Sustainable Tourism & Biodiversity Conservation The ... · 1 Sustainable Tourism & Biodiversity Conservation The Uttarakhand Experience Rajiv Bhartari , ... Maheshkhan Sankri. Strategy

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Sustainable Tourism & Biodiversity Conservation

The Uttarakhand ExperienceThe Uttarakhand Experience

Rajiv Bhartari , Chief Conservator of Forests EcotourismRajiv Bhartari , Chief Conservator of Forests Ecotourism

Ex Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve ; Ex Board of Directors, TheEx Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve ; Ex Board of Directors, The International International Ecotourism Society Ecotourism Society

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Sustainable Development of TourismSustainable Development of TourismConceptual Definition (WTO, 2004) Conceptual Definition (WTO, 2004)

Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic and socioeconomic and socio--cultural aspects of tourism cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its longbetween these three dimensions to guarantee its long--term sustainability.term sustainability.

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Sustainable Development of TourismSustainable Development of TourismConceptual Definition (WTO, 2004) Conceptual Definition (WTO, 2004)

�� Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a kMake optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key ey element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecologicalelement in tourism development, maintaining essential ecologicalprocesses and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversprocesses and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.ity.

�� Respect the socioRespect the socio--cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values,their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values,and and contribute to intercontribute to inter--cultural understanding and tolerance.cultural understanding and tolerance.

�� Ensure viable, longEnsure viable, long--term economic operations, providing socioterm economic operations, providing socio--economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributeeconomic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, d, including stable employment and incomeincluding stable employment and income--earning opportunities and earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to povertysocial services to host communities, and contributing to povertyalleviationalleviation. .

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PA Network of UttarakhandPA Network of Uttarakhand

Protected Areas of UttarakhandProtected Areas of UttarakhandTourist Arrival & Revenue Receipts (April 2011Tourist Arrival & Revenue Receipts (April 2011–– March 2012)March 2012)

Protected Area Year Area(Sq. km)

Indian Foreigner Total Revenue(Rs in lakhs)

Corbett NP 1936 520.84 202528 7734 210262 719.38

Rajaji NP 1983 820.42 19268 1793 21061 52.42

Gangotri NP 1989 2390.00 13675 1692 15367 38.15

Valley of Flowers NP 1983 87.00 6328 527 6855 11.39

Nanda Devi NP 1983 630.00 55 8 63 .13

Govind NP/WLS 1990 472.08 2172 125 2297 4.88

Binsar WLS 1988 45.59 17343 432 17775 37.57

Sonanadi WLS 1987 301.76 16323 788 17111 29.41

Kedarnath WLS 1972 957.00 701 102 803 1.31

278393 13201 291594 894.64

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�� Established on 8Established on 8thth August 1936 First NP of August 1936 First NP of South AsiaSouth Asia

�� Highest Density of TigersHighest Density of Tigers

�� One of the three populations of GharialOne of the three populations of Gharial

�� Resurgent population of Hog deerResurgent population of Hog deer

�� Over 580 species and sub species of birds Over 580 species and sub species of birds including 49 species of diurnal raptorsincluding 49 species of diurnal raptors

Corbett National Park Corbett National Park

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Corbett Tiger ReserveCorbett Tiger Reserve

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MCP=410 km2

Corbett Tiger Reserve

Sampled Sampled AreaArea

Number ofNumber of

tigerstigersPopulation Population EstimateEstimate

CV%CV%

500500 108108 112112 5 %5 %

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IndiansIndians ForeignersForeigners TotalTotal Revenue (Rs)Revenue (Rs)

20032003--0404 91,84791,847 5,4935,493 97,34097,340 147,16,141147,16,141

20042004--0505 110,189110,189 7,4957,495 117,684117,684 185,19,100185,19,100

20052005--0606 134,480134,480 9,1819,181 143,661143,661 217,61,079217,61,079

20062006--0707 132,528132,528 8,3168,316 1,40,8441,40,844 239,20,176239,20,176

20072007--0808 169,043169,043 8,3568,356 177,399177,399 285,97,759285,97,759

20082008--0909 211,151211,151 9,9329,932 221,083221,083 320,18,759320,18,759

20092009--1010 213,861213,861 9,9009,900 223,761223,761 474,68,210474,68,210

20102010--1111 182,019182,019 7,7747,774 189,793189,793 642,34,221642,34,221

20112011--1212 202,528202,528 7,7347,734 210,262210,262 719,38,426719,38,426

Corbett NP Corbett NP --Visitor Arrival and Revenue Receipts Visitor Arrival and Revenue Receipts

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Chhoti Haldwani Chhoti Haldwani

CommunityCommunity--based Ecotourism Project based Ecotourism Project

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Appreciative InquiryAppreciative Inquiry

3) Design(co-constructing

the future)

1) Discovery(appreciating that which give life)

2) Dream(envisioning

Impact)

4) Delivery/Destiny(sustaining the change)

CottagesCottages

Dining HallDining Hall

Moti Souvenir Shop at MuseumMoti Souvenir Shop at Museum

Mahaseer Conservation ProjectMahaseer Conservation Project

5% of the lodge’s turnover and over

60% of the rod fee is shared with

adjoining villages

ConstraintsConstraints

�� Forest Conservation Act 1980Forest Conservation Act 1980

�� WL Protection Act (2006) WL Protection Act (2006)

�� NTCA DirectivesNTCA Directives

�� Ecotourism Guidelines Ecotourism Guidelines

�� Supreme Court judgmentsSupreme Court judgments

AlsoAlso

�� Past Tourism Practices & TraditionsPast Tourism Practices & Traditions

�� Competition from PAs in other countriesCompetition from PAs in other countries1919

Ecotourism Ecotourism –– Opportunity & ThreatOpportunity & ThreatDepends on how we plan and Depends on how we plan and

manage.manage.�� ““ Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conservesEcotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conservesthe the

environment and sustains the well being of local people (TIES).environment and sustains the well being of local people (TIES).

�� Goal conservationGoal conservation

�� Authentic natural and cultural experiencesAuthentic natural and cultural experiences

�� Demands KnowledgeDemands Knowledge

�� Participation and local benefitsParticipation and local benefits

�� Ecotourism is a potentially effective strategy for biodiversity Ecotourism is a potentially effective strategy for biodiversity conservation.conservation.

�� Jobs and increased incomeJobs and increased income

�� Awareness understanding and public supportAwareness understanding and public support

�� SkillsSkills

�� Revenues for PAs & Govt.Revenues for PAs & Govt.

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ECOTOURISM WINGECOTOURISM WINGStrategies and ActivitiesStrategies and Activities

Strategy 1: Ecotourism PromotionStrategy 1: Ecotourism Promotion

�� Partnership with Arch i to produce a series of 4 experimental Partnership with Arch i to produce a series of 4 experimental maps maps

�� Destinations that have some semblance of ecotourism Destinations that have some semblance of ecotourism

�� Variety of scales Variety of scales

-- Village levelVillage level

-- PA levelPA level

-- State levelState level

-- Landscape levelLandscape level

�� Interpretative publications, based on research, exploring Interpretative publications, based on research, exploring frontiers of designfrontiers of design

�� Help from Google maps, information fed on Google Earth Help from Google maps, information fed on Google Earth Maps Maps 2222

I Chhoti Haldwani Heritage MapI Chhoti Haldwani Heritage Map

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CHHM Release FunctionCHHM Release Function1616thth Dec 2010Dec 2010

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Binsar Ecotourism MapBinsar Ecotourism Map

Binsar Ecotourism Map (Back)Binsar Ecotourism Map (Back)

Uttarakhand Ecotourism MapUttarakhand Ecotourism Map

Uttarakhand Ecotourism Map Uttarakhand Ecotourism Map (Back)(Back)

Ramganga Ecotourism MapRamganga Ecotourism Map

Strategy 2: Promotion of Bird watchingStrategy 2: Promotion of Bird watching

�� In India 1300 Bird sp. In India 1300 Bird sp.

�� Uttarakhand known to have 630 speciesUttarakhand known to have 630 species

�� Healthy bird populations throughout the Healthy bird populations throughout the state.state.

�� Connectivity, proximity to Delhi.Connectivity, proximity to Delhi.

�� Accommodation and guides available Accommodation and guides available in rural settingsin rural settings

Potential to be an Potential to be an

international birdinternational bird--watching hubwatching hub

Himalayan Monal: State bird

Uttarakhand Uttarakhand BirdBird --watching Programmewatching Programme

�� Promoting bird watching Promoting bird watching activity in rural tourism activity in rural tourism destinations destinations

�� Increasing awareness and bird Increasing awareness and bird watching skills amongst forest watching skills amongst forest dept. staff, nature guides and dept. staff, nature guides and the tourism industrythe tourism industry

�� Publications/ guidebooks Publications/ guidebooks

Red billed Leiothrix

Maroon Oriole

Crimson Sunbird

Bird watching Camps Bird watching Camps

Binsar Dhanaulti Pangot

Asan Conservation Reserve Choti Haldwani Marchula

Chilla (Rajajji NP) Maheshkhan Sankri

Strategy 3: Capacity BuildingStrategy 3: Capacity BuildingOne Month State Level Nature One Month State Level Nature

Training Guide Course Training Guide Course

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One Month IHMCook Training Course

StrategyStrategy4: Destination Development4: Destination Development

Dhanaulti Eco ParkSimtola Eco Park

ImplementationImplementation

�� Central Govt.Central Govt.�� Ecotourism PolicyEcotourism Policy

�� InstitutionInstitution

�� SchemeScheme

�� Taxation / incentivesTaxation / incentives

�� State Govts.State Govts.�� Boards, CorporationsBoards, Corporations

�� Regulatory FrameworkRegulatory Framework

�� Policy for CBETPolicy for CBET3636

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Thank You !Thank You !

[email protected]@gmail.com

0941205360309412053603

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Sustainable Tourism DevelopmentSustainable Tourism Development

Issues & ConcernsIssues & Concerns

� Lack of Vision, Ambiguous Policies – too much choice

� Irresponsible Marketing, Lack of Monitoring – poor destination image

� No Destination Planning, Obsolete technology – Ad hoc development, major environmental impacts

� Absence of Partnerships with Tourism Industry – scarcity of funds, few local benefits

� Inadequate and Untrained staff – lack of professional services