and Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park in 1922.
Since the 1970s, conservation and protection of natural heritage has increased. Of the 92,610 sq. kilometers in Tasmania, around 41,674.5 (45%) are under some form of conservation and/or protected status. Of the 5,400 kilometers of coastline, 48,500 hectares (not including the Marine Protected Area of Macquarie Island) is classified as Marine Protected Areas – this does not mean they are exclusive ‘No Take Zones’, but have recognized status as containing important and unique biodiversity.
Protected Areas: The protected areas of Tasmania consist of South West World Heritage Wilderness Area (15,840 sq. km, World Heritage listing in 1982), Macquarie Island World Heritage Area, 19 National Parks, and 420 Reserves, along with Crown land and Marine Protected areas.
2. Why is your case a good example of linking tourism and conservation?
Tasmania as a State of Australia is a good example of linking tourism and conservation in several ways: it has a history of significant, well-managed protected areas, raising the profile of the island and the benefits of nature-based tourism. There are a number of positive examples of tour operators supporting protected areas both financially and through their educational activities working alongside the relevant government agencies in this regard.
Tasmania is also a very good example of tourism supporting the management of protected areas through the collection and use of park entrance fees. The PWS collects these fees, as a percentage of their revenue, in a technically efficient manner and is transparent, through its website, in the direct use of such revenues for the ongoing management and conservation of protected areas.
3. Are there plans to further improve your example of tourism supporting conservation in the future?
“Tasmania aims to reach Center for Biological Diversity’s (CBD) target 11 before 2020 as a leading example in the world”
Yes, LT&C proposes a project to help Tasmania meet CBD’s target 11, which demonstrates that tourism and conservation in Tasmania are able to join forces. This would require the support and recognition of the three areas involved, government agencies, conservation NGOs and, in particular, tour operators and the tourism industry at large.
Rationale: With more than 7% of its marine area protected Tasmania is close to the global target of 10%. As a State with a high marine profile and already having good examples of properly managed Marine Protected Areas closing this small gap and reaching the global target could be achievable. Thereby the project is for Tasmania to focus on the coasts of its mainland and increase marine protected areas as no-fishing zones with the understanding and appreciation of the benefits such zones mean for the surrounding fishing areas.
4. A) How could your example be transferred to another protected area and B) how could your experience be shared with others?
A) In regard to tourism supporting the management of protected areas through the collection and use of park entrance fees: the method of collection, including the recent extension to internet based access, and the transparency of use to support the ongoing management and conservation of the protected areas are concrete examples for other areas to replicate.
B) “Tasmania aims to reach CBD target 11 before 2020 as a leading example in the world”: This could encourage other countries to emulate Tasmania to reach the same goal earlier.
For more information, visit http://www.ltandc.org/tasmania/, or contact Peter Harris ([email protected])
For more information on the history of Tasmania, visit www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history
For more photos, visit the GRID-Arendal photo library (http://www.grida.no/photolib/collection/tourism-and-protected-areas-in-tasmania)
Photo Captions:
Tasmania1: Bruny Island Neck Game Reserve
Tasmania2: Coastal Forest, Tasman National Park
Tasmania3: Sea Anemone in shoreline pool, Tinderbox Marine Reserve
Tasmania4: South Bruny National Park
Tasmania5: Shy Albatross, Tasman National Park
Tasmania6: South Bruny National Park
Tasmania7: Short Tailed Shearwaters, Tasman National Park
December 2016 - Sustainable Travel
122 - SEVENSEAS