Full Citation

Title: An Exploration: How Voluntourism Conservation Projects Coordinate with and Contribute to Conservation Efforts in Madre de Dios, Peru

Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis

Publication Year: 2019

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Abstract: Mirroring trends in international tourism, alternative tourism, and ecotourism, the voluntourism industry has grown, developed and diversified significantly over the past two decades. Scientific attention to voluntourism has focused mainly on participant motivations and outcomes. However, explicit research on the outcomes and impacts voluntourism projects generate for their host communities and environments is sparse. As voluntourism becomes increasingly frequent, it is critical to design and implement projects that maximize potential for positive impacts and minimize negative impacts. This study focuses on voluntourism conservation projects in the Madre de Dios region in Peru which is a global conservation priority. Specifically, the research investigates (1) operational characteristics of voluntourism conservation projects, (2) the social networks and relationships among stakeholders to understand the ways in which these relationships influence projects and, ultimately, (3) the ability of voluntourism projects to effectively and collectively contribute to regional conservation needs. Through a social network analysis and interviews with leaders of voluntourism conservation projects, the findings suggest that some projects are well-connected to and coordinated with other conservation entities and efforts of the region. Yet, there are many projects that are disconnected and struggle to coordinate their activities with broader conservation efforts. Operational characteristics relate to a project’s ability to communicate and coordinate with efforts of other conservation entities, implying that voluntourism leaders can adjust operations to allow for a project that, in addition to meeting participant needs, generates relevant contributions to the conservation needs of Madre de Dios.

Url: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12527&context=etd

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Authors: Ocañas, Alejandrina, R

Institution: University of Montana

Department: Resource Conservation, International Conservation & Development

Advisor: Jennifer Thomsen

Degree: Master of Science

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Pages: 241

Data Collections: IPUMS International

Topics: Other

Countries: Peru