| dc.description.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.
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