Towards a Decommodified Wildlife Tourism: Why Market Environmentalism Is Not Enough for Conservation

Abstract

Wildlife tourism is frequently touted as a solution to the problems of increased poaching, habitat destruction, and species extinction. When wildlife is able to pay for its right to survive through attracting tourists, there is an incentive to conserve wildlife populations and the habitats that support them. However, numerous reports in recent years have drawn attention to the potential negative impacts of wildlife tourism attractions. This paper examines whether market environmentalism diminishes the potential of wildlife tourism to contribute to conservation and the welfare of individual animals. Market environmentalism commodifies the animals involved in wildlife tourism attractions and fuels an anthropocentric worldview where animals are resources to be used by humans for entertainment or economic gain, potentially presenting a threat to long-term conservation. Instead, we call for a decommodified experience of wildlife tourism based on more than just economic value.

Disconnection & Demonisation: COVID-19 Shows Why We Need to Stop Commodifying All Animals

“…Powerful elites, tourists, and pet owners/collectors contribute to maintaining a market for exotic wildlife (Actman, 2019;Belicia and Islam, 2018;TRAFFIC, 2008). Much of this is entirely legal and provides the infrastructures and networks on which the illegal trade piggybacks.…”

“Let Me Take a Selfie”: Reviewing the Implications of Social Media for Public Perceptions of Wild Animals<strong> </strong>

“…The demand for close encounters is not necessarily an inherent desire (Orams 2000;Belicia & Islam 2018), and many sanctuaries offer tourists the abilities to see animals while not allowing touch interactions or selfies. The rehabilitation and release of animals back into the wild at sanctuaries has been considered a process of "decommodification" (Collard, 2014).…”

Effects of Institutional Arrangements and Policies on Community Participation in Wildlife Tourism in Africa

“…Several governments in SSA have begun leveraging wildlife tourism for the attainment of socio-economic benefits and environmental protection (Christie et al, 2013;Thondhlana et al, 2015;Mbaiwa, 2017;UNCTAD, 2017;Chakrabarty et al, 2019). This emerges as the result of protected areas being located within the rural regions of countries, often characterized with low development, high levels of poverty and the lack of effective initiatives to combat these socio-economic conditions (Bhatasara et al, 2013;Belicia & Islam, 2018;Black & Cobbinah, 2018). Consequently, wildlife tourism, based on the principles of sustainable development, conservation and community inclusion, has been positioned as a powerful tool for job creation, poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihoods and local economic development for communities residing adjacent protected areas (Bhatasara et al, 2013;Larkin, 2014;Cobbinah et al, 2015;Mbaiwa, 2017;Snyman, 2017;UNCTAD, 2017;Black & Cobbinah, 2018;Kimbu & Tichaawa, 2018;Markwell, 2018;Panta & Thapa, 2018;Zanamwe et al, 2018).…”