Environmental Impact Causing the Loss of Recreation
Environmental issues such as pollution and global warming will be associated primarily with regards to the impact that they have upon the health and wellbeing of human, animal and plant life. However it should not also be forgotten or ignored that environmental disasters, contamination or climate change can also have an effect upon recreational activities. Whilst it may not be as severe or as important in many people's eyes when compared with death and ill-health of living creatures, it can still cause hardship and ruin to local businesses which rely on the income generated from these activities, some examples of which are detailed below.
Global warming which raises average temperatures is likely to result in less snowfall, and even when it does snow it will melt and disappear more quickly. This is a major problem for ski and snowboard resorts which rely on the snow in order to operate. Without the snow they will either have to close, or try and supplement any snow that is on the ground by using expensive artificial snow making equipment. Either way there is a significant negative impact upon them in terms of their financial bottom line.
A disaster such as a spill from an oil tanker in the ocean or leak from an underwater well can wash up oil on large stretches of beach and coastline. Aside from the devastation it has on the bird and animal life in the vicinity, it will also stop tourism to the area and prevent the public from enjoying the beach or entering the sea to swim or surf.
Just as the sea can be polluted and prevent recreation, so too can other waterways such as rivers and streams. Instead of oil this is more likely to be from other substances such as hazardous chemicals and sewage which kill the fish in the water. Whilst the death of fish is obviously the more serious concern, it also means that recreational fishermen and anglers are not able to fish in the waters, along with running the risk of themselves becoming ill if they were to get some of the contaminated water inside their bodies.
