Opportunities to deliver sustainable management of protected areas and special landscapes Paul Goriup Director, Fieldfare International Ecological Development.

Opportunities to deliver Opportunities to deliver sustainable management sustainable management of protected areas and of protected areas and

special landscapes special landscapes

Paul GoriupPaul Goriup

Director, Fieldfare International Ecological Director, Fieldfare International Ecological Development plcDevelopment plc

Fieldfare International Fieldfare International

A public, PBB company established in 1996; 25 shareholders including WWF and Doen Foundation

Invests in small PBB enterprises in Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania

Operates via a subsidiary in Odessa, JV in Bulgaria and partner in Romania

PAs and Revenue SourcesPAs and Revenue Sources Certified sustainable forestry and agriculture

Natural resource harvesting

Gene banks

Ecosystem service maintenance

Carbon sequestration & offset

Renewable energy

Low impact tourism

Renewable Renewable EnergyEnergy

Renewable Energy Examples Renewable Energy Examples Forestry – bulk wood and

chip Micro-hydropower

Briquette & pellet production

Renewable Energy: Potential Threats Renewable Energy: Potential Threats Wind farms

Barrages

Biofuels

Wetland Management and Wetland Management and

Renewable Energy, Ukraine Renewable Energy, Ukraine

Wetland Management and Wetland Management and

Renewable Energy, Ukraine Renewable Energy, Ukraine

Wetland Management and Wetland Management and

Renewable Energy, Ukraine Renewable Energy, Ukraine

Wetland Management and Wetland Management and

Renewable Energy, Ukraine Renewable Energy, Ukraine

Wetland Management and Wetland Management and

Renewable Energy, Ukraine Renewable Energy, Ukraine

Wetland Management and Wetland Management and

Renewable Energy, Ukraine Renewable Energy, Ukraine

Wetland Management and Wetland Management and

Renewable Energy, Ukraine Renewable Energy, Ukraine

Wetland Management and Wetland Management and

Renewable Energy, Ukraine Renewable Energy, Ukraine

EcotourismEcotourism

What is Ecological TourismWhat is Ecological Tourism??

Environmentally responsible travel to

natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic

involvement of local peoples.

What is Ecological TourismWhat is Ecological Tourism?? Conscientious, low-impact visitor behaviour

Support for local conservation efforts

Sustainable benefits to local communities

Local participation in decision-making

Sensitivity towards, and appreciation of, local cultures and biodiversity

Educational components for both the traveller and local communities

Good Practice Examples Good Practice Examples Low numbers, quiet

(electric powered) boat in wetlands

Photo-hunting; watching

Involving local people

Not Good PracticeNot Good Practice

Uncontrolled access = erosion

Poor waste management, unsightly hotels Definitely not good

ecotourist behaviour

Certification (Quality Control)Certification (Quality Control)

Accommodation

Protected Areas

Guides

Tour companies

Visitor Centre FunctionsVisitor Centre Functions Provide a sense of

place of an area or region

Help protect an area and enhance its identity

Provide a tourism resource and promote sustainability

Visitor Centre DesignVisitor Centre Design Location is crucial –

access and link to local community

Construction must be local, sustainable and low maintenance

Interpretation must be appropriate, tell a story and use different media

This is a completely new sector in the country with very unclear legal situation.

Most companies just take people to the countryside for picnics, with no interpretation of their surroundings

Companies do not share benefits with nature and local people

Ecotourism in UkraineEcotourism in Ukraine

Protected Areas are not prepared for ecotours – guides are used to school parties and have a poor level of special knowledge

Public have low demand for specialised tours

No certification schemes

General lack of infrastructure, information and viewing facilities

Ecotourism ChallengesEcotourism Challenges

FIED works to attract visitors as a market for local business partners in sectors such as crafts, angling, private accommodation, traditional cuisine, biofuel and organic farming

In return, our business partners help to raise environmental awareness, protect valuable habitats and maintain local culture

FIED Ecotourism Approach FIED Ecotourism Approach

Sanitation, security, safety

Contact with nature and local people; daily variety of experiences

Personal attention (small groups)

Appropriate accommodation and food

Honesty, reliability, integrity

Ecotourism ~ Basic Services Ecotourism ~ Basic Services

A private hotel owner has leased a nearby Nature Reserve to manage it for biodiversity conservation & ecotourism

Donations made to improve management / communications at three Biosphere Reserves

Assistance for formulating local Green Tourism policies

Counterweight to mass tourism development

Ecotourism PBB BenefitsEcotourism PBB Benefits

Ecotourism Business - UnpredictableEcotourism Business - UnpredictableTourist Days

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

No

. day

s

Revenues

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Net

Inco

me

(€)

Monitoring Monitoring OutcomesOutcomes

A pro-biodiversity business investment should be able to demonstrate (with independent expert verification) at a minimum no Net Ecological Loss, and preferably a Net Ecological Benefit, and that this is a direct product of the investment itself over time.

Gross Natural ProductGross Natural Product

The ecological product should be audited in parallel with the financial audit of net profit, at the cost of the business.

Appropriate indicators must take account of:

locality of the business and adjacent environmental conditions;

whether benefits will be arise from use, restoration or set aside;

presence of habitats or species of conservation concern;

Indicator-based Ecological AuditIndicator-based Ecological Audit

the business activities of the company;

Feasibility of monitoring and potential for autonomous data collection by the company itself.

Some Potential IndicatorsSome Potential Indicators (from EEA SEBI)

FIED Reedbed MonitoringFIED Reedbed Monitoring

Many Thanks!Many Thanks!