According to new research, ecotourism can only effectively contribute to the conservation of orangutans and other critically endangered animals if it generates enough revenue to offset logging revenue. It can also use some of the profits to support efforts to return human-wildlife conflict-affected animals to their natural habitats.
Understanding how the term ecotourism is commonly used by business establishments in many indigenous areas, has become a current trend; however, this trend is not fully understood and is even misunderstood by those motivated solely by profit.
Human-wildlife conflict refers to situations where interactions between humans and wildlife result in adverse outcomes, including the destruction of property, disruption of livelihoods, and even loss of life. The act of killing in self-defense and as a form of revenge has the potential to ultimately lead some species to complete eradication. This phenomenon predominantly takes place in areas that have undergone deforestation, resulting in the displacement of animals from their natural habitats.
An update is necessary to address the significant changes in the concept of ecotourism in 2024. Responsible firms have played a crucial role in transforming the perception of ecotourism, which was previously exploited by profit-driven individuals in 2016. If the study determined that ecotourism had positive effects on the cheetah, hoolock gibbon, golden lion tamarin, African wild dog, great green macaw, Egyptian vulture, and African penguin, it is reasonable to expect that it would also be beneficial for orangutans and other critically endangered species in the Sumatra Islands, with human population of 60 million and rainforest area of 16 million hectares.
Understanding and experiencing ecotourism cannot be done just by looking at how the ecotourism business runs, to understand ecotourism completely, you have to look at the impact of ecotourism at the present.
