Research
Impact and mitigation of off road tourism on High Andes
Although remote the beautiful landscapes of the High Andes are becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, and ill regulated off road driving is beginning to have a negative impact on ground cover, with unknown impact on the wildlife. This project evaluates the impact of off road tourism using GIS tools, assist protected areas to design a system of ‘unique roads’, and implements an information campaign for tourists and tour operators. Ultimately, the project seeks to raise awareness of the problem of unregulated driving and to promote responsible tourism among commercial tour operators, general public, and protected area staff. The project complements and adds to current efforts to protect High Andes biodiversity across the triple frontier between Argentina, Chile and Bolivia (funded by the Darwin Initiative.