opinion

Tourism, Caribbean wildlife and the environmental paycheck
by Clarence E. Pilgrim

Among the many business twists, turns and monetary plunges which are plaguing many economies of the world is the reality that the most vulnerable nations will become the easiest prey to some degree of damage from even the most minor of financial quakes.

Given the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM's) geographic advantage and natural beauty, it is little wonder that tourism in its many dimensions heavily influences the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of each link in the necklace of nations embraced by the treaty of Chagaramus.

Like any good chef will tell you, it is not only important to have the right ingredients to make that special dish, but also to use the right crucible in which to transform the present to the desired.

Governments, policy-makers and specialist organizations within CARICOM are aware that the natural state of "green" in our environment cannot maintain itself without the direct intervention of each one of us, at various levels, involving progressive input. The wealth and fame of our flora and fauna cannot become the deserved front page centerpiece if there are more attractive offers on other pages. We cannot offer a tourism product without properly packaging the natural raw materials which can then be polished to produce diamonds of opportunities.

From the chirping of a black bird to the busy habitat of the mangrove plant's world and micro-world, many want to see animals and plants in their natural habitats.

Wildlife watching and interaction are twins with different faces, in which planned investment and management can help boost the Caribbean's tourism product.

The forests, rivers, mountains, streams are all a part of a natural resource mosaic, which can provide satisfaction and appreciation for the millions of people who visit our lands year after year.

Wildlife watching for the tourist dollar can be a significant source of income and employment for diverse and especially talented employees, who are expected to employ the value-added principles of conserving the environment and raising the awareness of specific issues for the betterment of all stakeholders.

Making laws plays an important role in directing those in need of direction. However, legislation made in isolation cannot buttress the regulations which should govern the protection of species and the sanctions which would apply should human intervention be negatively applied. There must be a commonality of both intent and purpose. Our Caribbean habitats must be protected from pollution, soil erosion and other risks resulting from land conversion and/or degradation.

Even though it is the right direction to comprehensively integrate our wildlife resources within the tourism product, we must observe the environmental sign posts that warn us that there are limits on how much visitation and hands-on examination wildlife populations can tolerate. There must be a CARICOM-wide wildlife impact assessment based on available data, whereby an overall strategy can be developed for the creation and implementation of a regional plan of action, to oversee more tailor-made national plans. In this way there will be the ability to deliver a worthwhile product that involves first-class wildlife watching with priorities on habitat protection and minimal disturbance.

We have the foundation to build an industry that can and will help the economies of the CARICOM countries now and in the future. Despite the present state of the economies within our global village, even if the weight of tourism's monetary strength drops for now, I am optimistic that it will eventually rebound. And when it does, a framework for environmental use and protection should be in place for the benefit of everyone. This indeed would be a paycheck whose value would be too great to measure!

The author is an educator and senior civil servant in Antigua & Barbuda