Maldives Government Policy on Ecotourism and Green Policy - Essay Example

INTRODUCTION This paper is a diachronic comparative analysis of the Maldivian governments policies as far as tourism and conserving the environment is concerned. Tourism is the single largest contributor to Maldives GDP, and given the footfall of tourists each year, is one of the most important factors influencing the condition of the environment in the small island nation. This paper discusses the principles of ecopolitics (or Green politics) and ecotourism and how both are applicable in the Maldivian context. GREEN POLITICS (OR ECOPOLITICS) A) FOCUS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GREEN POLITICS The focus of Green political theory “is usually on two themes: on the role of anthropocentric ethics in reducing the non-human world to merely being of instrumental value to humans; and on the question of limits to growth.” (Paterson, 2001:35). Eckersley (1992) suggests that the defining characteristic of Green politics is ecocentrism, or the rejection of an anthropocentric thought which places value only on humans in favor of one which also places value on ecosystems and all other living organisms. Ecocentrism recognizes the full range of human interests in the non-human world- and not merely the instrumental value of particular parts of nature-, the interests of the non-human world, as well as the interests of future generations of humans and non-humans. Finally, ecocentrism “adopts a holistic rather than an atomistic perspective”, valuing populations, species, ecosystems and the ecosphere as a whole as well as valuing them individually. Dobson (1990) specifies another defining characteristic of Green politics- the limits to growth argument about the nature of the environmental crisis. Paterson says that Greens suggest that “it is the exponential growth experienced during the last two centuries” which is the main reason behind the current environmental crisis. (2001:36) Dobson suggests that there are three arguments which are important in this context: first, that technological solutions will just postpone the crisis, but cannot prevent it from happening altogether; second, that the exponential nature of growth means that dangers which have been accumulating over a period of time may suddenly have a catastrophic effect; and third, that the problems associated with growth are all inter-related, and simply dealing with them individually will practically have no effect. ( 1990:74-80). From this, proponents of the Green political theory derive their notions of sustainability, which is different from the concept of sustainable development that environmentalists swear by. (Sustainable development, as defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, better known as the Brundtland Commission, is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising on the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.) However, Greens are clearly opposed to the development that is understood as necessarily involving quantitative growth of the system, greater complexity of technological systems, and increasing economic interconnections across the globe. Greens advocate the need to accept the limits imposed by a finite planet, and therefore object to development. NOTE: Distinction is made between “green party”, in small case, and “Green Party”, starting with capitals. Any party can be called “green” if it emphasizes environmental causes, but formally organized Green Parties also follow a coherent ideology that includes, in addition to environmentalism, concerns such as social justice, pacifism, consensus decision-making, etc. B)EMERGENCE OF GREEN POLITICS Eckersley says that “ in view of the urgency and ubiquity of the ecological crisis, ultimately only a supra regional perspective and multilateral action by nation States can bring about the kind of dramatic changes necessary to save the global commons...” (1992:174) If humankind is to survive on earth, what we need the least are structures and forms of power prevalent in modern society which are anti-ecological. New forms of global political structures are required from an ecocentric point of view, and this is necessary in order to protect nature, she says. Evidently, Eckersley is not the only person in this world who thinks this way. Which accounts for the rise of Green political thought in International Relations in recent years,in response to the emergence of global environmental problems. The meteoric rise of the German Green Party and the UK Green Party in the political scenario in the 1980s is a proof of this fact; slowly, the rest of the world is catching on. In Finland in 1995, the Finnish Green Party became the first European Green Party to be a part of a national cabinet. Even if there are no established Green parties in some countries, including Maldives, the existing political parties have come up with ecofriendly agendas which would help them tackle environmental problems. Almost every government in the world has a Ministry to look after environment affairs. ECOTOURISM The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” (TIES, 1990) Ecotourism, says TIES, is about uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow principles like > minimizing impact > building environmental and cultural awareness and respect > providing positive experiences for both visitors and hosts > providing direct financial benefits for conservation > providing financial benefits and empowerment for locals > raising sensitivity to host countrys political, environmental and social climate. “Sustainable tourism is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems,” says the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, the World Tourism Organization. Maldives has been a member of the World Tourism Organization since 1981 and follows some, if not all, of the above-mentioned ecotourism principles. MALDIVES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GREEN POLITICS Maldives, the smallest independent nation in Asia and one of the smallest in the world, is an archipelago of approximately 1190 coral islands ( grouped together in 12 clusters called atolls) that form a chain spread over an area of about 298 sq km in the Indian Ocean. Only about thirteen of the islands are home to the approximate population of 250000 people, while the rest harbor tourist resorts. The official language of the Republic of Maldives is Dhivehi, while the official religion is Islam. The climate is tropical, since the Maldives is very close to the equator, and the average temperature is about 30 degrees Celsius. The Maldives was largely terra incognita for tourists until the early 1970s. The emergence of tourism in 1972 transformed the economy of the country. Formerly, the economy had been largely dependent on fisheries and agriculture, but in the next three and half decades, tourism became the main source of income and livelihood of the Maldivians- the biggest foreign exchange earner and the single largest contributor to the GDP. Maldives is a country that is threatened on account of environmental changes. With global warming leading to rise in sea level and more than 80% of the land area of the Maldives less than a meter above sea level, even the slightest rise will prove extremely threatening. Many islands already suffer inundation and shoreline erosion. The magnitude of the projected sea level rise (0.09 to 0.88 meters between 1990 and 2100) threatens the very existence of life in Maldives. Besides, biological diversity must also be preserved- both for the sake of the present of Maldives and for the future of the world. The Maldives tourism industry is built on the natural beauty of its islands with their white sandy beaches, crystal clear lagoons and colorful reefs abundant in wildlife- the pristine environment and the rich marine life are among the top selling points for the Maldives tourism sector, and therefore must be protected for the sake of the economy and its development, as well as for posterity. Therefore, Maldives undoubtedly requires an ecofriendly political agenda as much as the rest of the world does. Green politics has emerged in the Maldivian context- not with the emergence of Green Parties, but with the gradual realization on the part of the Maldivian government of the need to protect the environment. Given the seriousness of the threat posed by climate change, particular attention is given to coastal protection, freshwater management and coral reef protection. Breakwaters and seawalls have been constructed around the capital Male, costing around US$ 50 million. Coral mining from house reefs of inhabited islands and resorts is banned. Twenty-five sites have been designated by the government as protected areas. The harvesting and export of turtles, black coral, dolphins, pearl oysters, stony corals, eels, parrot fish, whales and sharks, skates and rays, trochus shells, and triton shells are banned. MALDIVES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ECO-TOURISM “The tourists who come to Maldives themselves” are encouraged to “act as stewards of the environment,” says the Maldives government on the official website of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Why is this so? Why is ecotourism especially encouraged in the Maldives? The main reason is that Maldives is an underdeveloped country, and as such, does not have sufficient resources for programs to protect the environment. Yet, protect the environment it must, as explained earlier in this paper. The problems that Maldives faces are particularly challenging, but often, solutions are well beyond the means of the small economy. The country has no other option but to seek the help of the rest of the world. “We are approaching governments and asking them to live up to their commitment to save the worlds climate system, stop loss of biological diversity and encourage sustainable trade. But alone, our voice is too soft”, says the government on its official website. The Maldivians encourage tourists to think of how their decisions can affect the global environment and impact life on the small chain of islands, to take a look at the fragile existence of the countrys people and to take that message to the people and the governments of their home countries. In protecting the environment, Maldivians seek the help of foreigners who visit the islands- both while they stay in the country and when they go back home to their own countries. ECO-POLITICS AND ECO-TOURISM: PROGRAMS A) CLEAN BEACHES, CLEAN SHORES This program was inaugurated by the Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom during the ceremony held to commemorate the World Environment Day (5th June) in 2006. The campaign aims at creating awareness among Maldivians as well as tourists about the significance of the protection and preservation of the environment for the tourism industry. The main objective of the program is to maintain the cleanliness of the beaches and seashores in the country. The first phase of the campaign included a video clip and song that was broadcast by mass media like the Television Maldives. B) RECREATIONAL MOORING BUOY PROGRAM This program aims to protect the marine environment by installing moorings in tourist visiting areas such as dive sites, surf sites and safari anchor sites. Boat users visiting these sites are encouraged to moor on buoys rather than anchor on the reefs, thus protecting the natural environment and promoting sustainable tourism in the country. This program is funded through the sale of Evian water, contributing about 10 US cents for every bottle of Evian water sold in the country. The first recreational mooring buoy was installed near the popular surfing point at Thanburudhoo island in Male atoll, launched at the site by the Minister of Tourism in August 2002. C) GREEN RESORT AWARD This is an incentive given to the tourism industry to conserve the natural environment. The President of Maldives announced this national award of great prestige in 1997, at a function held to commemorate twenty-five successful years of tourism in the island nation. This award stresses on the need to recognize the fragility of the islands of Maldives and the need for environmental protection to ensure the sustainability of the tourism industry. The Award aims at encouraging tourist resorts to adopt and embed green policies in their development and operation. The winner of the President of Maldives Green Resort Award receives the Green Resort Award Shield and a soft copy of the Green Resort Award logo for use in promotional activities. The Award is presented to the winner every year at a special function for the distribution of prizes and awards for the tourism industry. It must be noted that although there are other environmental awards presented by the Government of Maldives, this is the only award that is directed at the tourism industry. The evaluation criteria for the Award are: > Compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations, specifically the Environment Protection Act of 1993. > Undertaking of pro-environment projects. > Undertaking environmental mitigation and adaptation measures. > Undertaking of environmentally sound management practices. > Participation in environmental campaigns and programs. > Environmental research, record keeping and reporting. > Incorporation of environmental aspects into the development and monitoring of the resort. D) SHARK WATCH PROGRAM During the monsoons, the seasonal currents from both sides of Maldives bring up the nutrient-rich water up along Maldivian shores. Maldives has a vast number of coral reefs which are full of life- and among the life forms that can be found, there are the graceful Maldivian sharks. There are thirty-seven species of sharks found in Maldives, which can be observed by scuba divers, snorkelers and even the general tourist visiting the country. In recent years, there has been an increasing concern over the exploitation of sharks for their jaws, teeth, fins, meat and oil. Sharks are regularly killed for their fins to make the East Asian delicacy known as shark fin soup. In a gruesome and wasteful practice known as shark finning, a shark is captured, its fin sliced off often while it is still alive, and the remainder of the animal tossed back into the sea, dead or dying. Sharks are also killed as bycatch by fisheries that target other species such as tuna and swordfish. All over the world, shark populations are getting drastically reduced as unethical hunting of sharks continues. Most shark populations are extremely vulnerable to threats such as over-exploitation and threatened habitats because, in general, they are slow to mature and reproduce. A number of shark species do not reach sexual maturity until their teens and some give birth to only one or two young each year. The depletion of shark populations has led to a number of international agreements that increase protection for the famous fish. In 1999, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) adopted an International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks. The FAO has asked shark-fishing nations to develop plans of action for shark conservation, but to date, few have done so. In 2004, the UN General Assembly called on nations to ban shark-finning fisheries. So far, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has listed whale sharks, basking sharks and great white sharks in Appendix-II, ensuring protection for these species. In October 2004, the CITES Animals Committee resolved to examine other shark species that may benefit from CITES protection. The following month, the World Conservation Union, comprised of more than 1,000 governmental and non-governmental organizations from more than 140 countries, adopted a recommendation urging all states to ban shark finning and require shark fins to be brought to shore attached to their bodies. That same month, the 63 member countries of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) adopted, by consensus, the first international ban on shark finning. The proposal was led by the United States and co-sponsored by the European Community, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Panama, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela. In June 2005, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) followed suit. The whale shark is protected in the waters of very few of the approximately 100 countries where this species is known to visit. Maldives brought in legislation to protect whale sharks in 1995 and the Philippine government banned the hunting of whale sharks in 1998. India followed in mid-2001. In some US and Honduran waters, this species is protected. However, some illegal hunting still continues. To sustain shark populations for conservation and sustainable fisheries, the government of Maldives has undertaken several steps in the past to facilitate conservation and sustainable fisheries. In September 1998, a no shark fishing zone was established in each of the seven atolls on which tourism is developed. Protected dive sites have been in effect since June 1995- there are currently twenty-five popular dive sites declared protected. The Shark Watch program was started in 2002, and it aimed to create awareness on the importance of shark species conservation. The program was to try to rouse the interest of tourists visiting Maldives on sharks, their sighting information and general species types through sighting cards available through tourist resorts, dive centers and live-aboard vessels. Additionally, this program was to organize supporting awareness programs among the general public on the importance of conservation of sharks in the Maldives and to minimize threats to shark populations through such awareness and voluntary initiative. CONCLUSION Although several steps have been taken by the Maldivian government to promote ecotourism in a bid to protect the natural environment of the islands, more needs to be done. The steps that have been taken already have had limited success, given Maldives limited resources; therefore, the country needs to step up its efforts to obtain help from the global community, essentially the United Nations, if the country is to develop sustainably. This paper has examined everything that has been done in the Maldives already, and what needs to be done further, hopefully in a conclusive manner. REFERENCES: "Clean Beaches, Clean Shores: think tourism”. Retrieved on November 12, 2008 from Maldives government Ministry of Civial Aviation and Tourism Web site http://www.tourism.gov.mv/article.php?aId=48 Dobson, Andrew. Green Political Thought. London: Unwin Hyman, 1990. DeSombre, Elizabeth R. The Global Environment and World Politics- International Relations for the 21st century. London, New York: Continuum, 2002. Eckersley, Robyn. Environmentalism and Political theory:towards an ecocentric approach. London: UCL Press, 1992. “Ecotourism”. Retrieved from on November 19, 2008 Web site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism “Ecotourism- Uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travel”. Retrieved on November 19, 2008 from Web site http://www.ecotourism.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/eco-template.aspx?articleid=95&zoneid=2 “Environmental Law, 1993.” Retrieved on November 17, 2008 from the Maldives government Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water Web site http://www.biodiversity.mv/environment/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=66 Fearnley-Whittingstall, Hugh. “Sharks are just not meant to be hunted”. UK News. The Guardian. November 11, 2008: page 11. “Green Party”. Retrieved on November 19, 2008 from Web site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_party “Member states of the World Tourism Organisation”. Retrieved on November 19, 2008 from World Tourism Organisation Web site http://www.unwto.org/states/eng.html "Other events and activities." Retrieved on November 12, 2008 from Maldives government Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Web site http://www.tourism.gov.mv/article.php?aId=32 "Our Unique Environment". Retrieved on November 12, 2008 from Maldives government Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Web site http://www.tourism.gov.mv/article.php?aId=10 Paterson, Matthew. Understanding Global Environmental Politics: Domination, Accumulation, Resistance. New York: Palgrave, 2001. "President of Maldives Green Resort Award.” Retrieved on November 12, 2008 from Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Web site http://www.tourism.gov.mv/article.php?aId=14 "Protection of Environment”. Retrieved on November 12, 2008 from Maldives government Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Web site http://www.tourism.gov.mv/article.php?aId=12 "Shark Watch program". Retrieved on on November 12, 2008 from Maldives government Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Web site http://www.tourism.gov.mv/article.php?aId=11 Read More