by Frances Basketfield

Created on: March 29, 2008

When you look into a brochure, you often see advertisements for attractive places you can visit, the new big mall, the amazing casinos, etc.
But, not often do you see adds for the natural environment of the area. As an avid traveler, strangely, the best example I can think of representing this is in none other then wonderful, balmy, Hawaii.

When you think of Hawaii, you often think of the stereotypical image of palm trees swaying over a long strip of white sand beach lining a peaceful inlet of turquoise water. And most often you're right. But, when I went on a trip to Hawaii, (To the big island, literally, Hawaii) I found out that the resort we where staying at, wasn't how the area was naturally.

So, while it is true that some of the natural wild life in the area was actually supposed to be there, most of it had been brought over!
The white sand beaches had been dumped on top of the natural black sand, the naturally beautiful rocky landscape was towed away and replaced with humanized lush environment.

It really makes me wonder, how many of the supposed, "Natural Paradises" are really all that, well, natural.
I live in Alaska, and believe me i know about all the animals that live here, it's hard not to when you look out your window in the morning and see a moose eating the tree you've been struggling to get to survive, but, more and more, agriculture and tourism industries are destroying the natural swampy, piney land.
Making way for room for "scenic" hotels and tourism centers where they boast the wildlife they killed and stuffed, hanging and sitting them all over the area in a grim state to our states, "natural fortitude".
Also, here in Alaska we're facing problems with wold population, a natural settler in Alaska, wolves have been here just as long, if not longer, then the native humans of the area, but are now dwindling in numbers due to the ever increasing call for hunting, demanded by tourists.
It's a sad state when people come up this far, only to inadvertently kill animals who only take what they need, so that they can have some of what they don't.

I'm sure, that if you look into the politics and problems of where YOU live, you'd be able to see some of the adverse effects on wildlife tourism if reaping.
You can also see it in less animal oriented ways, for instance in the changing of native culture. Where once they hunted for what they needed, tourism and land right disputes have forced these natives into settlements or the city, leaving any natural heritage to the area in one cloistered position, or not at all.

So, before you go out on your next trip, think about what you'll be saying to the people there.
Not that I'm saying don't go, but keep in mind the affects of attempting to force change on a group of people, or even on the natural geography of the land.
Don't demand sunny white sand beaches, when you can have the amazing natural architecture of lava rock formations, don't clamor for hunting opportunities when it causes an almost extinction of a race of animals, and don't require a native group to change their customs so you can feel at home.

In a way, we've changed the world so extremely that leaving the house if hardly leaving the house anymore.
Everyone has the same forced beliefs so that you can feel "comfortable" wherever you go.
All the "amazing natural splendor" of the area is manufactured so you can feel like you've entered, to quote Aladdin, "A whole new world".
And all of the wonderful creatures that you've heard of you'll never see, due to you needing to have a certain "environment" to feel comfortable away from home on your, "adventure".

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