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Blue carbon ecotourism business model as a catalyst for conservation: An embedded single case study of West Bali National Park
Summary
Researchers studied an ecotourism program in a Bali national park that protects mangroves and seagrass beds—coastal ecosystems that store carbon, support marine life, and help buffer coastlines from climate change. They found that plastic waste and poor recycling practices among local businesses are undermining these benefits, and suggest that tourism programs designed around education and eco-friendly practices could better protect these ecosystems. This matters for human health because healthy coastal ecosystems filter pollutants and reduce plastic waste in our oceans, which otherwise breaks down into microplastics that end up in seafood and drinking water.
As ecosystems providing crucial natural benefits and holding ecotourism potential, the blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses face threats from plastic waste and Ulva lactuca blooms, which are further exacerbated by climate change. This study aimed to investigate recent business models collectively applied by multisector organizations in West Bali National Park and integrate gaps in sustainable practices with blue carbon ecosystem perspectives derived from ecotourists as a future framework for ecotourism. We performed field observations and semi-structured interviews, and employed reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) for data analysis. The study demonstrates that linking ecotourism to specific multi-benefit ecosystems and contemporary environmental challenges stimulates ecotourists' interest in ecotourism education, as it presents advantages that have not been explored yet. Factors, such as the prevalence of non-biodegradable products, inadequate promotion of eco-friendly alternatives, inconsistent regenerative efforts for nature, the absence of comprehensive reuse-reduce-recycle (3R) practices, insufficient product diversification, and a lack of positive environmental impact, contribute to the gaps in strongly sustainable business models (SSBMs) among organizations. We recommend incorporating blue carbon ecotourism perspectives, informed by elements of nature, socio-cultural sustainability, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and education, to address these gaps. By strengthening the involvement of businesses in their beneficial reciprocal relationship with blue carbon ecosystems, we will better align them with global objectives for mitigating climate change and waste pollution.