Effects of Ecotourism

Ecotourism in the Rio Grande Valley has many
effects on the people who live there. First, it gives the area an economic boost. This allows more wildlife areas o is protected and provides more jobs for people. One major effect of ecotourism has been the birding festival in Harlingen Last year more than 500 people from 37 states, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico attended. The more people coming to the more jobs their are and with more jobs comes more tax dollars. With more tax dollars comes more activities. There has also been an increase in the amount of educational programs about the environment and wildlife preservation.

                  Bird Population and Wildlife Refuges

The bird popluation in the Rio Grande Valley has increased because of several effects of ecotourism. The publics increasing awareness of wildlife preservation has increased the amount of habitats. The importance of birding in the Valley has increased the idea of protecting birds. The goal of the Valley has been to sustain and raise the bird population. According to Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge ecotourism has a positive influence on the Rio Grande Valley. This is partly because of the economic boost ecotourism brings with it. Ecotourism is good because more land is now being bought by cities for wildlife preservation. The use of land for construction is reduced and public awareness of the environment is increasing

Although ecotourism brings with it many good effects, it has many bad ones too. These include an increase in pollution, the encroaching of humans on animal habitats, and the deforestation of the Valley shrub land.