Can Community-Based Ecotourism with the Amazon River dolphin contribute to its conservation in Brazil?

Abstract

In Brazil, the Amazon River dolphin or boto (Inia geoffrensis) is considered a charismatic creature of the Amazonian culture and freshwater biodiversity, which attracts a lot of tourists searching for unique experiences with wildlife. Under several threats, boto’s population is declining and opportunities/alternatives to develop conservation actions are needed, advised, and urgent. This study aimed to investigate from local riverside perspective if the dolphin-watching Community-Based EcoTourism (CBET) is a good conservation alternative for boto. By applying semi-structured interviews and participant observation methods, we studied the perception of 68 riverside people from the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR), central Amazon. Some 88.3% of respondents considered the dolphin-watching tourism as an important conservation measure, since it helps in the dissemination of local knowledge about the species, restrains ‘outsider’ fishermen presence, and generates alternative income to communities. The same respondents understand as important the conservation of boto, and 68% said that keeping ecological relations between animal and environment helps in the conservation of its habitats. The economic benefits of dolphin-watching tourism in the MSDR were reported by 32.8% respondents. Community-based wildlife tourism is one of the widely used tools to promote species conservation and their habitats, when following good practices and promoting awareness, economic benefits, and scale up impacts. The results from this study provide information which may support strategies for the touristic management and conservation of botos in the Amazon.