Sustainable Utilization of Ecotourism Resources in Poverty Stricken Areas
贫困地区的生态旅游资源及其可持续利用探讨

There exists a very high coupling between the developed areas and the fragile ecosystem areas in China,which causes the typical contradiction between the socio-economic development and the eco-environmental conservation there.Systematic analysis of some central and western provinces,most of which are underdeveloped,shows that they have plenty of eco-tourism resources including various kinds of nature reserves which make up over 80% of the total,rare wild species,natural and human relics.However,these regions with plenty eco-tourism resources are in the lower tourism development level.The fragile eco-environmental conditions restrict the conventional industrial development pattern but provide a large eco-tourism and other related industries.The fast development of tourism and the eminent contributions to local economic development and poverty alleviation are good examples.Many successful experiences demonstrate that the development of eco-tourism can realize the "win-win" of economic development and ecological conservation.Another demonstration is the large recreational and cultural value of ecosystem services which is just the basis for eco-tourism development and is sufficient to attract local governors and residents' attention to reconsider their development idea.Through eco-tourism and its promotion to local economic development,the direct damage to ecosystems can be reduced because local farmers will gain new development opportunities.Based on the practices and the characteristics of eco-tourism,some measures should be paid attention to including protecting the resources and the eco-environment and adhering to the strategy of sustainable development,harmonizing the relationship between multi-stakeholders and improving the participation,trying to overcome the impact of low-season,and implementing ecological management to eco-tourism development.