Ecological Economics
was implemented achieved the set goals. Ecotourism offers an environmentally responsible way to manage resources in a globalised world where the overproduction of goods and services is an obstacle to biodiversity. Ecotourism is also a marketable buzzword. Chapter 3 explores the relevance of ecotourism to biodiversity conservation and its rollout in countries such as Costa Rica and Colombia. Chapter 4 looks at the innovation of integrating hands on environmental education and ecotourism. Chapter 5 discusses the philosophy and values of ecotourism and its links to environmental education. These topics are swiftly covered before a discussion of protected habitats and biodiversity conservation in Chapter 6 and, a topic close to my heart, Indigenous stewardship, education and ecotourism in Chapter 7. The philosophical leanings of the authors towards valuing and upskilling local knowledge in ecotourism development is reiterated in Chapter 8, which discusses the social, economic and ecological impacts of tourism. Turning to wetland restoration and protection, Chapter 9 discusses the potential role of environmental education and ecotourism to remedy the immense wetland loss worldwide, which has been due to the expansion of human settlements, agriculture and silviculture. A primary reason wetlands are a unique site for environmental education programs and ecotourism is that only 40 50% of wetlands worldwide remain. Novel biodiversity education initiatives and ecotourism ventures could inject new drive into the Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty initially adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. Speaking from firsthand experience, Ramirez and Santana highlight the transformative, ground breaking and emotionally laden experiences wetland locations offer to students and visitors. One of the most commendable features of this book is the breadth of examples from Latin America brought to an English speaking audience. The philosophy of environmental education is dominated byWestern perspectives, but Ramirez and Santana strongly advocate the exploration and engagement of Indigenous knowledge, attitudes and practices in conservation and ecotourism efforts. A more systematic, structured and well signposted approach to presenting evidence, theory and argument would make the take home messages of this book more coherent, hard hitting and persuasive. Examples leap, from Monarch butterflies in Mexico to wildlife conservation in Nepal, with little segue between. A little effort on the behalf of the reader to source the primary references, however, will make this book highly rewarding for those looking to understand the growth of conservation education and ecotourism over the last 25 years.
Australian Journal of Environmental Education