Tourism & Biodiversity, friend or foe?

Let’s start by making sure we all understand this the same way. What is biodiversity I hear people asking (if you are indeed asking)? Well, I could define it as everything you see in our whole world, or as a master would call it ‘mother nature’ or Pachamama, as Andean masters call it, it’s all natural elements the environment of the world that surrounds us. So that involves plants, fungi, microorganisms, animals, humans, and lands which are our natural habitat. There can be micro biodiversity at a large level (the biodiversity of a country). Biodiversity plays a genuine role in maintaining the balance of our planet and is essential for the natural survival of all alive beings, including humans. We probably heard sometime, that if the bees go extinct, we’re screwed! That saying does not go beyond the reality. Various elements of biodiversity rely on each other, when an disharmonous balance is introduced, it can have a serious negative impact! We rely on rich biodiversity for food, water, shelter, medicine, and happiness; ultimately, human survival is linked directly to biodiversity. Biodiversity also plays an important role in human culture & heritage, many indigenous communities rely on biodiversity for their livelihoods, and biodiversity is generally celebrated in art, literature & music.