Amazon Interactive
The Ecotourism Game
Bring in an international conservation organization
Tony and Anna, two gringos from Rainforest Relief, come toPangayacu to help with the ecotourism project. They help the Quichua buildtourist cabins and a dining hall. They scout out trails for hikes throughthe rainforest. They train two of your neighbors to be guides, showing touristsaround the community.
You and your neighbors are pleased with the work that Tonyand Anna are doing. But Tony and Anna are interested in more than the touristproject. They want to help with everyday matters. They encourage peopleto conserve what rainforest is left. They ask people to stop hunting, becausetourists like to see parrots and small animals in the forest. When youruncle Patricio clears half a hectare (one and a quarter acres) of primaryforest and plants more maize in its place, Tony and Anna talk to him fora long time. The following week they come to the community meeting and proposea ban on forest-clearing and hunting. They say that the rainforest belongsto everyone in the world, and it isn't right for anyone to cut more of itdown.
Many of your neighbors are angry after the meeting. Theirland is theirs--it doesn't belong to some gringos in the United States.If ecotourism means giving up their rights to their land, they want nothingof it. These feelings are common among the Quichua of Pangayacu. Tony andAnna's plans are doomed. Another community meeting is called to resolvethe situation.
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| There has been little change in land use. Currently about a third of allcommunity land is primary rainforest. | Families are enjoying their extra income from tourism. At this rate, eachhousehold will make about $300 more this year than last year. |
What do you want to do?
Kick out Tony and Anna and run the project yourselves?
Give up on ecotourism altogether?
