State of the Environment

2006

Indicator: BD-25 Tourism activities based in areas of high biodiversity significance

Data

Southwest Australia

The biogeographic region of Southwest Australia covers over 300 000 square kilometres and is recognised as an international biodiversity hotspot. The forests, woodlands, shrublands, and heath of Southwest Australia are characterized by high diversity and endemism among plants and reptiles. There are over 5000 plant species, 4000 of which are endemic.

Separated from the rest of the continent by desert, the plants and animals have evolved in isolation for millions of years. The endangered western swamp turtle is possibly the most threatened fresh water turtle species in the world and several mammals are now endemic to the area, having disappeared from the rest of their range in Australia. One mammal, the Dibbler, was thought to be extinct for 83 years. There are 100 endemic vertebrate species.

The greatest human impact in Southwest Australia has been the clearing of native vegetation for agriculture.

Many tourists come each year to explore the area, for the world famous wildflowers, whale watching cruises and the tree top walk suspended 40 metres above the canopy floor in the tingle tree forest.

Summary of tourism developments in the southwest Australia, December 2003
Tourist accommodation Other tourism infrastructure projects
No. of projects Cost ($M) Lettable Units No. of projects Cost ($M)
Private sector Public sector
Planning stage 43 145.8 1 312 3 30 2.7
Under construction 14 68.7 442 2 - 3.7
Completed 5 9.3 33 4 0.1 5.5
Total 62 223.8 1 787 9 30.1 11.9

Source: Western Australian Tourism Commission 2006, Research Tools, viewed N/A, http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/InfoCentre/
Growing+your+business/Keys+to+Success/Research+Tools.htm

In 2001/02, the combined direct and indirect economic contribution of tourism to WA was $3.6 billion.

In 2001/02 54 000 Western Australians were directly employed in tourism, with around 18,000 more indirectly employed (7.7% of total state employment).

Source: Western Australian Tourism Commission 2005, Western Australia research tool, viewed 9 Aug 2005, http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/InfoCentre/
Growing+your+business/Keys+to+Success/Research+Tools.htm

Wet tropics

The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area lies between Townsville and Cooktown on the north-east coast of Queensland and covers an area of 894 420 hectares. About 28% of Australia’s rainforests occur in the wet tropics. Of the 105 regional ecosystems, 24 are endangered and 17 are ‘of concern’.

The Wet Tropics region has one of the highest levels of biological diversity in Australia, as the following table indicates.

Importance of the Wet Tropics to Australia's biodiversity
Taxonomic group % of Australia's total
Plants
fern species 65
cycad species 21
conifer species 37
orchid species 30
vascular plant species 26
Animals
mammal species including 35
marsupials 30
bats 58
rodents 25
bird species 40
frog species 29
reptile species 20
freshwater fish species 42
butterfly species 58
dung beetle species 42
barkbug species 46
weta species (giant king crickets) 50

Source: Wet Tropics Management Authority 2003, State of the Wet Tropics Report 2002-2003, viewed N/A, http://www.wettropics.gov.au/mwha/mwha_pdf/annual_reports/2003a_report.pdf.

The value of tourism to the Area has been estimated to be worth more than $750 million each year. For the year ending 2000 approximately 2.2 million visitors stayed 13.5 million visitor nights.

Source: Wet Tropics Management Authority 2003, State of the Wet Tropics Report 2002-2003, viewed 9 Aug 2005, http://www.wettropics.gov.au/pdf/annual_reports/2002appendix 4.pdf

Wet Tropics visitor trends and projections, 1993-2016
Trends Projections
Visitor details 1993 1996 1999 2001 2006 2011 2016
Domestic
Number ('000) 1 456 1 640 1 773 1 900 2 180 2 450 2 700
Average per day 19 147 20 219 21 859 23 425 26 877 30 205 33 288
International
Number ('000) 541 642 837 940 1 250 1 550 1 850
Average per day 10 375 11 611 1 405 16 740 22 260 27 630 32 945
Total visitors ('000) 1 997 2 292 2 610 2 840 3 430 4 000 4 550
Average per day 29 523 31 830 36 764 40 164 49 137 57 808 66 233

Source: Wet Tropics Management Authority 2003, State of the Wet Tropics Report 2002-2003, viewed 9 Aug 2005, http://www.wettropics.gov.au/pdf/annual_reports/2002appendix 4.pdf

Within the World Heritage Area's 3 000 km boundary there are 733 separate parcels of land including national parks, state forest, freehold (private) land and a range of leases over public land. Because of the complex land tenure, many people ranging from private land owners to government agencies are actively involved in managing the World Heritage Area. The Wet Tropics Management Strategy outlines management requirements.

Source: Wet Tropics Management Authority 2003, State of the Wet Tropics Report 2002-2003, viewed 9 Aug 2005, http://www.wettropics.gov.au/pdf/annual_reports/2002appendix 4.pdf

What the data mean

Nature based tourism brings revenue and employment to the regions but is often focused on areas of high biodiversity or high ecological vulnerability due to intensive modification.

Data Limitations

Data are limited to case studies.

Issues for which this is an indicator and why

Biodiversity — Utilisation and value of biodiversity - Tourism 

Ideally, to show both the extent of the pressure and the economic contribution of biodiversity tourism, the indicator would show tourist days and tourist dollars, broken down by areas of high, medium and low biodiversity value and/or vulnerability.

Other indicators for this issue:

Human Settlements — Services provided by the environment to human settlements - Recreation from the environment 

Australia's natural features attract millions of visitors (domestic and international) each year and generate significant economic benefits for regions. Many people are embracing ‘ecotourism’. Ideally, to show contribution of biodiversity tourism to human recreation, the indicator would show tourist days and tourist dollars, broken down by areas of high, medium and low biodiversity value and/or vulnerability.

Other indicators for this issue:

Coasts and Oceans — Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life - Non-material values benefits (heritage, recreation, aesthetic and spiritual) 

The number of people seeking coast and ocean based recreation which involves biodiversity value is indicative of the contribution of coasts and oceans to human life.

Other indicators for this issue:

Land — Contributions of land to human life - Non-materials benefits from the land 

The number of people seeking land based recreation which involves biodiversity value is indicative of the contribution of the land to human life.

Other indicators for this issue:

Further Information

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