5.

Sensitive development of
infrastructure and services

All protected areas, other than those in IUCN Category Ia, require some level of visitor
service infrastructure. This may be no more than an information sign in a nature reserve,
or as prominent a feature as a village or small town of importance to tourism in a
protected landscape. All infrastructure must be located with care because it can be so
intrusive. Tourism-related structures must also be very carefully designed and operated.
They should reflect protected area values and clearly accord with park policy.
Protected area managers need to reflect on the fact that they manage a cultural and a
natural area, and a site that often assumes a very different state from that which once
prevailed. Some protected areas accommodate “pockets of urbanisation” within a larger
environmental and cultural matrix. Infrastructure and services serve the people now
using the area, and these are often much different from that which occurred previously.
These services fulfil needs such as sanitation, food provision, lodging, information,
transport and safety. The key is the provision of the services that best fulfil visitor needs,
while minimising negative impacts.

Tendele, Royal Natal National Park, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Culturally and environmentally sensitive structures enhance the park visitor’s experience.
©Paul F. J. Eagles

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Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas

While some protected areas are rarely visited, others accommodate large numbers, far
exceeding the size of the local population. For example, in Kakadu National Park,
Australia, there are now thousands of people around the visitor centre on many days
during the peak visitor season, whereas 30 years ago, before the proclamation of the first
part of the park, only a handful of people visited the area annually. In the case of several
UK national parks (Category V areas), visitor numbers occur in the range 10 to 20
millions annually.
It is clear that visitor services both stimulate park use by people and also direct these
uses. Wherever possible, therefore, park infrastructure and visitor services should help
to enhance visitor understanding of key park themes and values. Good design makes
visitors more comfortable and responsive to the special place that they are visiting.
Visitors who feel they are well looked after will value the park more and are likely to
assist in its protection. An increasing emphasis on a customer focus has developed in
recent decades. Park visitors’ needs are now more carefully investigated through
planning and research, and monitored through comments cards and satisfaction surveys.
Indeed, a mark of a well-managed protected area is that the planning of the infrastructure
and services for visitors is based on an understanding of the needs of existing and
potential users.
Good design is important because well-designed enterprises are the most successful.
They function better, and attract more visitors. Moreover, good design need not be
expensive. Often success depends on simple solutions and easy maintenance.

5.1 Culturally sensitive design and operation

Culturally sensitive design and operation are essential in the provision of visitor ser-
vices. This calls for patience, tolerance and a sense of fairness on the part of the protected
area manager but most of all it requires a sensitivity to heritage issues and values.
Heritage is a broad concept, encompassing not only wildlife and landscapes, but also
historic sites, architectural features, collections, past and continuing cultural practices,
including ceremonies, rituals, events, even language, traditional knowledge and living
experiences. Moreover, different nations, peoples and individuals have varied notions of
heritage: for some, it is buildings and structures; for others a way of life and a living
culture. Some communities view the historic heritage as dating from, say 150 years or
more; for others, less than 50 years will suffice.
Because heritage is so culturally specific, great care should be taken to understand
heritage values before designation of protected areas. While tourism may provide a
special impetus towards the conservation of such areas, both by raising profile and
providing funds, managers of protected areas should always be sensitive to the special
needs of cultural sites of all types. Cultural resources designated as heritage under
legislation will require special attention, but since the cultural impact of tourism can
extend well beyond designated heritage sites, there is always a need for careful cultural
impact understanding and management. A key issue for managers is who is involved in
making the decisions that affect cultural heritage, and what is the process for decision-
making.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) develops approaches
to the conservation and use of cultural heritage. For example, the organisation has
developed guidance, or charters, for handling a broad range of situations, including:

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n Historic gardens and landscapes n Underwater cultural heritage

n Historic towns n Monuments
n Archaeological heritage n Cultural tourism
ICOMOS developed a Charter on culture and tourism in 1999, the key management
elements of which are presented in Table 5.1.

Table 5.1 Guidance from the 1999 ICOMOS Charter

Element Guiding directions

n Retention of authenticity is important.

Interpretation programmes should:
n Enhance the appreciation and understanding of that cultural heritage;
Authenticity n Present the significance of the culture in a relevant and accessible manner;
n Use appropriate, stimulating and contemporary forms of education, technology and
personal explanations; and,
n Encourage high levels of public awareness and support of heritage.

Tourism should:
n bring benefits to host communities and provide an important motivation and means to
maintain their heritage and cultural practices;
n Promote equitable distribution of benefits of tourism, through education, training and
creation of employment opportunities; and
Employment n Encourage training and employment of local guides and interpreters.

Managers should:
n Carefully address the potential impact of visitors on the characteristics, integrity and
biodiversity of the place, local access and the social/economic/cultural well-being of
the host community; and
n Select circulation routes to minimise impacts on integrity of place.

Respect n Respect sanctity of spiritual elements, values and lifestyles of the host.
n Respect rights and interests of the community, property owners and indigenous
peoples, who may have traditional rights over their own land, or wish to restrict certain
activities, practices or access.
n Encourage and help all parties to understand and resolve conflicting issues.
n Conservation should provide well-managed opportunities for visitors and members of
the host community to experience and understand that community’s heritage and
culture, first hand.

n Encourage visitors to experience the wider cultural/natural heritage of the region.

Culture n Involvement of all parties, including local and/or indigenous community representa-
tives is necessary to achieve a sustainable tourism industry.

n Allocate a significant proportion of revenues to protection, conservation and presenta-

Economic
tion of places, and tell visitors about this allocation.
returns
n Ensure that distribution and sale of crafts and products benefit the host community.

n Ensure that the visitor experience is worthwhile, satisfying and enjoyable.

n Present high quality information to optimise visitors’ understanding of heritage and
Visitor need for protection.
satisfaction n Provide appropriate facilities for comfort, safety and well-being of the visitor.
n Ensure tourism promotion creates realistic expectations.
n Minimise fluctuations in visitor arrivals and even the flow as much as possible.

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Element Guiding directions

n Continuing research and consultation are important to understanding and appreciating

the heritage significance of the place.
Consultation
and evaluation n Involve host communities in planning for conservation and tourism, and establishing
goals, strategies, policies and protocols.
n Evaluate the ongoing impacts of tourism on the place or community.

Source: ICOMOS, 1999.

Web site: http://icomos.org/tourism/charter.html

5.1.1 Protection and use of the built heritage

There are basically four approaches to protecting and using the built heritage:
1. Preservation: the stabilisation and protection of existing structures and artefacts;
2. Restoration: the repair of the structures and artefacts where replacements of
missing parts should integrate harmoniously with the whole;
3. Re-creation: the creation of a new structure or artifact that faithfully replaces one
that is lost, destroyed or too fragile to use; and
4. Adaptation: the restoration of part of the structure, but with change in another
part, to make it more useful, for example for tourism.
The tourism use of the built heritage raises difficult technical issues, such as accom-
modating human movement, disseminating visitor information, safety and security for
buildings and people, food provision, and services like electricity, sanitation and water
distribution. Employees’ needs must also be considered. Tourism demands can be
handled within a restored and adapted building, though imaginative solutions are often
required. The preservation and restoration of built heritage must be very carefully
planned and executed: the aim should be to provide for tourists in the best possible way,
using good interpretation, while ensuring high quality heritage preservation.
Guidelines for any new building (for tourism use, for example) in the context of the
historic built heritage include:
n Work with the character of existing buildings;
n Be sympathetic to the local vernacular style and materials (though this is not
incompatible with contemporary architecture);
n Pay careful attention to the setting; and
n Involve the stakeholders in finding the architectural solution.

5.1.2 Interpretation and education for cultural heritage

Cultural heritage only really comes alive for the visitor through well-designed and
implemented interpretation and education programmes. Interpretation is required to
communicate the significance of an area to visitors, and to members of the host
community, and the need for its conservation. Interpretation should aim to develop
awareness of, and respect for cultural and heritage values, the present-day community
and indigenous custodians of the heritage, and the landscapes and cultures within which
that heritage has evolved. It should help develop support for the stewardship of the site.

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 5. Sensitive development of infrastructure and services

A professionally-planned heritage interpretation programme involves: the careful

determination of interpretation themes; the choice of media to present the themes; the
presentation of the material; and the evaluation of the presentation. In selecting themes,
managers should note that individual aspects of the heritage within a protected area
would have differing levels of significance, from local to international. Interpretation
programmes should present that significance in a manner relevant to the visitor but also
to the host community. The visitor should always be informed of the cultural values of a
particular resource.
Cultural heritage interpretation differs somewhat from natural environment inter-
pretation because of the fragile and irreplaceable aspects of many cultural artefacts and
because much heritage is still “owned” by a living culture. Moreover, cultural presenta-
tion often involves careful analysis of the cultural conflicts involved in the presented
themes. For example, a war site commemorated in a national historic site has different
interpretations for the different cultures involved in the conflict. Each of these must be
presented honestly and openly. Getting the message right can be challenging: failure to
do so can lead to politically-charged situations.

5.2 Environmentally sensitive design and operation

5.2.1 Standards and guidelines
Tourist facilities and programmes within protected areas should act as standard-setters
in environmentally sensitive design and operations. Good design and sympathetic
operations can increase local and visitors’ awareness of key park values, and demon-
strate to all visitors the protected area management’s commitment to environmental
protection. This can be done by:
n Minimising the negative environmental impact of visitor support services;
n Creating an atmosphere in which visitors feel they are in a special place; and
n Setting an example of environmentally sensitive design and operation practices, to
educate and demonstrate the value and practicality of sustainable, innovative and
effective solutions.
The need for, and level of detail of, each aspect of planning and design will vary
according to individual circumstances. The Tourism Council of Australia (1998) and the
National Park Service of the USA (1993) have both published excellent guides to
environmental design in parks and tourism. Table 5.2 provides Guidelines for
environmentally and culturally sensitive design and operation. Boxes 5.1 and 5.2 are two
examples of some of these values put into practice.

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Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas

Table 5.2 Guidelines for environmentally and culturally sensitive facilities

Aspect Guidelines
Environmental n Consider whether or not a statutory or informal environmental assessment is required,
impact including ecological, social, cultural and economic evaluation.
assessments n Develop a mitigation plan, where required.
n Develop a context plan – examining the entire surrounding area and community, including
valued views and resources.
n Develop a management plan for the site, including the relationship with the surrounding/
adjacent protected area, addressing zoning and access.
n Develop a site plan, focusing on detailed design. This should minimise site disturbance,
physical intrusion and intervention.
Landscaping
n Tree management considers tree retention, relocation or replacement.
and site design
n Plant vegetation to supply a more natural environment that provides habitat for birds,
mammals and other wildlife.
n Use indigenous species for landscaping.
n Consider cultural aspects of site.
n Ensure linkages are considered (for land use, human circulation, nearby trails, other facilities,
outpost camps, etc.).
n Height and mass should be in scale with existing vegetation and topography.
n Design guidelines should recognise the history of place, cultural characteristics and in-
Built facilities digenous or vernacular design features, colours, etc.
n Facilities should be constructed for energy efficiency, using renewable energy wherever
possible.
n Design and operate services so as to minimise use and production of water, energy, waste,
Resource sewage, effluent, noise, light and any other emissions.
conservation n Encourage the use of renewable sources of energy.
and n Consider a permaculture approach (which mimics the interconnectedness and diversity of
consumption flora and fauna in natural systems) to turn waste into resources and problems into oppor-
tunities.
n Materials should be indigenous, appropriate to the area, and involve low maintenance.
n Materials used in construction should be “sourced” to ensure that they come from sustainable
Materials production systems, or should be recycled where appropriate.
n Ensure that all materials brought onto the site for construction are used – apply a “no waste”
condition to contractors.
n Use new technologies in construction and operations where appropriate, practical, cost
New and low effective, and where there are no perverse effects elsewhere (e.g. “smart” room controls and
sensors, low heat transfer glazing assemblies, free cooling/heating, energy from solar/
impact
wind/micro-hydro, power controls for energy savings, re-use of produced heat, etc.).
technologies
n Use new technologies, which are more effective in stand-alone equipment and vehicles, as
well as in facilities.
Services n Develop and implement service standards to meet the needs of all stakeholders – visitors,
agencies, private sector, staff.
n If guidelines and conditions of operation of the protected area agency are clear, reporting or
decisions should be simple and clear.
n Baseline information should be maintained (ideally from pre-construction) so as to assess
what, if any, impacts may occur as a result of construction and operations. These may be very
simple observations, or quite complex.
Quality control
n Set conditions of operation and timelines such that the developer/concessionaire can afford to
invest in quality and visitor satisfaction, as well as obtain a reasonable return on the
investment.
n Initiate regular meetings with managers and facility operators to help resolve problems or
issues.

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 5. Sensitive development of infrastructure and services

Aspect Guidelines
n Develop green purchase policies.
n Use biodegradable cleaning products.
n Use alternatives to watering, such as mulching, alternate mowing and composting.
n Develop an integrated pest management plan.
Green n Use bulk or re-usable storage containers.
practices n Keep all systems and equipment well maintained, since all systems degrade in efficiency over
time.
n Encourage staff vehicle pooling for staff transport to site.
n Ensure marketing materials are environmentally sensitive, and use electronic communi-
cations.
n Reward staff for creativity and monitoring.
n Involve visitors in developing ongoing improvements.
Manage human use – a human use strategy (see above) assists this.
Programming
n

n Consider partnerships with others (e.g. other public agencies) to assist in programming.
n Develop high staff to client ratios.
n Build monitoring into programme activities.
n Consult with the local community before development or significant changes in activities.
n Donate surplus or left over goods to local charities or causes (e.g. soaps, bed linens,
amenities, foods).
n Maximise employment opportunities with the local community.
Relationship
with the local n Buy goods and services locally, and encourage “green” products and services, where none are
available.
community
n Assist local organisations, provide discounted services, or donate a percentage of fees or
profits to a worthy local cause.
n Encourage visitors to spend more time locally.
n Offer work experience or training options locally.

Box 5.1 Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, South Africa: an example of
environmentally sensitive sewage management at a private
reserve
Sabi Sabi is an 800ha private game reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park, which
was used for cattle grazing prior to its purchase in 1974. It has had a lion and white
rhino reintroduction programme, and is now used for big game viewing. It supports
130 employees, over 100 locals, together with their families. Its main contribution to
conservation is to protect the area from clearance for settlement, agriculture or cattle
grazing, through low-volume, high-value tourism. Its contribution to community
development is through employment, training and purchase of local products and
services.
There are three operating lodges. An artificial wetland is a key part of the sewage
treatment system. Sewage is collected by gravity feed to a 3-chambered 10,000-litre
holding and separation tank. Sludges are pumped out and trucked away, as needed.
Liquids are pumped to settling ponds, and electrified fences protect adjacent vege-
tation. Water drains gradually through plant roots to a small swamp area. The ponds
and swamp support a range of waterbirds, including the saddle-billed stork, which
feeds on frogs.
Source: Buckley and Sommer, 2001.
Web site: http://www.sabisabi.com/

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Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas

5.2.2 Design of public and private sector facilities

There is a continuing debate on the appropriate mix of operating approaches to visitor
facilities. The most common options are: park agency, concessionaire, Friend’s Groups,
NGOs and local communities. However, in situations where land is mainly under private
ownership, services like accommodation and catering will be provided by the private
sector without direct control from the protected area agency (though it may be able to
determine the location and form of that service through controls operated under a land
use planning system). Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. The key factors
in making the decision are: government policy on private involvement; fiscal consider-
ations; the administrative structure of the protected area agency; and its capability to
manage. Whatever option is chosen, the facilities need to be designed and managed as
sensitively and efficiently as possible, following the guidance in Table 5.2. In the
following sections, key aspects of the design of camp-sites, roofed accommodation,
interpretation facilities and transport facilities are each considered.

Camp-sites
The provision of comfortable accommodation in camp-sites, and in roofed accom-
modation (see below) in the North American national parks was probably crucial in
building the strong constituency that the parks movement enjoys today.
Many countries provide camping facilities within protected areas, ranging from basic
camp-sites in remote areas, to large constructed camp-sites with extensive infra-
structure. Parks Canada’s (1992) Camping Manual illustrates one agency’s approach to
camp-sites. It describes the role of camping in national parks, the development of a
service strategy, and the design, construction, maintenance and operation of camp- sites.
Facilities associated with camping in wilderness and backcountry situations should be
as simple as possible, appropriate to the level of use, and appropriate to the degree of
allowable impact. Well-designed facilities for backcountry camp-sites can minimise
human impact on remote sensitive environments: for example, simple pit toilets are
much preferable to widespread distribution of human waste. “Front country” camp-sites
often include showers, laundry facilities, children’s play facilities and interpretation
facilities. All should follow principles of environmentally sensitive design (Table 5.2).

Box 5.2 River Cove Group camp-site, Kananaskis Country Provincial

Park, Alberta, Canada: Use of solar power at an unserviced
camp-site
The River Cove camp-site serves provincial, national and international visitors. Most of the
camp-sites in the area have toilets and shelters, but have no power supply for lighting. In 1988
photovoltaic (PV) powered fluorescent lighting systems were installed to extend camp-site
use after dark. One was at a public shelter, and one at a public toilet. The systems are triggered
by motion sensors, and are turned off by a delay switch.
Installation of a PV system is more cost effective than connecting with a utility grid.
Although initial capital cost is high, there is virtually no maintenance cost once the system is
installed. It is simple, reliable, and requires minimal maintenance. Visitors have shown a lot of
interest in the system, and ask questions about it, thus creating an opportunity to give out
“green” messages.

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 5. Sensitive development of infrastructure and services

Waste disposal is an important issue for all camp-sites. Solid garbage waste requires
landfill disposal either inside or outside the protected area, so plans to reduce waste
generation are highly desirable. Self-composting toilets can significantly reduce sewage
disposal problems. Many protected areas near cities and towns especially can take
advantage of collection and recycling programmes for metal, paper and glass. Others can
generate their own solutions. For example, Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario,
Canada introduced a ban on cans and bottles for all backcountry hiking and canoeing
areas. The private sector responded by providing a full range of food and supplies in
packages that are light, easy to burn or carry back out. The result was the virtual
elimination of the garbage problem in the interior of the park.

Roofed accommodation
Many visitors require overnight accommodation. If the protected area is small, they are
probably best accommodated in nearby towns, villages or home stays; the same of
course will apply in the case of protected areas, usually Category V, that contain such
settlements within their boundaries. In such cases, there will be a particular need for
good transport, preferably public transport, to provide access to and within the protected
areas, and especially to such focal points as information centres and take-off points for
walking trails and toilets.
There is a vigorous debate about the merits of allowing built accommodation within
Category I to IV protected areas (in principle, their presence in Categories V and VI
protected areas is not controversial). In the early days of national parks, it was almost
axiomatic that protected area-based tourism and built accommodation went together.
Today, too, many of the larger parks and game reserves in Africa, for example, construct
accommodation in the parks to serve their visitors. In many other countries, however,
there is opposition to accommodation in these kind of protected areas; instead it is felt
that such development should take place in nearby communities.
There are some good arguments for locating built accommodation (ranging from
resort-style buildings to lodges or cabins) within Category I to IV protected areas,
particularly where the areas are large:
n The protected area managers have stronger control over the accommodation
complex and the ways visitors use the protected area;
n The visitors spend most or all their time within the protected area, which should
increase their appreciation of it, and there is less need to use transport;
n Well-designed accommodation and service facilities can attract visitors to under-
utilised areas; and
n Through fees and other financial arrangements, the protected area benefits from
the money spent on accommodation and meals.
Against that, it can be argued that:
n Tourist accommodation is per se out of character with an essentially natural area,
being often visually intrusive and potentially polluting;
n Tourist development requires a range of services, usually brought in by road,
which create a secondary impact on the protected area;
n Tourist accommodation has an in-built potential to grow and, once established, is
difficult to restrain; and

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n By providing the centre of tourist activity outside the protected areas near estab-
lished settlements, it is easier to bring benefits to local people (especially to
women, who need to be near their children) and will minimise their need to travel
to work.
Decisions on the location of accommodation in relation to protected areas involve
many other issues, especially financial ones. Construction costs are always higher in
remote areas. Where visitation is highly seasonal, it is difficult to attract capital for such
a venture, whether from government or the private sector. Often, too, only limited term
leases are allowed inside the protected area, which makes the project less attractive to the
private sector and venture capital. Nonetheless, there have been a number of new
accommodation centres built in important Category I to IV protected areas in recent
years, for example the relocation of cabins in Sequoia National Park, California, and
several new lodges constructed in Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks in Tanzania.
But wherever such roofed accommodation is constructed, it should be done in the most
culturally and environmentally sensitive way.

Information, orientation and interpretive facilities

Signage, and other information and interpretation can be used to influence visitor
behaviour and thus assist protected area management, for example by safeguarding
fragile environments. Though the movement of visitors in vehicles or on foot is likely to
cause far more impact than the signs, they can be overbearing and intrusive; and many
protected area management agencies conduct periodic audits to guard against the
overuse of signs. Some park agencies have signage policies, to ensure standardised
approaches throughout the park, indeed throughout the protected area system. A few
protected areas have developed special arrangements with local transport authorities, so
that road and transit signs to, and within, the protected areas contain directional
information.
Visitor centres represent major investments in protected areas, and provide a broad
range of information, interpretation, safety and recreation services. Since they are focal
points for traffic, they should:
n be appropriately located, normally near the park entrance in the case of Category
I–IV protected area; and
n adhere to the basic guidelines of construction and operation illustrated in Table
5.2.
Although visitor centres are not essential, they are used to fulfil important manage-
ment tasks, especially in protected areas that attract large numbers of visitors. Many such
protected areas have two or more visitor centres, often sited near the main entrances to
the park.
In the past, visitor centres were rarely targeted to any particular market segment, and
no arrangements were made to obtain feedback from visitors. Many centres have
become quite dated, and need upgrading to remain stimulating to visitors and to fulfil
their role. Because they are expensive to build and operate, they are often the most costly
single item of investment in the protected area. The danger is that they can become a
“white elephant”, whether due to poor location, out-of-date design, inappropriate mes-
sages or lack of maintenance.

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The best of today’s new visitor centres are located in positions which attract the most
visitors and fulfil many functions. Though they need to be discreetly designed, carefully
sited and sympathetically landscaped, they must nonetheless work. In other words, they
should draw visitors into the building, persuade them to look at the displays and lead
them out, better informed, into the real protected area itself. Thus, to be successful,
visitor centres must build in a strong interpretive component, help visitors to understand
the significance of the area, and thus assist the protected area manager as well. Many
centres also contain stores and restaurants, providing useful services to the visitors and
important sources of income to the park. Providing the fundamental mission of the
protected areas is not lost sight of, the provision of services of this kind can be beneficial
to all concerned.

5.3 Transportation and infrastructure

Transportation infrastructure within protected areas provides visitors with access to
opportunities for understanding, appreciation and enjoyment. In many parks such
transport will also be important as a service to local people. However, this usually means
motorised transport, which can have major negative impacts. Noise, pollution and dust
can disrupt wildlife, damage vegetation and affect water quality. Visitors, too, may be
affected, although this is a matter of perspective: those who are hiking in a remote chasm
will probably be much more annoyed by the noise of a helicopter than the sightseers
within the aircraft.
Transportation infrastructure (roads, tracks, airstrips, boat landings, etc.) often has
very significant impacts on protected areas, even when its primary purpose is to allow
better access by managers (e.g. airstrips to assist in surveillance or fire trails). Trails for
the use of management alone are often one of the most difficult parts of protected area
infrastructure to manage. Infrastructure of this kind can be expensive to put in and to
maintain. It may also fragment ecosystems and seriously affect wildlife movements.
Therefore, its design, routing and management must be carefully planned, especially
since there is often pressure to open it to public use.
Many protected areas inherited some infrastructure (e.g. tracks or airstrips made by
miners or loggers), which tends to be retained, or only slightly modified. While this may
be the easiest option, it is rarely the best in the long term. Provided there are no urgent
matters, e.g. those involving visitor safety, it is worth considering whether such roads
should be taken out entirely.
Older infrastructure can be unsafe, especially as tourist traffic increases, and this can
lead to accidents. For example, in 1997 an old “pre-park” road, designed to be used for
only a few years, collapsed due to a leaking water pipe, leading to the death of 18 people
in Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales, Australia. While older transport infra-
structure may be unable to handle increasing numbers of visitors, this can be the stimulus
to innovative solutions. In Kosciusko, again, the chronic overcrowding of roads into the
Perisher Valley ski area was resolved by constructing a train tunnel through the
mountain. Skiers and other visitors now leave their cars just inside the park boundary
and travel to the ski area by train.
In many protected areas, the road system is essentially a part of the public road
network and in many protected areas of all kinds, the roads are owned and managed by
the local transportation or highways authority. Some protected areas indeed are tra-

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versed by national highways. This can create access, cost and communication problems,
since people moving through the protected area mix with the park’s recreational traffic.
Such situations require careful negotiation and plan development, so that the protected
area’s objectives, and its environment, are not compromised.

5.4 Evaluating development proposals

Protected area managers are frequently faced with proposals for developments of
various kinds related to recreational development, while those in Category V areas may
be asked to determine all kinds of development projects. Developers seeking permits or
licences to build or in other ways affect the environment are normally asked questions
about physical aspects of the proposed development so as to help the protected area
agency to determine the impact of the proposal. Working with partners, the former UK
Countryside Commission (now Countryside Agency) has developed a checklist of
questions that can be asked regarding tourist-related development in national parks.
They are modified here and developed as Guidelines, in the form of a checklist for the
use of managers and developers:

Checklist of questions for proposed facilities and services in the protected area
n Is the scale of development right for the protected area, both physically and in
terms of visitor numbers, and timing of their visit?
n Are there alternative uses of the site, which should be considered?
n How will the character of the site be conserved?
n What economic value will the development bring to the protected area and to the
local community?
n How important will the proposed development be to supporting the protected
area’s goals and objectives, and will it support any other (traditional) activities?
n What, if any, will be the effect on traffic?
n What is the level of demand for the proposed facility or service, and the value to
the visitor?
n Do similar facilities exist now in the general location, and how well used are they?
n What are the proposals for the subsequent management and maintenance of the
site?
Answers to these questions will assist in evaluating the need for the proposal itself, as
well as establishing any modifications that are required to it.
Box 5.3 is an outstanding example of many of the applications, in a developing
country, of the good practices advocated in this chapter.

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Box 5.3 Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania: Private ecotourism with
environmentally and culturally sensitive design
Chumbe Island is the first private marine park in Tanzania. It is located in the Indian
Ocean, and centred on a 24ha uninhabited island, surrounded by a very significant
coral rag forest and coral reef of exceptional biodiversity and beauty, in an otherwise
heavily over-fished and over-exploited area.
In 1992, the Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd (CHICOP) was created for the purpose
of creating and managing the park. This operation aims to create a model of sus-
tainable management, where ecotourism supports conservation and education. The
reserve includes a reef sanctuary and a forest sanctuary.
Funding came from several sources. About two thirds of the US$1 million cost was
provided by a private individual who initiated the project. The remainder came from
many government and private donors. The idea of developing an ecotourism site that
could contribute to conservation and community development was attractive to many
people. As a result more than 30 volunteers, from several countries, provided pro-
fessional support to the project.
The management of the site by CHICOP is assisted by an Advisory Committee with
representatives of neighbouring fishing villages, the Institute of Marine Sciences
(IMS) of the University of Dar es Salaam and Government officials of the
Departments of the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry respectively. The Committee
meets one or more times per year.
The tourism facilities include seven bungalows that accommodate up to 14 guests at
any one time. In addition, day trips are offered to 12 more visitors. The environ-
mentally sensitive design is revealed in the eco-bungalows, which all employ eco-
architecture, in the following ways:
n Rainwater catchment: There is no fresh water on the island, so rainwater is
collected from the roof in the rainy season, passed through a natural filter, and
stored in underground cisterns.
n Solar water heating: Rainwater is pumped up from cisterns through a solar-
powered heating system into hot and cold-water containers for the shower.
n Greywater recycling: Water from showers is recycled through plant beds so that
no polluted water seeps into the Reef Sanctuary. Beds are planted with species
with high water and nutrient requirements, appropriate for the shower water
rich in nitrates and phosphates.
n Natural ventilation: All the buildings have natural ventilation.
n Composting toilets: Toilets economise on water. They also prevent sewage
seeping through the porous ground into the Reef Sanctuary. The human waste
quickly decomposes to natural fertiliser when mixed with compost (aerobic-
composting) in the compost chamber.
n Photovoltaic power: Lights are powered by photovoltaic panels on the roof,
which provide enough energy for average use.

Cont.

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Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas

Box 5.3 Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania: Private ecotourism with
environmentally and culturally sensitive design (cont.)
The Chumbe Island development reveals considerable long-term vision in the
selection of objectives and in planning. Besides the design features, there are a number
of socio-economic benefits. Five former fishermen from adjacent villages trained as
park rangers for the island participate actively in monitoring the Reef and Forest. They
have had guide training for visitors, including snorkellers. Marine and intertidal
nature trails have been developed and equipped with “floating underwater infor-
mation modules” and laminated information cards. These trails and materials are
available to both tourists and local people. CHICOP cooperates with NGOs, and
re-invests profits in conservation, land management and free schoolchildren’s day
visits for environmental education.
Web site: http://www.chumbeisland.co

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