The environmental problems facing the world today, including water contamination and depletion, global warming, climate change, air pollution, wastes and deforestation, stem mainly from the behaviors of individuals and societies. Environmentally responsible behavior is a characteristic of individuals who are knowledgeable and concerned about the environment and will therefore engage in a behavior that won’t cause harm to the environment.

Museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, botanic gardens and environmental centers as well as eco- and wildlife tourism experiences have the potential to inspire, educate and influence large numbers of visitors in relation to their environmental behavior. These experiences, if well planned, can encourage and support visitors’ awareness and adoption of environmentally sustainable behaviors.

The tourism industry is increasingly adopting a conservation-based ethic that recognizes its dependence upon the natural environment and seeks ways to minimize related environmental consequences.

Ecotourism is a form of tourism that promotes sustainable development and longterm preservation of the natural environment by limiting the negative impacts of tourism.

Scuba diving ecotourism provides economic support for local human communities and assists the conservation of marine wildlife and coastal ecosystems. This way it can serve as a route to non-formal environmental education processes.