Skip to main content
Duke University Libraries
DukeSpace Scholarship by Duke Authors
  • Login
  • Ask
  • Menu
  • Login
  • Ask a Librarian
  • Search & Find
  • Using the Library
  • Research Support
  • Course Support
  • Libraries
  • About
View Item 
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
  • View Item
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Establishing a Socioeconomic Baseline of Sea Turtle Ecotourism in Baja California, Sur

Thumbnail
View / Download
1.3 Mb
Date
2009-04-24
Author
Finkbeiner, Elena
Advisor
Crowder, Larry
Repository Usage Stats
344
views
888
downloads
Abstract
Baja California Sur provides vitally important habitat to five of seven species of sea turtles. All five species have long been subject to direct and indirect exploitation in the region, and federal intervention has largely failed to address conservation goals. A powerful opportunity exists to incentivize sea turtle conservation by means of ecotourism, as locals can use turtles non-consumptively to their socio-economic benefit. However, ecotourism is a complex multi-faceted endeavor built upon a mix of social, economic, and environmental factors. Community participation, a central component of ecotourism, depends on local perceptions and realities, but is often overlooked in ecotourism implementation. The purpose of my research is to describe and contextualize community perception and involvement in sea turtle ecotourism, with existing infrastructure and resources in the region. To achieve this goal, oral surveys, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation techniques were administered in communities throughout Baja California Sur during the summer of 2008. My findings suggest that local perceptions of ecotourism are highly optimistic but vary significantly between communities, as do existing tourism infrastructure and resources. Current local participation is low, but desire to participate is high among communities. Drivers to participate are based on a variety of economic, social and conservation factors. These findings will advise on proper implementation of sea turtle ecotourism in the region in order to maximize community involvement, and will provide a baseline from which to measure future successes and failures of sea turtle ecotourism.
Type
Master's project
Department
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
Subject
sea turtles
Baja California Sur
ecotourism
community participation
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/1010
Citation
Finkbeiner, Elena (2009). Establishing a Socioeconomic Baseline of Sea Turtle Ecotourism in Baja California, Sur. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/1010.
Collections
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
More Info
Show full item record
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Rights for Collection: Nicholas School of the Environment


Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info

Make Your Work Available Here

How to Deposit

Browse

All of DukeSpaceCommunities & CollectionsAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit DateThis CollectionAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit Date

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics
Duke University Libraries

Contact Us

411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-5870
Perkins Library Service Desk

Digital Repositories at Duke

  • Report a problem with the repositories
  • About digital repositories at Duke
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Deaccession and DMCA Takedown Policy

TwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickrInstagramBlogs

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Re-use & Attribution / Privacy
  • Harmful Language Statement
  • Support the Libraries
Duke University