Featured Scholar
Jenny
Basantes
2006 - 2007 University Scholar
Mentor: Taylor
Stein
College of Agricultural and Life
Sciences
While others spent their summer vacationing in the Galapagos Islands, Jenny Basantes was busy helping its people develop a community-based ecotourism program.
During the summer of 2006, Jenny visited various islands in the Galapagos conducting focus groups within communities to determine the resources that could be used to promote sustainable tourism. She then surveyed tourists to learn the demand for the community-proposed products and services. The results of Jenny’s research gave the local community the information needed to steer the country’s tourism in a more earth-friendly direction.
"I got to talk on television and explain to the residents what I was doing and let them know that I would help them as much as I could," she said. "I learned to interact with people of a different social status and understand what their needs are."
Jenny’s results showed that since tourists’ primary reason for visiting the Galapagos Islands is to explore the wildlife and ecology, many have a desire to help the local community and ecosystem. Therefore, tourist programs involving species conservation and recycling can be implemented in the region.
Furthermore, Jenny’s research found that many tourists are also willing to integrate some cultural, community-based activities into their itineraries. Therefore, demonstrating local history and customs through services such as arts and crafts and alternative medicines could be utilized to boost tourism revenues while instilling visitors with a greater appreciation for the islands.
In addition to her research, Jenny volunteered in the Galapagos National Park educating the public about a recycling campaign in San Cristobal Island. During her stay, she worked with the mayor of San Cristobal Island, the director of the Galapagos Tourism Chamber, representatives of non-profit organizations, the Ecuador Environmental Minister assistant, and other volunteers in the Galapagos National Park. She hopes this network base will help her in future volunteer efforts, giving her the support she needs from the community to continue making a difference in the region.
"I feel I have a goal in my life, and it is to help the Galapagos ecosystem and people who may not have the necessary economic and intellectual resources to develop their careers," she said. "With some help and preparation they can do it, so I feel I can serve as a means for them to achieve their goals."
This fall, Jenny will begin an Interdisciplinary Ecology master’s program at UF. Her career goal is to work for a U.S. non-profit organization interested in preserving natural ecosystems through community development. She would eventually like to foster a partnership between UF and the Galapagos Islands that would enable professors and students to conduct research and establish programs of conservation, sustainable development and ecotourism.
"My desire is to increase the intellectual capital of the Galapagos people and concentrate it on the conservation of the Galapagos Islands."
-By Danielle Sibilio
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