Amazon Interactive
The Ecotourism Game
Split off to form a new community
The move to split away from the community triggers a floodof emotion among all the Quichua. A few see the logic of a new communitydevoted to ecotourism, but many others are shocked and disturbed that thesolidarity of Pangayacu might be shattered over this issue. Distrust andanimosity become common as the opposing factions argue about how to dividethe community's land. Both your group and the others want the remainingtracts of primary forest, but there isn't that much available to split orshare.
Overshadowed by the conflict, the ecotourism project fallsinto neglect. Tourists stop coming, so you must work harder in the fieldsto make a living. Soon the forest reclaims the tourist compound. Tensionsgradually fade as everyone concentrates on making a living. Even Agustínavoids speaking of ecotourism.
There is less than a hectare of primary forest left on yourland. The rest has been converted to coffee and rice fields. Everyone understandsthat agriculture is responsible for the loss of the forest, but after theexperience with ecotourism, no one is eager to try something new.
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| Very little of the land remains in primary forest. Few birds or animalscan survive in the small remnants. Your children will know the rainforestonly in your stories. | Income from tourism soon disappears. The Quichua focus on agriculture, butit is difficult to make money, and incomes drop. |
This is the end of the ecotourism game.
Do you want to see what happens if you open theproject up to the community?
