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Island looks to eco-tourism for survival

The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service says eco-tourism is the best way to ensure environmentally sensitive areas are conserved.

Ranger Mark Westwood says a kikuyu weed eradication program performed by holiday volunteers on the far south coast Montague Island, off Narooma, is a blueprint for other vulnerable areas.

Mr Westwood says environmentally sustainable holidays will become more popular as people search for ways to minimise their eco-footprint.

"We have this absolute minimal impact policy and it's really working," he said.

"These people, most of them, the overnight tours are putting something back into the island.

"Soon we might be getting into monitoring penguins and their nesting activity and feeding the data back to the researchers.

"It's sustainable, it's for the future and it's going to be the way for this island to help pay for the upkeep of the island itself because it isn't cheap.

"It's a big responsibility to keep this place going."

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