Forests, land, beaches, wetlands, seas, and natural landscapes all provide resources that can be misused by tourism. Specifically: 1) Nature tours and souvenirs can overuse forest resources by removing rare species and trees, causing soil erosion. 2) Hotels and golf courses disrupt ecosystems when they remove land from agriculture and pollute soil and water with chemicals. 3) Building hotels too close to beaches and on wetlands increases erosion and reduces natural flood defenses, while dredging disrupts ecosystems. 4) Marine activities like diving and boating can damage coral reefs by breaking off coral and anchoring ships, while sewage dumping pollutes water.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE
PROTECTION

2. Resources Use Examples of misuse, overuse or
abuse
Forest Nature tours, products
and Souvenirs
Rare species of flora and fauna
removed by tourists, removal of
trees to create nature trails, which
may lead to soil erosion
Land Construction of resorts
and hotels, golf
courses
Removal of land from agricultural
use can disrupt ecosystems.
Possibility that heavy use of
chemicals in preparation and
maintenance of golf courses
pollutes soil and water supply.
Increase in solid waste production
increases requirement for land-fill
sites
Beaches and
Wetland
Location for hotels and
resort areas,
recreation and leisure,
sand mining for
construction of hotels
Hotel construction too close to
beaches and on wetlands can
increase risks of beach erosion and
loss of natural flood defences.
Dredging to create harbours
disrupts natural ecosystems.
Use of wetlands removes natural

3. Sea Marine-based
sports,
desalinated
water to
supplement
potable water
supplies,
dumping area for
hotel sewage
Divers and swimmers
breaking off coral
Anchors damaging coral
reef
Hotels and pleasure craft
dumping waste and
sewage, polluting water
and disrupting
ecosystems.
Cruise ships washing out
tanks at sea cause
pollution
Landscapes
and natural
features
Nature tours Hotel and resort construction
reduces aesthetic appeal of
views
Road and path construction
removes natural vegetation
Increases run-off and
likelihood of soil erosion
Source: (Buckle-Scott, Davis-Morrison, Jaimungaisingh, & Lunt, 2013)