populations, which require a large expanse of land to survive, are considered to be an
indicator species for ecological integrity (Curry, 1998).
According to the Panel on Ecological Integrity in Canada’s National Parks, struck by
the federal government in November 1998, only one of the 39 National Parks in Canada is free
from ecological stress, and that park is Vuntut in the northern Yukon (Ellis, 1999). In Banff a
fish called the Banff longnose dace has been listed as extinct since the mid-1980s, and the
lemon seed sized Banff Springs Snail is also threatened. There are only 50-80 grizzlies in the
entire Park, and scientists doubt that there will be any wolf packs in the Bow Valley after the
year 2010. Clearly there is an inherent conflict within national parks regarding short term
economic gain versus sustaining parks= resources and beauty (Lowry, 1997).
Similarly, increasing visitors means building costly facilities in areas that would
otherwise be left natural. (Shaw and Stroup, 1997). Increasing facilitates such as retail stores
contribute to an increasing commercial climate, detracting from the wilderness experience
(Lowry, 1997).
If tourist activity is allowed to increase unchecked, a park’s carrying capacity or ability
to accommodate more people without resource loss will eventually be exceeded. Once
resources begin to decline, tourists value them less and may decide to go elsewhere (Lowry,
1997). If tourist numbers decrease however, conservation efforts will be underfunded and the
townsite itself will suffer economically.
It is difficult to use cost-benefit analysis for the environmental impact of tourism
because it is difficult to value environmental resources, and to quantify inter-generational
effects. Evaluations must be based on more than just economic and demographic numbers,
they must also include information on environmental aspects such as wildlife populations and
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Convention