The world's natural resources are being consumed faster than nature can replace them and faster than man can try to replace them with artificial means.

Tourism in many areas in the world is dependent and relies on the attraction of natural resources, whether it is a stretch of beach, a coral island or an elephant in its natural environment. The over-use or destruction of these natural resources will not only deprive a local population of its natural environment and possibly their cultural habitat, but it will eventually have a negative effect on the economy of the area and country, as tourists find the area less and less attractive, and stop visiting.

"Only when the last tree has been cut down,
Only when the last river has been poisoned,
Only when the last fish has been caught,
Only THEN will you find that money cannot be eaten."
(Prophecy, alleged to originate from the Cree people of North America)

Desert Flowers show the Way

Eco-tourism - this term has taken root all over the world, despite its inherent contradiction. Tourism puts a strain on nature, no matter how gentle and eco-friendly the manner in which it is conducted. Furthermore, tourism companies are not nature conservation organisations but businesses subject to market forces. In the face of predatory competition an entrepreneur, though environment-friendly disposed, may well resort to steps which are harmful to the environment, just to be able to survive - for example, when costs can be brought down by increasing available accommodation even though the water table is dropping or by burying incombustible waste on his own grounds instead of having it properly disposed of in the next town.

Therefore the question is how to ensure that environment-friendly companies are rewarded within the economic system. An answer is the eco awards Namibia programme introduced in Namibia at the end of last year - sponsored by the Ministry for Environment and Tourism, supported by the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) and financed by the Namibia Development Tourism Programme (NTDP) of the European Union. The eco awards Namibia will be a mark of distinction for accommodation establishments which are planned and managed according to eco-friendly principles.