Protecting Paradise: Ecotourism
opportunities are plentiful in the Uists
With an expected upsurge of visitors coming to the Hebrides in the next few years, our environment and wildlife resources will be placed under a considerable threat which could result in the very environment so many wish to experience becoming damaged and ruined for future generations. It is all very well to reap the harvest of a successful tourism year, but unless we put in place suitable sustainable measures to protect our environment and manage tourism, the very trend we have encouraged may damage us beyond repair.
There has been much discussion across the board regarding the buzz word ‘sustainability’ and the need for it in the islands, but let’s consider exactly what this means for the Uists. In 1987 the Bruntland Report alerted the world to the need for sustainable development without depleting the natural resource or environment. From that report a key statement on Sustainable Development was released. It stated: ‘Our Common Future’, defines sustainable development as ‘development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ (United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).
