Climate Change and Its Impacts On Sustainable Development - Report Example

Climate Change and Its Impacts towards Sustainable Development Group Part Introduction Sustainable tourism indicators are veryimportant factors in ensuring the productivity of a tourist destination. With proper sustainability, the tourist destination will stay for longer and its positive impacts felt across the world as tourist comes in each time. This also makes the local people feel the value of the tourist destination as the benefits passes to them. Climate change has been the cause of diversified effects of the tourist destinations witnessed in the parks. The average increase in the global temperature due to mans activities have seen changes in the rainfall patterns as it results to more flood, drought, intense rains an frequent heat waves (EPA, 2013). With the increasing climate change all over the world, some of the tourist destinations have been at risk, as they can no longer sustain themselves in withstanding the climatic change. However, some have managed to overcome all these and have continuously affected it positively on the visitors. One of the tourist destinations that have felt the impact of climate change is Margaret River, which used to attract so many people from allover the world. The destination suffers from a number of problems in relation to climate change, which has influenced its developed indicators. The following table shows the effects of climate change on the indicators for sustainable tourism. Indicator Type Social Cultural Social impacts Intensity of use Employment Environment Site protection Development control Planning process Economical Visitors satisfaction Tourism contribution to local economy With the increasing needs to develop more sustainable ways of promoting tourism, this group report is essential in outlining the tourism indicators as found out in the conducted research on Margaret River. It aims at establishing the effects if climate change and how it has impacted on the activities of Margaret River over the past years. The effects of climate changes characterized by human activities have necessitated the need to diversify the way in which human being use their environment without interfering with the eco-system, which the report will put in some light. Similarly, the objectives of this report are to give future recommendations on the area to study of the same tourist destination as well as ways of addressing the effects of climate change of the given area. Most researchers and studies have used indicators in evaluating sustainability of tourism products (World Tourism Organization 2011). Through this group report, it will outline on the strengths and weaknesses of tourism indicators towards sustainability of tourism products. Therefore, it will assist in providing more information to enable scholars properly evaluate on the best ways to use indicators. Part 2: Method The group took its study in The Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association Site, which is a self founded and a non profit membership organization representing more than 500 local business tourism. The association is highly innovative and cohesive and observes values meant at fostering values and excellence sustainable tourism. The organizations also service its visitors and promote the destinations (Margaret River 2013). Margaret River has many products, which keeps visitors feeling the uniqueness of the destination. Some of the products visitors see and include but not limited to people and lifestyle, natures calendar, food and wine, forest and flowers, outback adventures, sun and sea life and suggested itineraries. The place is blessed with a mild weather and sunshine as it has evolved from a chilled town to popular destination where tourists enjoy their best flavors as rolling vineyards sits against the backdrop of oceans and forests. It has become a destination for individuals with a taste for adventure, as it is known internationally as a surfing location (Western Australia 2013). The study used participant observation where the group members were involved in the actual activities of the site. This was meant at getting firsthand experience of the site as they collected data in relation to research problem to be solved. During the study, group researchers identified a number of social cultural indicators against the site products. There was uneven distribution among the visitors in relation to the locals and outsiders as the ration of the locals were many compared to visitors. The intensity of use was very vigorous as there were very many people using the few available products. Similarly, the cultural indicators showed that the rate of employment was not as it was initially. Some of the site products was no longer applicable hence no employment opportunities available for them. During the participatory observation, the group observers found that there were other effects on the environmental indicators on the site products in relation to the protection of the site. With the changing climate, the protection of the site is dwindling because of its nature, which relies on rainfall in order to boost its flows. The research team also established development control within the site owing to the increasing need to adopt modern ways of dealing with the increasing visitors due to globalization (Wardell and Horwitz 2008, 225).This led to the need assess the development plan as a social indicator to determine the needs if the locals and international visitors attending the site. In addition to the above indicators, the study also took consideration of economical indicators on determining the level of climate change on the economic viability of Margaret River as developed by Bernstein and Paul (2008, 104).It was meant to assess the level of visitor’s satisfaction through the available products in the site. Similarly, economic indicators were to determine the extent in which Margaret River contributes to Australian economy as a tourist destination. Part 3: Results The results of the study reveals that climate change has diverse effects on the existence of Margaret River as different indicators recorded negative results. Out of the three indicators sampled, none of them recorded a positive outcome on the products offered by the suite. This is because of the effects of climate change on the overall production and well-being of the site as well as with other natural parks all over the world. The site has been lacking protection because of a number of activities, which it witnesses, and are not sustainable in long run. There are no categories of sustainable developments undertaken because of the climate change, which cannot allow for such practices (Wardell and Horwitz 2008, 540). The usage has been on the drop since the climate change has degraded some of the products offered by the site to obsolete. This affects the site capacity to hold more people to take part in different activities. The results indicate that there are low numbers of visitors visiting the site. The ration of the tourists to local is low which may mean that climate change, which has affected the site, has made more tourists to loose interest giving opportunities to the local to use the site (Hunter 2008, 160). The results of the study are illustrated in the table below: Indicators Issues Environmental Erosion Lack of accessibility Loss of aesthetic quality Diminishing water quality Social Low user intensity Site degradation Pollutants Economic Lack of tourist satisfaction Low revenues collection Lack of strategic measures Part 4: Discussion The assessment of the impacts of climate change on Margret River indicates that the site is vulnerable as it loses attraction because the numbers of tourists have declined from earlier reports. There is loss of quality attraction since the climate changes have wiped out some species, which existed in the site among other creatures and events. The site also suffers from the cost of adaptation since it does not attract more visitors. It is difficult for the site to adopt sustainable tourism measures because it can no longer develop new or better attractions (Hall and Jones 2009, 102). The increasing climate change will continuously affect the site because it comers with negative effects calling for mitigation. The rising sea level on the residential building is affecting negatively the biodiversity of the Margaret River and other coastal areas. The increasing erosion is resulting to loss of beach amenities and the changes in the wave conditions. The increasing rise in the sea level presents a risk to the building of infrastructures towards development of sustainable tourism (Lyons and Considine 2008, 225). It cannot allow any developments within the floodplain as they may be carried away. This has continuously hindered the development of tourism plans within the site as climate change comes with uncertainties characterized by unpredictable weather patterns, draughts that affects the laid down plans. The weather pattern has become unpredictable and this poses a threat to the existence of Margaret River as shown by the environmental indicators. Increase in average temperature with decrease in rainfall is a threat to existence of biodiversity in areas such as Margaret River and its ecosystem as they will be subjected to changed species, which can adopt in the environment (Schultz and Stoll 2010, 10). Strengths and weakness indicators in evaluating sustainability of tourism products Despite the wide rejection of the use of indicators in evaluating sustainability of tourism products, they are effective when it comes to doing assessment. They help in better making of decisions as they lower risks and cost. They are very effective in identifying the emerging issues, which allows immediate preventive actions (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2009). Similarly, they are used in identifying impacts, which allows for corrective actions as called upon. Many indicators have greater accountability over other aspects of evaluation methods. This makes them to be widely accepted in decision making as they provide information that is more credible. Lastly, indicators are efficient in constant monitoring as they leads to continuous improvement and building of solutions towards developing a viable management system (World Tourism Organization 2011, 254). Part 5: Conclusion and Recommendations Recommendations on the value and practical interpretation of indicators From the field study of Margaret River, there is urgent need to take up measures at ensuring that enhanced sustainable tourism developments. This will be due to devastating effects of the climate change, which have continuously affected most part of Australia and other parts of the world. The government needs to enact planning regulations on the use of water to allow rivers get water for their sustainable growth; there is also need to diversify ways of encouraging water catchments as well as taking critical climate risk assessment to give more information on the above indicators. Margaret River should use eco-accreditation to market and promote the region as a clean and green destination. Similarly, they should cooperate with governments towards marketing the destination to remain one of the top destinations in Australia (Tourism Western Australia and Department of Environment and Conservation 2008). Professional limitations and how they can be improved for future investigations This study was limited to Margaret River and how it has been affected by climate change towards development of sustainable tourism. However, there is need for more open and elaborate discussion and study on how climate change has affected water catchment areas in relation to rivers and other water bodies (Wardell-Johnson and Horwitz 2009, 550). Although Margaret River have placed some measures towards improving and developing sustainable tourism, it has not been effective. This study did not elaborate on the measures taken but only dealt with the indicators and products available in the site. Future investigation should expand their scopes to ensure they cover all the areas. Future use of the findings for sustainable development of the tourism products The findings in this study will be used by Margaret River and other agencies in adopting measures towards sustainable development in tourism product. This study has highlighted on the challenges, which have come because of climate change that needs redress. Through this study, it will be very effective in implementing the recommendations to allow the development of sustainable growths. Similarly, the report outlines on the immediate exposure of both tourists and locals on the available materials on the impacts of climate change and the best practices they can adopt towards this. Lastly, the report highlight on the need to involve the local community towards campaigns in branding Margaret River and marketing the region as a green destination. Part 6: Reference list Bernstein, Larn. and Paul, Bosch. 2008. Climate Change Synthesis Report. New York: Cambridge University Press. (Book) EPA. 2013. Climate Change. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ (Website) Hall, A and Jones, G. 2009. “Effect of potential atmospheric warming on temperature-based indices describing Australian winegrape growing conditions”. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 15: 97-119. (Journal article) Hunter, C. 2008. “On the need to re-conceptualize sustainable tourism development”. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 3: 155–65. (Journal article) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2009. Climate Change 2009: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Organization Book) Lyons, T and Considine, A. 2008. “Development and application of procedures to identify and conserve threatened ecological landscapes”. Forest Ecology and Management. 85: 219-238 (Journal article) Margaret River. 2013. What we do. http://www.margaretriver.com/what-to-do (Website) Schultz H and Stoll, M. 2010. “Some critical issues in environmental physiology of grapevines: future challenges and current limitations”. Australia Journal of Grape and Wine Research 16: 4-24. (Journal article) Tourism Western Australia and Department of Environment and Conservation. June, 2008. “Tourism in south West Western Australia: Climate change vulnerability and adaptation”. Garnaut Climate Change Review. 2-18 (Review) Wardell, J and Horwitz, P. 2008. Conserving biodiversity and the recognition of heterogeneity in ancient. Switzerland: IPCC. (Book) Wardell, J and Horwitz, P. 2009. “The Science of Conservation Biology”. In Environmental Biology 20: 538-558 (Journal article) Western Australia. 2013. Margaret River. http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Destination/Margaret_River/9009633(Website) World Tourism Organization (WTO). 2011. What Tourism Managers Need to Know. Madrid: WTO. (Book by organization) Read More