Les écologes et leurs impacts environnementaux dans la région de la Haute-Napo-Équateur.

Abstract

This thesis explores the problem of ecotourism's environmental impacts in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Precisely, we tackle the impacts caused by ecolodges on the physical environment of a region that has been greatly affected by tourism development: the upper Napo river. For thirty years, ecolodges have set up operations in the region. The older ones have adapted to the changes in the Ecuadorian Amazon's tourism industry; newer ones were specifically developed for the growing demand in exotic and alternative accommodations in the jungle. The environmental wave that is responsible for the evolution of ecotourism consolidated that demand. Whether old or new, ecolodges have impacts on their operational environments. These impacts can be felt during construction, maintenance and daily tourism operations. Therefore, to improve the environmental performance of ecolodges, some recommendations have been linked to the activities that cause impacts. However, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, ecotourism's environmental impacts are less important than those caused by colonization and the petroleum industry. Therefore, ecotourism represents a sustainable development option in the regional context.