Significant Environment Issues

SignificantEnvironment Issues

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SignificantEnvironment Issues in the Tourism Industry in Nova Scotia

Locatedin eastern Canada, Nova Scotia is a province that is well known as amajor tourist attraction. The tourism industry in Nova Scotia isworth over $ 1.8 billion and has offered more than 20,000 direct jobsin the region (Holden, 2016). Nevertheless, numerous environmentalfactors have significantly affected the tourism industry, leading toa decline in the number of visitors in the recent past (Holden,2016). The essay seeks to figure out the environmental hurdlesaffecting the tourism industry and what the government is currentlydoing or ought to do in order to protect the natural resources.

Touristattractions are entirely reliant on the environment. For instance,tourists are attracted to natural resources such as seas, rivers,beaches, mountains among other man-made resources such as monumentsand heritage buildings (Holden, 2016). Therefore, the degradation ofthe key sources may result in a decline in tourism.

CoastalAreas

Oneof the leading tourist attraction sites is the beautiful coastline,specifically in areas where the villagers practice fishing and othersociocultural practices. Consequently, the presence of storms andflooding adversely affects the surrounding environment and itsinhabitants. Moreover, the susceptibility of the coastal featuressuch as the beaches and salt marshes discourages tourists from comingto the region.

Biodiversity

Theinterconnection and existence of flora, fauna and other livingorganisms make a special appeal for tourism. Nature and adventure arecrucial and form the best tourist segments in the region. Theprotection of these natural resources is essential to prevent theextinction of biodiversity. Some environmental factors such asextreme fire seasons, severe warm temperatures, and heavyprecipitation negatively affect the tourism industry (Holden, 2016).The “Hurricane Juan” led to the temporary closure of twoprominent parks (Holden, 2016).

Forests

Humanencroachment into wildlife habitats has caused a great deal totourism. Nova Scotia relies on the forests for practices such asbirding and the maple sugar farms (Holden, 2016). Moreover, thedestruction of animals’ habitats leads to their migration henceadversely affecting the economics of tourism. In the modern world,tourists are sensitive on the sustainable measures that are put inplace to ensure environmental integrity and protection.

Minerals

NovaScotia’s economy relies on mining of minerals such as gold, copper,and iron among others. However, mining practices have an adverseimpact on tourism activities such as blasting and the resulting siltfrom quarries. For instance, the White Point Quarry adverselyaffected the living organisms such as birds, landscape, and marineactivities (Holden, 2016). Water pollution and migration of wildlifefrom the surrounding mining fields are some of the consequences.Therefore, it is important to undertake mining explorations withoutcausing any harm to the environment.

Recommendationsand Conclusion

Thegovernment in conjunction with the relevant tourism actors ought toensure that land acquisition process is duly followed to protectnatural resources. It is vital to conserve and protect biodiversityby implementing policies that regulate the harvesting of trees andthe designated areas. Mining, on the other hand, is an essentialeconomic activity that contributes to the growth and development ofthe region. Nonetheless, legislations ought to be implemented thatensure safe mining practices and protection of natural resources.Nova Scotia is highly dependent on biodiversity, forests, andminerals in enhancing economic growth and development. As a result,the national and provincial government ought to act towards ensuringsustainability of these natural resources.

Reference

Holden,A. (2016). Environmentand Tourism.New York: Routledge.