Research
Holly Donohoe is a geographer strongly placed in natural resource and environmental management. Central to her research and study are critical examinations of contemporary environmental management paradigms. Sustainable development, adaptive, and integrative management are represented. Evaluation science and its use of select methods and techniques for environmental monitoring and assessment is considered her realm of expertise. Beyond the field of environmental policy and planning, her research also focuses on the normative and ethical concepts common to sustainable tourism, ecotourism, and outdoor recreation. Holly is currently working with an advisory committee consisting of Dr. Needham (Supervisor), Dr. McLeman, Dr. Sawada of the Department of Geography and Dr. Heintzman of the School of Human Kinetics.
Career
Holly has collaborated on a number of research projects within Canada and abroad and provided research and consultant support to various organizations such as the World Leisure Organization (WLO), the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA), and the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (CALS). As a Part-Time Professor, Holly teaches courses in environmental management, research methods, and tourism geography in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. In addition, she is the Chair of the Canadian Association of Geographers Tourism and Recreation Study Group (www.cag-acg.ca).
Bio
Holly Donohoe holds an MA is Geography and Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Arts – Environmental Studies – both from Carleton University.
Current research project
Holly’s research brings together from over 150 ecotourism experts from 40 countries to explore “What the ecotourism definition must contain in order to be sensitive to cultural differences in a global community”. On the basis of international expertise and a Delphi survey exercise, the critical elements of cultural sensitivity are to be defined, and an ecotourism definition – a set of tenets and associated elements – that reflects cultural sensitivity is to be developed. This research product is meant to assist researchers, planners, professionals, and others in the management of ecotourism, the execution of ecotourism research, and the development of ecotourism policy. And, it is meant to provide a balanced perspective of ecotourism ; a perspective where culture is considered equally with the other pillars of sustainability – economics, social, and environment.