Ecotourism in the United States
Ecotourism in the United States is commonly practiced in protected areas such as national parks and nature reserves.
The principles and behaviors of ecotourism are slowly becoming more widespread in the United States; for example, hotels in some regions strive to be more sustainable.
The upper elevations of the mountains also have a distinct northeastern hardwood forest where species such as birch, beech, maple, elm, red oak, and basswood, hemlock and white pine can all be found.
The mammal species found throughout the Northeast United States are similar to those of the Southeast and include whitetail deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, eastern gray squirrel, fox squirrel, eastern chipmunk, white-footed mouse, pine vole, and cotton mouse.
Common game birds found in the region are turkey, ruffed grouse, bobwhite, and mourning dove.
Other non-game birds found in abundance include the cardinal, Carolina wren, wood thrush, summer tanager, red-eyed vireo, blue-gray gnatcatcher, and tufted titmouse.
Species that are unique to the Adirondack Mountain range habitat are longtail shrew, boreal (southern) redback vole, gray-cheeked thrush, spruce grouse, and gray jay.
The Southeastern United States is dominated by a humid subtropical climate, with the exception of South Florida, which is designated as a tropical savannah.
Inland areas have deciduous forests usually consisting of various pine species along with oak, hickory, sweetgum, blackgum, red maple and winged elm.
The main grasses found in the Southeast are bluestem, panicums, and longleaf uniola, with dogwood, viburnum, haw, blueberry, American beautyberry, youpon, and numerous woody vines being common as well.
In central Florida the climate promotes multiple types of ecotourism, as well as more traditional tourism through Orlando's theme parks.
[1] The east coast also features several unique forms of ecotourism, including the rare bioluminescence effect in their lagoons and rivers caused by dinoflagellates being agitated by the movement of water around them.
This seasonal tourist activity is a type of nighttime ecotour where guests follow a tour guide in kayaks, and observe the bioluminescent reaction of dinoflagellates in the water as they paddle.
This is region characterized as having open expanses of tall grasses, such as sawgrass and three-awns, interspersed with hardy, drought-resistant trees and shrubs.
Coral reefs serve as habitat for many hundreds of tropical fish species, some found only in Florida waters.
By restoring the prairies, the Foundation aims to improve enjoyment of the land and incur economic benefits through tourism to the area.
Forging ecotourism cooperation partnership amongst foundations like the American Prairie and world natural heritage sites like the Chitwan National Park or Mt.
Along the coastal regions, however, glaciers and rivers dominate, leading to riparian forests that have broadleaf species such as black cottonwood and red alder.
Common mammals include Sitka deer, Roosevelt elk, mountain lion, American black bear, Douglas squirrel, red tree vole, and Townsend's chipmunk.
Organizations such as Salmon-Safe, support businesses that use ecologically sustainable practices and will certify companies that comply to these standards.
The southwest of the United States is the most arid region of the nation and this allows for a very different set of ecosystems and natural habitats to exist.
Alaska's Boreal forest contains many varieties of tree, primarily black and white spruce but also including balsam poplar, aspen, and paper birch.
Being a chain of individually formed volcanic islands, the ecosystems of Hawaii are extremely numerous and diverse, including deserts, beaches, coral reefs, and rainforests.
The coastlines are rough and the climate is tropical and remains fairly steady due to the ocean and trade winds.
