare, but also every living thing—from humans to organisms such as microbes, fungi, and invertebrates.At the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, we include humans and human cultural diversity as a part of biodiversity. We use the term “biocultural” to describe the dynamic, continually evolving and interconnected nature of people and place.

WHY IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT? Biodiversity is important to most aspects of our lives: we value biodiversity for many reasons, this means we value biodiversity both for what it provides to humans, and for the value it has in its own right. Utilitarian values include the many basic needs humans obtain from biodiversity such as food, fuel, shelter, and medicine. Ecosystems provide crucial services such as pollination, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests. Biodiversity also holds value for potential benefits such as new medicines. The different values placed on biodiversity are important because they can influence the conservation decisions people make every day.

12

Biodiversity VS Tourism Over the last century, humans have come to dominate the planet, causing rapid ecosystem change and massive loss of biodiversity across the planet. It is a vital asset to the tourism industry: a clean environment is each tourist's expectation, and many tourists will not return to polluted destinations.

Tourism What is the definition of tourism?

Tourism is the set of activities and services related to travel and stays made for recreational or educational purposes. The stay is generally not longer than one year and the usual purpose of which is different from the exercise of any gainful activity within the State visited.

13

THE IMPACT OF TOURISM The environmental impacts of tourism have gained increasing attention in recent years. With the rise in sustainable tourism and an increased number of initiatives for being environmentally friendly, tourists are now recognising the importance of environmental management in the tourism industry.

The quality of the environment is essential to tourism. Many of the negative environmental impacts that result from tourism are linked with the construction of infrastructure and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels etc. The negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends. Tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment . Many destinations promote ecotourism and sustainable tourism.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION The alleviation of poverty is a vital part of ensuring a sustainable future and of creating an equitable world in which the fight against climate change is a priority for all.

14

Chapter 4.

Water

The Potential of Biodiversity on Tourism in Molise-

THE BIODIVERSITY OF WATER IN MOLISE

15

“Biodiversity is not just another factor – it is as crucial to the living world as is cultural diversity. Both sources of diversity are linked, and the future that we want to build depends on our collective ability to safeguard them both.”

Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General

The 22nd of March is known as the international day of water by ecosystems. The theme focuses on the solutions provided by biodiversity to meet waterrelated challenges. Wetlands have particularly hydrological functions such as the ability to store water Biodiversity supports water and nutrient cycling ; these processes control land erosion and regulate water quality.

We all know that water is renewable it can be recycled but not REPLACED so infrastructures are necessary for water MANAGEMENT. Without ecosystems, and the complex biological relationships and processes that they support, the quantity and quality of global water resources would be severely compromised.

16

Molise is a region of southern Italy with about 320,000 inhabitants. The last region established by division of Abruzzo in 1963 with about 40% of the territory occupied by mountains that are part of the great Italian mountain range of the Apennines and in particular the southern Apennines. The waters present are particularly rivers and are born almost all from Maltese in the west, and then flow into the Adriatic coast.

The most important river in Molise is the Biferno.

The Biferno river can be considered as the most important river in the Molise region.It springs in Bojano from Pietrecadute, a place situated at the feet of the Matese mountains and flows through the molisano territory, dividing it, into two parts.

The river flows through a deep valley up to the cost and borders some medieval villages like Santa Maria.

17

In Santa Maria del Molise, once named St.Mary and James, there are three Watermills built in the second half of the XIX century by the Marquis Morra. The village is rich in water thanks to the sources of Rio which, together with Callora and Quirino, is one of the main tributaires of the Biferno river.

Today, the visitor can see two mills built not far from one of the lakes formed by the waters of the Rio stream. It is a very nice area in every season, but it is especcialy recommended during the spring and the hot summer days.

18

• • • • •

Molise Acque is an agency which is responsible for the management of the water services: The capture of water; The regional and interregional supply; The water-treatment plants; The water-rising plants; The control of drinkable water

This Agency was established with the regional law of 13 December 1999. The ARPA is responsible for carrying out technical-scientific functions and activities for collective prevention and environmental controls, and for carrying out research initiatives on the subject. environmental.

19

Molise with the regional law releases the large concessions for both underground and surface water,

For many years in the city of Termoli, in Molise, there have been many problems with the purifier, which has polluted the waters of the sea.

Consequently, to avoid further damage in the future, it was decided to make a new project to remove the purifier, replacing it in a "terrace overlooking the sea". Thanks to this project, the waters and the bathing system will be cleaner.

20

The trabocco, or trabucco, is an imposing construction made of structural wood that consists of a platform stretched out over the sea anchored to the rock by large trunks of Aleppo pine, from which stretch, suspended a few meters from the water, two (or more) long arms, called antennas, that support an enormous net with narrow meshes called trap.

21

Chapter 5. The Potential of Biodiversity on Tourism in MoliseForest and Mountains The potential biodiversity of tourism in Molise - Forests and Mountains.

Molise ecosystem is very rich: the fauna, as well as the flora, includes a very big variety of species and some of them are even endangered(such as the “Cavallo Pentro” and the “Capra Grigia”),there are also secular beeches(such as the famous “Re Faione”).To prevent their disappearance, the WWF association named some Protected Areas in the region and some of Region’s laws forbid the collection and hunt of these species.

The 29.2% of Molise territory is composed of forests (129.600 Ha in total). The region features many varieties of woods:from forests of pine trees,to little gatherings of trees and to mountain woods.

22

FLORA-Mountains and forests Campochiaro OASIS-WWF The site, located in the mountains, comprehends a large forest and karst phenomenons, such as the canyon of the Quirino steam, the San Nicola waterfalls (100m high) and the Pozzo della Neve and Cul Di Bove caves (one of the deepest in Europe). Among the most common living creatures there we can find wolves,wild cats and badgers,as well as hawks, salamanders and butterflies. the website:https://www.wwf.it/oasi/molise/guardiaregia_campochiaro/

23

Casacalenda LIPU Oasis Born in 1993, this is the first official oasis of the region.It’s also the first territory of the region to have a direct contact with the ‘Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli’.The site, thanks to

the preservation, offers a big variety of animal and vegetal species such as the “spectacled salamander”,yellow-bellied toads ,badgers ,roe deers and particular birds.About 100 Ha of the total 105 Ha of the site are covered by oaks. There can also be found 15 different types of orchids as well as beeches and Italian oaks in the coldest points.

The oasis hosts activities for nature lovers such as activities for children, days dedicated entirely to the 80 different species of butterflies that find their home in this environment, or the possibility to listen to birds sing. the website: http://www.lipu.it/oasi-casacalenda-campobasso

24

Montedimezzo natural reserve The site, 300 Ha large, is located in the territory of Vastogirardi (IS).The reserve is in the UNESCO project ‘Man and Biosphere’ (MAB) and comprehends the left side of the La Penna Mount. There, the famous centenary beech “Re Faione” can be found as well as other centenary trees, as well as beeches and oaks. It’s home to falcons, deer, badgers, hares, weasels, wolves, owls and barn owls.

The site offers various paths to follow either on foot or by electric scooters or bikes. In the picnic area, a natural museum and an area dedicated to the fauna can be found. the website: https://www.montedimezzo.it

25

FAUNA-Mountains and forests

Game is abundant such as quails that are very popular in the territory around Campolieto (CB). Also partridges can be found in the area of Spinete (CB), Frosolone (IS), Macchiagodena (IS), Longano (IS), Miranda (IS), on the Mount Miletto and on the Mainarde. Hares can be found anywhere in the region, on the mountains as well as on the hills, thanks to hunting associations and the systematic repopulation of the area.

Foxes are also very common, along with weasels and otters. Wild boars find their natural habitat in the forests and woods of the region,as well as wolves. Moreover Marsican brown bears populate the National Park of Molise, Abruzzo and Lazio while stags, roe-deers and deer populate the mountains.

In the Alto Volturno are (the border between Campania and Molise) various species of fish are to be found: Barbels, common rudds, tenches, virions, mullets and sea bass populate the area. Among the volatiles living in the area we can find hawks, eagles and sparrow hawks.

The most common reptiles are the viper, the grass snake and the four-lined snake which live in stoney areas in the mountains, particularly on the Matese mountains. and on the Meta mountain

26

27