Advantage Grand Canyon Rafting

The Importance of Responsible Tourism on the Grand Canyon

The Importance of Responsible Tourism on the Grand Canyon
Each year, millions of people come to the Grand Canyon; and they come for various
reasons. For some, they come for the spectacular scenes and the refreshing hiking trails.
Others enjoy the excitement of whitewater rafting on the rapids of the Grand Canyon. Many
enjoy raft trips and helicopter rides. No matter what attracts you to the Grand Canyon, you
will agree time spent on this breathtaking land is often memorable for all who explore it.
Unfortunately, this much tourism can take an unintentional toll on the delicate balance of the
Canyon. While it's often easy to ignore, the beauty of the Grand Canyon relies on an
intricate and often delicate ecological balance. What are some ways our activities can affect
the Grand Canyon? Why is it important to protect it, and more importantly, what can we do to
ensure that we continue enjoying the beauty of the Grand Canyon for years to come?
Grand Canyon National Park- A World Heritage Site
UNESCO designated the Grand Canyon as a World Heritage Site in 1979. The organisation
usually grants this status to sites they consider to have a cultural and natural heritage of
outstanding value to humanity. A quick geological survey of the Grand Canyon will show you
why. In a brief statement on its site, UNESCO describes the Grand Canyon as having one
of the best ongoing geological spectacles. The international body also regards what the
Grand Canyon tells about the earth's history as invaluable. Reports suggest that the gorges
of the Grand Canyon happened about 6 million years ago during a period of geological
upheaval. Exposed horizontal strata on the Grand Canyon retrace roughly 2 billion years of
geological activity. In addition, the park's diverse topography makes it home to an
extraordinarily diverse ecosystem, flora, and fauna of a dizzying range of species spread
across the many zones of the land. As a heritage site, the Grand Canyon National Park
becomes even more crucial, considering it is home to some dwindling and even endangered
species. For example, the boreal forest is home to several rare or endangered animal and
plant species.
Environmental Impact of Human Actions on the Grand Canyon National Park
Environmental Impact of Human Actions on the Grand Canyon National Park
The large volumes of human visitors to the Grand Canyon each year have had many
environmental consequences on the park. This issue of Grand Canyon tourism has persisted
despite the relentless efforts, programs, and laws enacted by the national park system. Here
are some ways that Human actions have adversely affected the Grand Canyon:
Environmental Pollution
Light pollution is often an inevitable consequence of tourism. However, as more people visit
the Grand Canyon National Park Service each year, the pollution problem is becoming
concerning as visitors leave a long trail of waste materials. For example, hikers who walk
long stretches in the scorching Canyon heat get thirsty quickly and rehydrate by drinking lots
of water. The problem is that most hikers use one-time bottles and often carelessly dispose
of them in the wild. Disposing of metabolic wastes is another issue. It is prevalent in camps
where campers pass urine and faecal matter directly into the Colorado River. While many
argue that the amount passed into the river isn't enough to cause an incident at any camp, it
can't become too much with massive visitors. Helicopter and train rides through the Grand
Canyon also cause noise pollution. This noise level is a source of worry to park officials, who
strongly feel that they could disrupt the activities of animal species on land.
Increased Erosion
Erosion is responsible for the brilliant gorges of the Grand Canyon. It was a geological
process that took at least six million years to form. However, as tourism increases, so has
erosion. This influx of visitors and erosion increase tend to change and denature the
environment, rendering some areas of the Grand Canyon inaccessible.
Introduction of Non-Native Plant and Animal Species
As humans continue to visit the Grand Canyon, they may unwittingly introduce alien plant
and animal species that soon out-compete the local flora and fauna of the Grand Canyon.
An example is the Tamarisk plant, an invasive woody plant that found its way from the Glen
Canyon Dam down to the heart of the Grand Canyon. Before the construction of the dam,
this plant struggled to strive. However, upheavals in the soil composition caused by the dam
construction allowed this plant to spread rapidly across the Grand Canyon. Soon, it was
crowding the local plant flora and limiting plant diversity. In addition to forcing out native plant
species, the Tamarisk also increases fire risks, flood potential, and drought stress. It's only
benefit seems to lie in the fact that it provides nestling for the SouthWest Willow Flycatcher,
an endangered species.
The Damage Caused by Construction
The heated debate over Environment vs. Development has been raging for many years and
seems to be going nowhere. However, no matter what side you're on, you'll no doubt agree
that developers quickly sacrifice the environment when the wheels of development come
spinning. The Grand Canyon has had its share of disruptive development projects. Here are
some:
The Controversial Uranium Mining Projects
A region surrounding the Grand Canyon has many natural resources, including a significant
uranium deposit which would reduce the United States Uranium imports. However, the war
over whether the state parks and government should mine the ore or not rages on. Although
some miners mine the ores outside the park boundaries, the government bans mining large
parts of the ore because of their proximity to the Grand Canyon and the potential effect on
the park. While proponents of the ban insist that extensive mining would endanger the
delicate balance of the National Park's ecology, opponents insist that mining the deposits
would lead to clean energy production that will benefit the environment in the long run. The
debate is unending.
Commercial, Tourist, and Residential Sites
● As the Grand Canyon becomes increasingly popular, residential and tourist building
construction has also increased. As the development of this site pushes closer and
closer to the Grand Canyon's south rim, more people are worried about how much
this level of construction will affect the fragile equilibrium of the site's ecosystem.
While these might have a cumulative benefit for the local economies and laboure
income, it is still concerning. The construction of Dams like the Glen Canyon Dam
has already disrupted the National Park's ecosystem, allowing exotic species to
infiltrate the Grand Canyon. Noise and Air pollution from nearby cities have also had
negative implications. While it's true that tourism and corresponding development
have contributed lots of money to the local economy and supported thousands of
jobs, the Grand Canyon has often paid a significant price.