Lerner, M. (2015, June 1). Can ecotourism save the D.R.? Retrieved August 24, 2015, from http://blogs.blouinnews.com/blouinbeatsciencehealth/2015/06/01/can-ecotourism-save-the-d-r-s-environment/

Although more people are starting to visit the Dominican Republic people are starting to notice that there is a lot of garbage. However, the Senator Euclides Sánchez of La Vega said that the litter was not because of the tourists but because of the people who live in the Dominican Republic. Apparently the people are not conscious of there actions toward the environment and how the affect it. If ecotourism grows then maybe it will lead the people of the Dominican Republic to become more aware of their affects on the environment. Tourists groups will go explore the environment and see all the garbage everywhere however; tourists still seem to want to come.

The government needs to place restrictions on littering and waste disposal in order to clean up the environment. If there is less garbage it will increase the tourism because it will make the Dominican Republic cleaner and more appealing. The people of the Dominican Republic should be educated on the environment and the impact they have this will lead to less waste and will preserve/protect the environment.

Verjee, Z., Said-Moorhouse, L., & Whaley, T. (2014, April 22). Are human viruses killing world’s last remaining gorillas? -CNN.com. Retrieved August 17,2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/22/world/africa/are-human-viruses-killing-worlds-gorillas/index.html

Without proper protection and prevention from human diseases animals could possibly die from these diseases. Many gorillas are facing extinction, as there are about 880 mountain gorillas left in the world. Humans and gorillas share some genetic material therefore gorillas can easily contract some diseases from humans. When tourists come to visit it can help the local economy benefit however, it may be hurting the gorillas if humans are giving them illnesses. The group Conservation Through Public Health is helping to keep gorillas healthy without reducing the number of tourists.

It is important for tourists to not visit these animals if they are very sick as we now know they can catch them. People who live near the gorillas should stay healthy and improve their health because this will also improve the health of the gorillas. Tourism is still needed to help fund the gorilla organizations and groups that can help keep gorillas healthy. The tourism is providing lots of jobs and income for the community near the gorillas so they are willing to help protect and preserve the life of the gorillas. The more tourist visits each year will help raise money for the Conservation Through Public Health organization; thus, helping the gorillas.

Platt, J. (2014, October 8,0. Elephants are Worth 76 Times More Alive Than Dead: Report. Retrieved August 15, 2015, from http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/elephants-are-worth-76-times-more-alive-than-dead-report/

Elephant tusks sell for a high price in the black market however, people are now wondering it that is making more money than if tourists were to pay to come see elephants. In 2014 17.8 metric tons of ivory were shipped illegally worldwide to make a profit but this is probably only a small portion of ivory being shipped. Although there are some elephants, which aren’t accessible to the public, there are still others where people can visit to help the cause. Tourists will not only decrease the number of ivory being shipped they will also cause the price of an elephant’s life to increase. This will mean that it is more valuable for an elephant to live than die, which is what the iWorry Ivory awareness campaign is trying to make known.

Ecotourism is saving the lives of elephants because it is increasing the worth of their lives. Not only will the elephants benefit from tourism but also the local economy. Every ivory tusk being sold usually correlates to the amount of elephants dying which is a significant number. The amount of ivory being sold of the black market is slowly decreasing as elephants become more popular and more endangered. In order for the price of ivory to decrease more people need to travel to visit elephants.

Ivory Coast Tries Ecotourism to Save Chimpanzees. (2014, May 3). Retrieved August 11, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/05/03/world/africa/ap-af-ivory-coast-chimpanzees.html

In the Tai National Park in the Ivory Coast are trying to use ecotourism to save the chimpanzees. In the article the director of West Africa’s Wild Chimpanzee Foundation said, “Through ecotourism, local people gain something. They see the value of the forest…and they will preserve it.” Which means the more tourists that can come visit the chimpanzees the higher chimpanzee population will be. Environmental degradation is an issue facing the Ivory Coast, which is affecting the Chimpanzee and causing them to die. The wild life’s area to roam and live has been decreasing over time as people are burning down the forest to convert them into fields, violence near the Tai National Park, and people are illegally hunting chimpanzees. In the end, the Tai National Park hopes for more tourists to come visit in order to increase the lifespan and population of the chimpanzee.

This article demonstrates the importance of tourism and how it can impact the world. These chimpanzees rely on people coming to see them if they want to live longer and expand. Tourism to the Ivory Coast will not only help the chimpanzees but also those who live there as it will bring a new source of income. Over the years more and more tourists have visited the island however, it is still not that many people because it the Ivory Coast isn’t considered the safest place to be. Ecotourism is a key part to helping endangered species stay alive.