Canadian student Kyle Hilsendager has turned to the expertise of Forestry Tasmania for assistance on his thesis on the conflict between forestry and tourism in regions that market the natural environment. Source: Forestry Tasmania
Kyle, who completed a Masters in Environmental Management at University of Tasmania from 2005-2009, is now based at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry.
His research is targeting Vancouver Island in Canada and Tasmania.
He spoke to half a dozen Forestry Tasmania employees as well as extensive interviews with bush walkers coming off the Overland Track, touring groups driving around the State and fishing lodge patrons in the Central Highlands.
He said different types of tourists rated forest impacts differently.
“For instance the fishing group tends to be a lot more tolerant of forestry impacts.
“It seems to me forest impacts are not very visible to the average tourist and it’s only people going to the more remote areas who are likely to encounter the major forestry impacts,” he said.
Hilsendager said questions addressed in the research included what type of impact the forestry industry can have on the tourism image of regions that market the natural environment.
As well as whether certain tourist segments were affected differently by the impacts of forestry in regions that market the natural environment, and how can forests be managed to ensure that recreation and tourism values are not compromised by other forest interests.
Hildensager said he was hopeful his research would provide benefits to Governments where forestry and tourism were in conflict with each other.
He said the development of conflict reduction strategies would provide governments with tools that could be used to inform policies that helped to better manage the competing interests of forestry and tourism.
