Mountain Ecotourism

            The mountainous vistas, rolling plains, and small villages nestled in the foothills are a large part of the beauty of central Italy. The narrow streets weave along the contours of the land and each town is built to match the slope beneath it. Touring Fontecchio, for example, means touring the surrounding land, caves, trails, rivers, and other natural prospects that define the town in its history. This presents a problem as tourism is not the kindest of activities to the unsuspecting recipient. Foreign travelers arrive and have a larger impact on the environment, an intrinsic aspect of their experience, than they realize.

            Sanjay Nepal’s 2002 paper on mountain ecotourism describes the importance of both exposing visitors to the environment as well as sustaining the environmental experience for all who come. The mountains are part of the culture of these villages and should be explored by those who wish to learn about historic towns like Fontecchio. Individual tourists may think they are not personally impacting the environment, simply viewing it, but the means by which the local economy supports that viewing is the key issue. If a town encourages a tourism industry that develops a hotel on a clear-cut hillside and foreign visitors frequent that establishment, the practice is unsustainable. An increase in tourism would support an increase in clearcutting and eventually ruin the views that pay for the industry itself. Though a simplified example, it can be expanded to include water consumption, energy usage, and even dilution of the culture through tourist traps.

            Having spent a few days in Fontecchio myself, the striking vistas and culture of the locals is enhanced all the more by its authenticity. One of our hillside treks was to a castle with a view of the many neighboring towns, shown in the picture below. Understanding the history, the purpose for its location, and the sheer beauty of the experience greatly enhanced my appreciation of the Fontecchian countryside. The implementation of physical boundaries and gentle restoration of the castle ruins sustains the experience for everyone who comes through. It is a difficult balance to strike, maintaining its condition while encouraging exploration, but it is imperative a balance is found, as many Italian village economies are depending on it.