Ecotourism involves environmentally responsible travel to natural areas that promotes conservation and benefits local communities. It contains educational and interpretive features for small groups to minimize negative impacts. Achieving balance between conservation and development requires managing development density and local participation. The Jiuzhaigou Biosphere Reserve in China benefits from ecotourism by involving local communities and reducing farming/hunting to focus on the ecotourism business. Community-based ecotourism empowers local communities by involving them in conservation and giving them control over development. Ecotourism can fund environmental protection and education/development of local populations through tourism dollars.
