Ecotourism as a Social-Ecological System: A Case Study in Guanacaste, Costa Rica Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Gallaher, Joanne Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 07/10/2021 06:59:19 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/195835 ECOTOURISM AS A SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY IN GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA By Joanne Esther Gallaher _________________________________ Copyright © Joanne Esther Gallaher 2010 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the GRADUATE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM IN ARID LANDS RESOURCE SCIENCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2010 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Dissertation Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Joanne Esther Gallaher entitled Ecotourism as a Social-Ecological System: A Case Study in Guanacaste, Costa Rica and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy ___________________________________________________Date: 27 April, 2010 Randy Gimblett ___________________________________________________Date: 27 April, 2010 Margaret Wilder ___________________________________________________Date: 27 April, 2010 Michael Bonine ___________________________________________________Date: 27 April, 2010 Charles Hutchinson ___________________________________________________Date: 27 April, 2010 William Shaw Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate‘s submission of the final copies of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. ___________________________________________________Date: 27 April, 2010 Dissertation Director: Randy Gimblett 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: Joanne Esther Gallaher 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I first want to thank Stuart Marsh, Chair of Arid Lands Resource Sciences, for his encouragement in applying to the program and continuing support. I also thank my long-time friend and former supervisor from the US Forest Service, Fred Deneke, for introducing me to Randy Gimblett—who agreed to be my advisor. I am grateful to Randy for tirelessly guiding me through the long and involved process—further complicated by conducting foreign field research. In addition to Randy, I had the best committee. I thank Margaret Wilder, also my Latin American Studies (Minor) advisor, for her steadfast encouragement, support on proposals and insightful comments that pushed my work to a higher level; Bill Shaw, for his perspective on biodiversity and first-hand knowledge of ACG and Santa Rosa National Park; Chuck Hutchinson, for his significant contributions regarding dryland resources and theoretical frameworks; and Mike Bonine, for his insight into developing countries, arid lands and ecotourism. Also my gratitude to Andrew Comrie and Vince Lopes for serving on my qualifying exam committee and for providing input on my degree program; and to Anita Finnell and Marylou Myers for administrative support—especially while I was in Costa Rica. I have great admiration for my fellow arid lands students who contributed so much to every class and broadened my perspectives enormously. A special thanks to Wiebke Foerch and Ela Czyzowska-Wisniewski for your on-going camaraderie and support in meeting all the deadlines. To my Arizona family, extended family and friends—especially Jon, Pat, Brigitte and Hannah Mueller; Joe Kilcourse, Sarah, John and Alyssa Davis, Cindy Venker, Elizabeth Vierling and Cathie Johansen—for your interest in my project and help in so many ways; Randall and Linda Smith for Bob-sitting and more; Karen McIntyre, my enthusiastic and relentless champion—I couldn‘t have done this without your encouragement and navigational skills; and together with Peter Crown, for sharing your home and offering so much support along the way. Also to Karen and Ela for the Costa Rican fare at my defense—what a wonderful contribution! To my Kansas family, extended family and friends—especially my brother, Lindy, and sister-in-law Beth, for keeping balance and fun in my life in Manhattan; Debbie Sesler, for reading drafts, Sonic Happy Hours and helping me in too many ways to mention; Ellen Durkee, for valuable comments on my defense presentation; and Tucker Allen, for your unwavering encouragement and side trips to KC. My gratitude to Cory Gallaher for continued technical/melt down support and to both you and Amie for help with the Chart; and to Nancy Kruh for visits and editing advice on eliminating redundancy over and over again. A special thank you to my cousin Pam Turbeville for you encouragement in completing my Ph.D. and celebrating in style! It was wonderful to have visitors in Costa Rica—my cousins, Kathy, Maureen and Edith McClintock—who endured various Suburu excursions (sorry!) and helped with the survey; Daniel and Susan ‗La Enferma‘ James—who assisted in collecting surveys; Linda Fugate and Barb Birdsall, travelling companions who helped me explore the depths (!) of Costa Rican ecotourism; and Maritza Caravajal Mena—muchas gracias for all the conversations in Spanish! Muchas gracias to ACG, especially Felipe Chavarría, for all of your help, great dinners and for being a landlord muy amable; Maria Marta Chavarría Diaz; Dan Janzen; Alejandro Masis; Roger Blanco; Juan Carlos Carrillo; Rosabel Elizondo; Waldy Medina; Maria Luisa Arias; Marco Bustos Salazar, Venessa Brenes—and the entire Ecotourism Program Staff for assistance with the survey. Thanks also to Xavier Basurto and Rocio Covarrubias for help in getting set up in Costa Rica—the Subaru lasted almost to the end… Lastly, a special acknowledgement for funding support from the American Association of University Women for the American Fellowship Award, 2008 – 2009; PEO; the Tinker Foundation; UA Arid Lands Resource Sciences, Graduate and Professional Student Council, Women in Science and Engineering, and Herb Carter Travel Award Program. And a final thanks to Bill Mueller and Shelly Michel—my first Costa Rica travelling companions—Pura vida! 5 DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my mom, Marion Gallaher, for her creative energy, inspiration and unwavering support throughout; my dad, Harold Green Gallaher, for introducing me to the world of trees, forests, ecosystems and landscape architecture—and to Bob, for all of the distractions. Also to David, Marisa, Brigitte and Hannah Mueller, J and Lauren Snider—the next generation of scholars, artists, business men and women, healers, leaders…I am so excited and honored to see your futures unfold. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 11 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... 12 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 14 DISSERTATION FORMAT ................................................................................... 14 RESEARCH PROBLEM AND CONTEXT ........................................................... 17 ECOTOURISM DEFINITIONS ............................................................................. 19 BACKGROUND OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT .................................... 20 LATIN AMERICAN CONTEXT ........................................................................... 26 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CRITIQUES ................................................. 31 ECOTOURISM AS A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ............ 33 CATEGORIZATION OF ECOTOURISM ............................................................. 35 CURRENT ISSUES IN ECOTOURISM ................................................................ 37 SES THEORY ......................................................................................................... 45 METHODOLOGY, PROPOSITIONS, RESEARCH QUESTION AND OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................... 51 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ECOTOURISM IN COSTA RICA .... 53 STUDENT CONTRIBUTION TO RESEARCH AND PAPERS .......................... 58 PRESENT STUDY ........................................................................................................... 59 PAPER 1 – APPENDIX A FINDINGS .................................................................. 59 PAPER 2 – APPENDIX B FINDINGS .................................................................. 62 PAPER 3 – APPENDIX