Title: Local Community Engagement in the Development of Ecotourism in Protected Areas of Victoria

Overview: The creation of a protected area system containing samples of all ecosystems is essential for nature conservation in Victoria. The primary objective of the protected area is conservation of biodiversity. If the area is on public land it protected by the Act of Parliament, if it is privately owned or indigenous land it is protected by a covenant or conservation agreement.

Victoria has 52 National Parks, 30 State parks, 3 wilderness parks, 24 marine national parks and sanctuaries and other areas protected under National Parks Act (1975). These assets comprise approximately 16% of total land area in Victoria and cover around 40% of remaining native vegetation. They attract over 25 million visitors per annum. Thirteen Marine National Parks and eleven Marine Sanctuaries were established in 2002. The sites for these were chosen after many years of investigation to ensure that Victoria’s important marine habitats are protected for the future. Nearly 80% of Victorians live within the coastal zone and the number is expected to increase.

The establishment of a protected area often has an immediate negative or perceived negative, impact on the local community through the loss of accessible resource. Little research is believed to have been conducted into the economic value of the protected area to the local community that might be derived from the development of ecotourism within or surrounding protected areas.

This project seeks to address the potential of ecotourism in the protected areas, interactions between ecotourism ventures and other regional tourism activities and its relationship with local community in the regional Victoria. This is done using GIS applications and techniques, demographic data management, mapping recreational activities on offer and investigation into existing cultural and natural attractions.

Principal Supervisor: Associate Professor Ian Clark

Associate Supervisor: Dr Patrice Braun

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