SIT Journal of Management Vol. 3. No. 2: December 2013, Pp

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1 Ecotourism in Protected Areas Uniting People & Creating Sustainability : A Case Study on Kerala Babu Rengaraj* Abstract Ecotourism has emerged as one of the new philosophies to ensure an alternate source of livelihood of the marginalized people, particularly for indigenous community living in and around protected areas. Realizing the need for promoting ecotourism in a sustainable manner, the United Nations declared the year 2002 as International Year of Ecotourism. Ecotourism initiatives of Government of Kerala is one of the aspiring step aiming to ensure community well-being and conservation of resources particularly in an around the 21 protected area networks of the state. In order to promote community participation in ecotourism management, the Directorate of Ecotourism has formulated an innovative participatory approach called Eco Development Committees (EDCs) in Protected Areas and Vana Samrakshna Samithi (VSS) in the reserved forest areas of the state. Today, there are 190 EDC and 398 VSS established in the 21 protected areas as well as other reserved forest areas consisting of families across the state. The people incorporated into VSS and EDC are engaged and undertaking various ecotourism activities and in turn they generate economic benefits. The experience of ecotourism development in an around protected and other reserved forest areas in Kerala has become a sustainable model for other states in India. In this context, this paper examines the contribution of ecotourism to eliminate poverty of dependent community members involved in ecotourism, challenges faced, innovative measures taken and how the buzzword unites people for conservation of resources for achieving the goals of sustainable development in the State of Kerala. Key words: Ecotourism, Protected Areas, Community Participation and Sustainable Development *Babu Rengaraj, Assistant Professor, Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), Thycaud, Trivandrum, Kerala , Mobile : , tourbabu@gmail.com 1

2 1. Introduction The growth and development of tourism has unlocked million opportunities to skilled, semiskilled and unskilled people engaged in various management practices across the world. The recent development of tourism in both developed and less industrialized parts of the world has not only witnessed a healthy competition but also promoted invention and innovation for attracting and retaining tourists towards their countries. 1 The international tourist arrival has been crossed billion (which was just 25 million in 1950)with the receipt of 1.3 trillion USD during 2012 contributes 6% of worlds export and has created 1 jobs in every 11 jobs directly or indirectly.the shift in tourism development has resulted a new dimension that tourism works for community and conservation, especially focusing on the developing parts of the world. In order to ensure the real benefits of tourism to community members, international aid agencies have come up with new initiatives such as pro poor tourism, ecotourism, community based tourism and responsible tourism etc on the basis of the existence of resources in the area. Ecotourism has emerged as one of the new philosophies to ensure an alternate source for supporting the livelihood benefits of the marginalized people, particularly for those economically backward communities living in remote rural areas. 2 The International Ecotourism Society (1990) as ecotourism is a responsible travel to undisturbed natural areas that conserve the natural environment and enhance the wellbeing of the local people. 3 Martha Honey (1999) has proposed more detailed version in which ecotourism is defined as travel to fragile, pristine and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and usually a small scale. It helps in educating travelers; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights. Based on the various studies, the major elements of ecotourism are observed as follows; Money spend by the tourists remain in the region 1 UNWTO (2013) Tourism Highlights 2013 edition Available at 2 The International Ecotourism Society (1990), 3 Martha Honey (1999) Ecotourism and Sustainable Development; who own paradise? Washington DC Island Press 2

3 Direct financial support for conservation Raise public awareness Educate tourists and locals on tourism and environment Minimize negative impacts 4 Even today, ecotourism is also linked with other types of tourism such as responsible, adventure, green, ethical and wildlife tourism etc. for making contrast of ecotourism with these terms, Duffus & Deardon (1990), Whelan (1991) define ecotourism as a non-consumptive natural history based and / or wildlife related recreation activities.international experiences on ecotourism practices, particularly from developing parts of the world, have realized the role of ecotourism in uniting communities with conservation of resources in the areas where the buzzword has been implemented, particularly in the protected areas networks. The sustainable stories of ecotourism shows that how community members have espoused ecotourism as a source for reinforcing their livelihood and acknowledged in conservational initiatives. Realizing the success stories of ecotourism across the world and emphasizing the need for promoting ecotourism in a sustainable manner, the United Nations declared the year 2002 as International Year of Ecotourism. Further to this, more recently, the 5 United Nations General Assembly (2013) has adopted ecotourism as an appropriate tool to eliminate poverty, protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development and encourages Members States to promote investment in ecotourism for creating small and medium enterprises, facilitating access to finance for the poor, local and indigenous communities, in areas of ecotourism potential and rural areas. 2. The Context of Ecotourism in India India, with its longstanding geographical and cultural diversities shares a typical values to the rest of the world which makes the sub-continent as a land of incredible. The geographical diversities of India spread over from the Great Himalayas to Southern Peninsula and from Thar 4 Duffus, D.A &Deardon, P (1990) Non Consumptive Wildlife Oriented Recreation; A Conceptual Framework, Biological Conservation, in Journal of Tourism Studies, Vol 5, No 2, Dec UNWTO (2013) Press Release UN General Assembly; Ecotourism key to eradicating poverty and protecting environment 3

4 Desert to the land of Seven Sisters supports a wide variety of biological diversities and make a place for the country among the 17 mega biological hot spots in the world. Realizing the values of protected areas and the need for conserving them, Government of India is established 668 protected areas across the country. 6 Experience shows that the cost of maintenance of the global network of protected areas will be around USD 50 billion per year and the top 25 World Biodiversity Hotspots require USD 500 million per year (Gossling, S; 2002).In order to strengthen the conservational initiatives, Government of India launched India Eco Development Project (IEDP) in 1994 aiming to conserve the biological diversity through a participatory mechanism involving the local dependent community members (both indigenous and other marginalized people) living in and around the area. In this perspective, experts were searching and alternate mechanism for ensuring the livelihood of local dependent people living in the fringe areas while making them involved in conservational activities. As a result, keeping the recreational, scientific, cultural and geographical values of the protected areas, policy makers adopted ecotourism as an alternate appropriate tool for enhancing the wellbeing of the people. 3. The Kerala Model for Ecotourism Development Kerala the God s Own Country is the model destination for the global tourists entered into the international tourism market after announcing tourism as an industry in 1986 and thereafter, the state has witnessed commendable growth and produced sustainable models by taking the benefit of tourism into communities and involving them in conservational activities. Ecotourism initiatives of Government of Kerala is one of the aspiring step aiming to ensure community wellbeing and conservation of the natural resources of the state especially in an around the protected and other reserved forest areas. Western Ghats, one of the 18 biodiversity hotspots in the world, is home for the existence of wide varieties of endemic and endangered species which forms unique biological resources in the State of Kerala. In order to protect the biological diversity, the Government of Kerala has established 21 Protected Areas (16 wildlife sanctuary and 5 national parks) spread over sq.km provides a platform for promoting ecotourism in the state. 6 Gossling, S (2002) Funds for biodiversity, Environmental Conservation, 29(4 Gossling, S (2002) Funds for biodiversity, environmental conservation, 29 (4)

5 Realizing the importance of conserving these resources and to provide an opportunity to visitors to understand and experience the biological values in a sustainable manner, the Government of Kerala adopted ecotourism as a strategy for promoting sustainable tourism practices in the state. As a result, the ecotourism initiatives of Kerala begun with the launch of India s first planned ecotourism model at Thenmala of Kollam district on the foot hills of Western Ghats in the year Moreover, ecotourism was launched in Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), Thekkady of Idukki district emphasizing community participation in the ecotourism management as part of the Indian Eco Development Project in the year The outcomes of ecotourism initiatives in Thenmala and Thekkady inspired the policy makers to extend the same in other potential areas of Kerala. Moreover, the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala has established a separate Directorate for Ecotourism to implement and monitor the initiatives of ecotourism in the state. Today, the Directorate of Ecotourism is implementing ecotourism programmes incorporating the local dependent community members especially involving the indigenous people in 64 identified places and in addition to this, 105 places have also been identified as ecotourism potential places by the Directorate of Ecotourism, Government of Kerala. In order to promote community participation in ecotourism management, the Directorate of Ecotourism has formulated an innovative participatory approach called Eco Development Committees (EDCs) in Protected Areas and Vana Samrakshna Samithi (VSS) in the reserved forest areas of the state.kerala is leading in front by taking all the efforts for promoting innovation in ecotourism management which is economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable in the state. 5

6 4. Ecotourism and Community Development in Kerala Ecotourism initiatives in Kerala basically aims to maximize the grass root benefits to community members while participating them into conservational activities. Today, ecotourism is being implemented in 21 protected areas of the state as well as identified reserved forest areas where local dependent community members both males and females belong to indigenous and other backward community are involved in various ecotourism management practices. In addition to this, the Directorate of Ecotourism has identified 56 spots for further development of ecotourism in the state. The details of families who are involved in ecotourism management in Kerala are given in the following table to highlight the importance of ecotourism as a livelihood benefits for poor people; Table 1 Details of VSS and Families involving in Ecotourism Management Sl.No Name of Districts No of VSS No of Families SC ST Others Total 1 Trivandrum Kollam Pathanamthitta Idukki Ernakulam Trissur Palakkad Malappuram Wayanad Calicut Kannur Grand Total % of Families Source: Department of Forest, Government of Kerala (May 2013) Note: SC Scheduled Caste, ST Scheduled Tribes 6

7 Table 2 Details of EDC and Families involving in Ecotourism Management Sl.No Name of Districts No of No. of families EDC SC ST Others Total 1 Trivandrum Kollam Nil Idukki Trissur Palakkad Wayanad Kannur 3 Nil 623 Nil 623 Grand Total % of Families Source: Department of Forest, Government of Kerala (May 2013) Note: SC Scheduled Caste, ST Scheduled Tribes At present, there are 190 EDC and 398 VSS established in the 21 protected areas as well as other reserved forest areas consisting of families across the state. All ecotourism sites are located in the remote areas and the people involved in ecotourism management belong to economically backward communities such as Scheduled Tribes (indigenous people), Scheduled Castes and other marginalized people. The people incorporated in VSS and EDC are engaged various activities such as forest protection, station management and ecotourism management. Each EDC and VSS is consisting of both women and men and accordingly they have been assigned to undertake various ecotourism related activities. Out of the total families, 11.95% of families belong to Scheduled Caste (SC) are involving in VSS programme whereas 27.88% of the same category are taking part in EDC programmes. In the case of indigenous community, it is found that 25.77% of them are involved in VSS while 31.15% are the members in EDCs. Regarding the other marginalized people, 62.28% take part in VSS programme and 40.97% of other community are the members in EDC. The details of the families taking part in EDC and VSS programmes are given in the following table; Table 3 Proportion of EDC / VSS Population in Ecotourism Management Types Nos SC % ST % Others % Total VSS EDC Total Source: Department of Forest, Government of Kerala (May 2013)

8 Though about families are depending on EDC and VSS, the level of income to the members of EDC and VSS varying from place to place based on tourist arrival and other economic activities. The experience shows that the level of income to the members at popular ecotourism destinations are comparatively higher than that of the members of lesser known ecotourism destinations. It is also noticed that the average monthly income of a member belong to either VSS or EDC in the ecotourism areas is ranging from Rs.3000 and above and the income varies based on the number of tourist arrivals and income generated. 5. Ecotourism, Community Development and Conservation A Case Study from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary 7 Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in August 1984 located in the eastern part of the High Ranges of southern Western Ghats of Kerala. The Sanctuary, which is situated between to N latitude to E longitude, has a total area of km². The area falls in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor Panchayat of Devikulam Taluk in Idukki District and is regarded as one of the important protected areas in the Western Ghats due to its ecological, floral and geomorphological significance. It falls under the jurisdiction of Munnar Wildlife Division which has its Headquarters at Munnar. The Sanctuary offers a wide range of habitat types to the flora and fauna. There are 965 species of flowering plants, 28 species of mammals, 225 species of birds, 14 species of fish, 15 species of amphibians, 156 species of butterflies and 52 species of reptiles recorded from the Sanctuary.The Sanctuary is accessible from Kochi (180 km) and Coimbatore (110 km) airports along main roads. The Munnar Udumalpet road that passes through the Sanctuary for 16 km. roughly divides it into more or less equal portions. The nearest railway station in Kerala is Aluva (180km.) and in Tamil Nadu, Pollachi (60km.). The nearest town is Marayoor which is 17 km from the sanctuary. Muthuvan and Hill Pulayas are the two typical indigenous communities living in 11 settlements of the sanctuary, of which 7 belongs to Muthuvans and the rest to Hill Pulayas. The two tribal 7 Department of Forest, Government of Kerala (2013) Chinnar Wildlife Management Plan 8

9 communities - Muthuvans and Hill Pulayas differ from one another in social, cultural and anthropological aspects.basically, they are depending on their traditional practices such as forest products, agricultural activities and cattle farming for their livelihood. Apart from this, they also cultivate lemon grass abundantly and extract oil from them which is being sold in the market directly by them and in turn they purchase goods and services for their livelihood activities. A total of 1735 (767 Hill Pulayas and 968 Muthuvan community members) people from 484 families (219 belong to Hill Pulayas and 265 belong to Muthuvans) are living in the protected area.the details of indigenous community living in the protected areas are given below; Table 4 Details of Indigenous Settlement and Population Sl no Name of Settlement 1 Alampetty Name of Community No of Families Population Male Female Total Echampeety Hill Pulayas 3 Palapetty Champakkad Vellakkalkudy Total Mangapara Ollavayal Thayannankudy Muthuvans Olikudy Puthukudi Iruttalakudy Total Grand Total Source: Chinnar Management Plan 2012, Department of Forest, GoK 5.1 Eco Development Committees and Livelihood Activities for Local Communities As part of the Indian Eco Development Project and reducing the dependency of community members on forest, an Eco - Development programme was started under the World Bank aided Kerala Forestry Project in 1998 incorporating the local community members living in and around 9

10 Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. For this purpose, efforts have been taken to form 11 Eco Development Committees and all the people living in 11 settlements are members in the EDCs. Since the activity of the EDC is limited to Participatory Fire Management, three professional EDC s were formed for undertaking the Ecotourism activities in the Sanctuary. They are Alampettty Tribal Trackers EDC, Chambakkad Tribal Trackers EDC and Eachampetty Tribal Trackers EDC of which two EDCs Alampettty Tribal Trackers EDC, Chambakkad Tribal Trackers EDC are actively involved in undertaking ecotourism related activities in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. Trekking, log houses and tree houses are the major areas for generating income for the EDC members. The ecotourism programme at Chinnar was launched in 2002 and 44 people from two settlements i.e from Allampetty and Champakkd have been engaged in undertaking ecotourism activities for their livelihood. Out of the 43 EDC members, 38 are male and 5 are female. The details are given below; Table 5 Details of EDC Members Name of Category Activities engaged Tota Total Settlements Trekking / Office l Male Female Camping Assistant Restaurant Alampetty Champakkad Total Source: Chinnar Management Plan 2012, Department of Forest, GoK Out of the 38 males, 35 people are working as local guides and taking the tourists for trekking and night camping programmes, 2 males are working as office assistants in the EDC office and one person has been engaged in restaurant management. In the case of female, all the 5 female are working in kitchen of restaurants. The average monthly income for all the EDC members is Rs.4000/- and varying according to the nature of income generated throughecotourism activities. For the trekking programmes different user fee is being collected from tourist. An amount of Rs.150/- is collected from per head Indian nationals of which Rs.10/- is being paid to Government as share and the remaining Rs.140/- is transferring to EDCs account and in the case of international tourists, per head fee of Rs.250/- is being collected and of which the share of 10

11 Government is Rs.100/- and the rest of Rs.150/- would be deposited to EDCs account. Apart from the trekking programme, major sources of income is being generated from night camping activities conducted by EDCs at tree houses, log houses and huts at Chinnar. The details are given in the following table; 11

12 Table 6 Details of Camping Programmes Type Nos Accommodation Capacity User fee per head Rs. Govt Share Rs (10%) EDC Share Rs. Tree House Log Houses Hut Source: Chinnar Management Plan 2012, Department of Forest, GoK There are 7 properties are designed for promoting night camping at Chinnar of which 2 tree houses, 4 log houses and 1 hut which are management by EDC members. Based on the benefit sharing mechanism, 10% fee paid by each tourists for the above said camping activities are being kept as share of Government and the remaining income is pumping into EDCs account. 25% of income generated from both the trekking programmes and camping activities are kept as Community Development Fund (CDF) and the salary for each members of EDC is being paid from the remaining portion of income generated. Therefore, no fixed salary system is existing for the EDC members at Chinnar. The details of tourist arrival and income generated through ecotourism activities from is given below Sl No Table 6 Details of Tourist Arrival and Income Generated through Ecotourism Year No of Tourists Total Govt Revenue in Rs EDC Income in Rs Domestic International Source: Chinnar Management Plan 2012, Department of Forest, GoK 12

13 Though arrangements are made to maintain bank account for the EDC members, the habit of saving of money is found only few members of EDC and efforts are being made to create awareness among the EDC members for the same. They have been motivated to attend training various training programmes and majority of the members feel that that ecotourism has created a decent job and provide livelihood for them. At the same, the formation of EDC has been reduced the anti forest activities such as smuggling, poaching and gunja cultivation etc. 8 For example, only two wildlife related cases in the last 5 years, one an attempt to capture and transport a star tortoise and another poaching of a Flying Squirrel has been recorded under the head of poaching and regarding sandalwood smuggling, 12 cased has been recorded in 2011 which was 47 during 2007.It is reported 20 cases in connection with guja cultivation during 2011 which was recorded 30 during Apart from the members of EDC involved in ecotourism programmes, the other members of EDCs formed at 11 settlements are also paying a significant role in conserving the natural and cultural resources for achieving the goals of sustainable development. In order to ensure conservational efforts, the Department of Forest, Government of Kerala has been established 6 protection camp sites in various parts of the sanctuary. Conclusion Ecotourism is globally recognized as an alternate source of creating economic benefits to local community particularly in the protected areas where economically marginalized people are living. As the buzzword primarily focus on conservation, local communities are an integral part of its development and hence community based protected area management is being practiced in the concerned areas which aims to ensure a balance between conservation and livelihood of local communities. Chinnar wildlife Sanctuary is one of its kinds where community members being inspired to take part in conservational activities for achieving sustainable development. Based on the experience from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, ecotourism is emerged a major source for proving alternate livelihood for the people while making them into conservational activities and provide an opportunity for social development.after the launch of ecotourism activities and formation of EDCs in 2002, 43 community members from two villages are engaged in ecotourism activities and leading a meaningful life. At the same time, efforts are being taken to 8 Department of Forest, Government of Kerala (2012) Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan 13

14 promote ecotourism activities in a sustainable manner and ensure the participation of the other people living in other villages in ecotourism and conservational activities for creating a model ecotourism village in the state. 14