UNEP study tour sees
close encounters
with wildlife and inspiration for sustainable
tourism
By Peter Prokosch, UNEP/GRID-Arendal
We're in the crystal-clear
waters of Svalbard, less than a thousand
kilometers from the North Pole, or 80°
07.3'N. 15° 51.7'E, to give our precise
location. Soon, our team of scientists,
tourists and environmentalists will meet
the white carpet of drifting sea ice that
covers the Arctic Ocean. It is here at the
ice edge where the ocean teems with wildlife,
thanks to the combined conditions of uninterrupted
sunshine and nutrient-rich waters.
The entire Arctic food
chain is on display. Micro algae are blooming
in the water, providing sustenance for schools
of fish larvae and crayfish. Seals, walruses,
polar bears and whales feed on the plentiful
sea life. But by far the most impressive
sight to greet our crew under the flat,
midnight sun of the Arctic was a remarkable
appearance by Earth's largest mammals.
At one point, two adult
blue whales, measuring around 30 metres
in length, along with one of their young,
started feeding on crayfish around our boat.
As the captain switched off the engines,
we were able to observe the animals at remarkably
close range. And the whales certainly weren't
shy. Opening their gigantic mouths, they
turned almost upside down in front of us,
displaying their side flippers and tails
before rotating back again and closing their
mouths to swallow the krill, not forgetting
to leave a small portion for the hundreds
of kittiwakes and fulmars circling nearby.
The study tour to Svalbard
was the first of two expeditions organised
by UNEP's Polar Centre GRID-Arendal. Another
group of tourists and researchers will set
sail for Antarctica on 4 November. The tours
are part of GRID-Arendal's 'Linking Tourism
and Conservation' (LT & C) project,
which aims to show how sustainable tourism
can help protect vulnerable habitats - particularly
those rich in biodiversity.
Svalbard, with its large
coverage of national parks and protected
status for polar bears and other native
species, is one of the tourism models highlighted
by the LT & C project.
Tourism is one of the world's biggest industries,
representing some 5 percent of global GDP
and accounting for over 10 percent of current
annual investment worldwide. In this respect,
the industry can play a key role in the
shift to a green economy.
The Linking Tourism
and Conservation project aims to encourage
the growth of well-managed protected areas
that bring economic benefits for local people,
due to increased investment in sustainable
tourism.
UNEP/GRID-Arendal also
plans to produce an interactive map of tourist
destinations that are participating in conservation
work. It is hoped that the map will encourage
investment in tourism projects that support
conservation and allow tourists to view
a destination's green credentials before
finalising their trip.
Trips to the pristine
habitats of Antarctica and the Arctic show
both the beauty and vulnerability of nature.
In Svalbard, we saw at first hand the effects
of climate change. Glaciers have retreated
significantly in recent years and on mountains
that were once covered in ice, there are
now large patches of bare ground.
The forthcoming study
tour to Antarctica will focus on marine
protected areas, taking in wildlife - such
as Emperor penguins and albatross - living
in one of the most striking landscapes on
Earth. As in Svalbard, close encounters
with this spectacular environment should
inspire greater action to conserve habitats
and biodiversity through a new, greener
brand of tourism.
