THE ROLE OF NATURE TREKKING IN CONSERVATION - A CASE-STUDY IN THAILAND

Nature-based tourism is one of the few economic uses of natural areas that is compatible with protection of the environment and its wildlife. With more than 100 national parks and other conservation areas in Thailand, and a diverse tropical fauna and flora, Nature tourism has tremendous potential for expansion. Although seldom designed to do so, Nature tourism can provide significant income to targeted villages near the borders of national parks, and hence help to reduce illegal exploitation of park resources by local inhabitants. © 1990, Foundation for Environmental Conservation. All rights reserved.