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Country
Roads
Byways,
Highways and Back Road Adventures
May
2005
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Eco-tourism is tourism that focuses on creating
an understanding and appreciation of local cultures, and
the wonders of nature. Eco-tour
operators are often local entrepreneurs who would like to show you a
glimpse of their culture and provide an
appreciation for the natural wonders of their world.
There are few things that can be more adventurous or more
educational…skipping right past the theme parks to “THE REAL
THING”
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On a recent wilderness adventure to
Bayou Gauche, just 45 minutes south of New Orleans, local guide
Gordon Matherne of Des Allemands. LA, provided the awesome opportunity
to discover local flora, fauna and wildlife first hand.
A guided tour thru the scenic moss-draped cypress swamp offered up-close and
personal views of alligators, bald eagles, herons, egrets, ibis, and
nutrias along with water hyacinth, lotus, lily and other native flora
and fauna. It also
provided a wonderful photographic opportunity.
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As eco-tourists,
we learned that as the alligator has slowly gained some ground on the
endangered species list, the “balance
of nature” is
thrown yet another
curve…this time the alligators “homeland security”
is the fragility in question.
Yes, the very HOME of the alligator, the swamps of the South are
in extreme danger. The
problems lie in coastal erosion. These
wetlands are disappearing at the rate of over one football field every
60 minutes. Saltwater
intrusion due to global warming, oil exploration, and the introduction
of the nutria, a mammal originally introduced for the fur, have been
contributing factors in altering the hydrology of the bayous.
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Eco-tourism is the ultimate educational
adventure. Whether you
travel close to home or far away, when you have the opportunity, take an
eco-tour like the one provided by
Arthur Matherne at http://www.airboattours.com
as Arthur says “Take A Ride on the Wild Side”
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