Dahlheimer, Z. (2017, March 01). Big vote coming in Palm Springs to decide future of Oswit Canyon. Retrieved March 07, 2017, from http://www.kesq.com/news/politics/big-vote-coming-in-palm-springs-to-decide-future-of-oswit-canyon/368614285

This article talked about the future of Oswit Canyon. Oswit Canyon, which is located in Palm Springs, is a popular ecotourism spot in Palm Spring. In the canyon are “federally-protected species” that people like bird watchers enjoy seeing. However, there are people who want to turn this area into a residential area. Developers want to “build nearly five dozen homes on the lands”. Andy Gibbs is part of the “Save Oswit Canyon” group, which is trying to preserve the area for ecotourism. He says that the area should be preserved not only because it’s environmentally sensitive with a number of protected species, but also because it is a cultural heritage for future generations.

The article presents the challenges for establishing ecotourism spots. While many people may want an ecotourism hotspot for their city, others may want to utilize that space to create more economically beneficial areas like residential areas. This article shows the conflict between the two ideas, but also provides the reasoning of those who wish to maintain an ecotourism area. People want to preserve important ecological areas because they not only want to help protect the environment, but also so that their descendants can enjoy such areas. I think that these are very important reasons to maintain ecotourism areas. While buildings like homes may provide more economical benefits, we as a society must weigh the temporary benefits versus the long-term benefits of protecting the environment.