The Department of Urban Planning and Design at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) hosted a conference April 4-5 titled “Desert Tourism: Delineating the Fragile Edges of Development.” Panel discussions with leading architects, planners, and developers explored the relationship between tourism, social development, and the architecture and landscapes of arid regions around the world.
The discussions began with the premise that deserts have lost their stigma as inhospitable, inaccessible places and are becoming an ever-more popular tourist destination. The growth of tourism, however, jeopardizes the deserts’ fragile ecosystems and strains their scarce resources, affecting both the landscape and the local population.
The conference highlighted innovative projects that seek to enhance their cultural and environmental surroundings and address the challenges raised by recent developments in desert tourism, ranging from Australia to Algeria to Morocco to Baja, Calif.
Sponsorship and support were provided by the GSD, the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, the Harvard University Middle Eastern Studies Department, the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, the Office of the Provost at Harvard University, and UNESCO Rabat.
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/04.12/18-desert.html
Ismailimail 
why/how does it jepordize its
ecosystem
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Dear Ana,
I suspect the arid and semi arid regions of the world represent a distinct culture and habitat which has adapted and evolved to survive. Many of world species have become extinct due to human encroachment and ecological imbalance caused by alien incursion on natural, local human and natural habitat which can have drastic effect, I suppose the approach here would be to seek harmony in design, habitation, ecology and integration with least amount of negative influence caused by tourism. Eco tourism has become a big source of Income for Costa Rica, I wonder if there has been any research on negative effects.
here is an example of many complexity to desert ecology in S.A
“Let us remember, that the Karoo is one of the world’s oldest deserts. To the casual traveller it is an arid desolation, without life and without charm. To those who know is, it is land of secret beauty and infinite variety, sometimes fierce, sometimes hostile, but exercising a fascination that makes the rest of the world seem tame.”
http://www.dfa.gov.za/docs/speeches/2007/merw0917.htm
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