What is one impact of tourism on the alpine regions?

Urbanization in alpine regions directly impacts the environment by modifying natural habitats to accommodate infrastructure for tourism, such as hotels, ski resorts, and transport facilities. This development typically results in landscape changes, increased human activity, and the potential degradation of local ecosystems as natural spaces are transformed. The construction of buildings and roads can fragment habitats, making them inaccessible to wildlife and altering the delicate balance of the alpine ecosystem. This process often leads to a reduction in native flora and fauna as their habitats are encroached upon, emphasizing the correlation between tourism and urbanization in these sensitive regions.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary impacts of tourism in alpine areas. For example, the idea of reduction in biodiversity due to habitat preservation suggests a positive outcome which is not applicable here, while enhancing natural ecosystems contradicts the effects of urbanization, and decreased recreational opportunities does not align with tourism, which typically seeks to increase leisure activities.