Ecotourism

Ecotourism is a very important issue in the Valley. Ecotourism in the Valey consist mainly of birding. There are two main reasons why Ecotourism is important. One,is that it brings money to the Valley. Two, the more land set aside for Ecotourism the less available for other kinds of economic productivity. As Ecotourism attracts people towards the Valley the Valley recieves money. When people come down they need places to stay, food to eat, gas, and other products soldin the Valley. This alll leads to economic growth for the Rio Grande Valley. On the negative side birding takes up alot of land. The Valley is always growing and Ecotourism is hampering its growth in size.Ranching and farming need large areas of land and Ecotourism does too. So one slows down the other.

Ecotourism Terms

• Migratory Routes- the routes taken by birds during their seasonal or  periodic movent away from or back to their natural habitat.


• Animal Migration- seasonal or periodic movent of animals or birds away from or back to their natural breeding area.


• Great Texas Gulf Costal Birding Trail- a 500 mileroute stretching along the Texas gulf Coast from north of Beaumont to the Rio Grande Valley that establishes viewing areas at feeding, nesting, and roosting points.