Cheile Turzii Nature Reserve, between Conservation and Tourism

Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR1
1 Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Cluj-Napoca, ROMANIA
E-mail: bogdan.pacurar@geografie.ubbcluj.ro
Pages: 163-166

Abstract. When it comes to natural protected areas, there has always been an antithesis between conservation and tourism, even though the latter bears the name of eco-tourism. This opposition is frequently expressed by many stakeholders in “Cheile Turzii” Nature Reserve, who come up with proposals that involve even the complete interdiction of tourists in the area. This paper does not intend to fully argue in favour of tourism in natural protected areas, phenomenon that has significant negative impacts on the protected elements within them, but actually intends to emphasize some aspects regarding the positive influence of tourism on the conservative management of natural areas and the improvement opportunities for such management practices through tourist involvement.

K e y w o r d s:  Cheile Turzii, nature reserve, Natura 2000, tourism, conservation, financial resources, awareness agent