The Role of Private Wildlife Reserves in Nicaragua's Emerging Ecotourism Industry

Abstract

Ecotourism promises to be the fastest growing segment of Nicaragua's fledgling tourist industry, which is already the country's second highest generator of foreign exchange. Development of a lucrative ecotourism industry offers a unique opportunity for Nicaragua to unify economic growth with natural resource stewardship in a single sustainable development strategy. However, as ecotourism is largely dependent on protected area systems, the current condition of Nicaragua's public protected area system is a major obstacle to the industry's development. Limited by inadequate public financing, the establishment of private wildlife reserves can compliment Nicaragua's under-developed public protected area system, further enhancing the desirability of Nicaragua as an ecotourist destination. The opportunities and constraints of private reserve establishment are examined in this study of Nicaragua's first legally recognised private wildlife reserve.