National NGO, Local Resource: The Nature Conservancy and Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Many types of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) deal with tourism-related issues, either directly or indirectly. The connection between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the tourism economy in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA, though indirect, is important both from the standpoint of the community and the organization. TNC’s main objective is the preservation of biodiversity. Their primary tool is the protection of habitat from development by land acquisition. The growth of the tourism economy in the Steamboat Springs area is driving the land use changes that threaten the biodiversity that TNC aims to protect. TNC’s limited focus on either acquiring land or conservation easements does not offer many opportunities for directly opposing tourism growth; in addition, the organization does not oppose economic growth per se. However, TNC’s presence in the Steamboat Springs area offers residents some additional opportunities for coping with some of tourism’s undesirable effects.
In this paper, development of tourism in Steamboat and its role in shaping Steamboat’s economy and culture will be outlined first. Drawing on tourism literature, a comparison of some of the negative effects tourism has had in Steamboat with negative effects experienced by other tourist-dominated areas will be done. Then a brief review of theoretical perspectives will be undertaken to suggest how NGOs such as TNC might mediate tourism-related problems, using examples from TNC’s activities in Steamboat to illustrate.