Author: Priyan Perera

Priyan Perera is a Professor in Forestry and Environmental Science at the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. His research interests are mainly in the interface between natural sciences and social sciences and related to sustainable tourism, wildlife tourism in protected areas, recreation ecology, human dimensions in wildlife management, and environmental sustainability. Priyan is also an Honorary Research Fellow in Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Australia. Sumudu Marasinghe is a Graduate Research Assistant in Environmental Management at the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka with research interests in recreation ecology and assessment of recreational disturbances on coastal birds. Greg D. Simpson is an emerging researcher in the Environmental and Conservation Sciences at Murdoch University. Grounded inthe duality of his studies (BA Sustainable Development and BSc Honours in Environmental Science), Greg’s research interests reflect his commitment to the protection and conservation of urban and peri-urban nature and his passion for connecting people to nature through nature-based recreation and tourism with the goal of enhancing the biodiversity and liveability of coastal environments. Greg strives to deliver his research aligned to the Harry Butler Institute philosophy of championing a research space where community, business and biodiversity can co-exist. Greg advances that ethos through equitable research collaborations with community members, students, industry partners, and his growing academic network. David Newsome is an Emeritus Associate Professor in Environmental and Conservation Sciences at Murdoch University, Western Australia. His research interests focus on nature based tourism with a particular emphasis on the sustainability of tourism in national parks and nature reserves, evaluation of the quality of ecotourism operations, sustainable trail management, geological tourism and wildlife tourism.  David is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and has a particular interest in undertaking projects that will aid in the development of sustainable tourism in the Asian region.