Community-based Eco-Tourism to Support Wildlife Conservation in NE India. 10 July 2013 IGNFA, Dehradun Sanjay Sondhi

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1 Community-based Eco-Tourism to Support Wildlife Conservation in NE India 10 July 2013 IGNFA, Dehradun Sanjay Sondhi

2 Eco-Tourism Current model (for the most part ): High end tourism Charismatic mega-fauna focused Large ecological footprint Carrying capacity largely unassessed Outsider owned and invested Limited local community benefit Conservation benefits (?) Corbett, Kanha, Ranthambore, Kaziranga Current tourism model is largely focused on charismatic mega fauna. Limited community benefits, and conservation benefits suspect

3 Community-Based Eco-Tourism (CBET) CBET model: More interested/concerned tourists Charismatic mega- and lesser-known fauna Smaller ecological footprint Community owned Wider community participation and benefits Significant conservation benefits Eaglenest, Garo Hills, Periyar CBET tourism can provide sustainable, eco-friendly and equitable tourism with conservation benefits

4 North East India One of the 34 global bio-diversity Hot Spots One of two bio-diversity hot spots in India (along with the Western Ghats) Confluence of three bio-geographic regions-indo, Indo-Malayan & Indo-Chinese Habitats ranging from flood plains, foothills, hill forests, alpine... Spectacular bio-diversity, yet unexplored. Many areas still inaccessible. New species waiting to be revealed.

5 NE India-A Biodiversity Paradise No of species World India NE India Birds ~10,000 ~1,250 ~900 Butterflies ~17,500 ~1,250 ~900 Amphibians ~7, Reptiles 9, (Feb 13) Orchids 700

6 The Conservation Dilemma How can these terrific forests, in one of the 34 bio-diversity hotspots of the world (N E India) be conserved? Is the choice and either wildlife or people? Or is there a middle path? How can the local communities be incentivized to protect their own forests? At stake is food and water security for the local people and a safe home for wildlife. Can an income stream be generated for the local community which is dependent on the forest, yet does not destroy it? Is community based tourism a viable option as an incentive to conserve? Community-based Eco-Tourism presents an opportunity to incentivize conservation

7 CBET in NE India A few CBET ventures in NE India are showing the way taking small steady steps to show that sustainable, equitable and eco-friendly community-based tourism ventures can be successful. Eaglenest, Arunachal Pradesh Pakke, Arunachal Pradesh Garo Hills, Meghalaya

8 Eaglenest WLS, Arunachal Pradesh 218 sq. km. Altitudinal gradient from 50 to 3600 m. Best known for discovery of Bugun's Liocichla, India's only new bird species to be described in 50 years. Still little explored. Veritable paradise for flora & fauna. Many new species of butterflies, snakes and frogs. Threats: proposed road construction, poaching, tree felling

9 Community-based Eco-tourism in Eaglenest Dr. Ramana Athreya discovered the Bugun Liocichla at Eaglenest in First new bird species to be found in mainland India in 50 years. Named the bird after the Bugun Tribe. Initial tourism focus: birdwatching Initiated bird tourism with the Bugun Welfare Society in Expanding into butterfly, moth and herp tourism. Ludlow s Bhutan Glory-only 2 nd location for this butterfly in the world. Tibetan Brimstone-new record for India. Bompu Litter Frog-only known location for this species, species named after location. Ongoing research: butterflies, moths, bird behaviour, herpetofauna

10 Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh Bugun Liocichla Liocichla bugunorum New species Mictopholis austeniana Re-discovery (Dafla, 1874) Jerdon's pitviper Trimeresurus jerdonii New record for India Tibetan Brimstone New record for India Leptobrachium bompu New species Oberthueria formosibia New record for India Many new species still being found. Amongst the richest areas in India for birds. Spectacular array of amphibians and reptiles, butterflies and moths

11 Eco-tourism in Eaglenest: Impact Annual revenues of ~ Rs 20 L. One of the top birding destinations in the world! Buguns have reduced hunting, community fines for hunting/fishing & tree felling, great deal of pride in the new bird discovery. Employment to ~12-20 people. Community fee of Rs 100 per person per day. This money goes to the the Bugun and Sherdukpen tribes every year. Local guides conduct birding. Bugun Welfare Society supports conservation research and conservation education programs at Eaglenest. Numerous awards.arunachal Pradesh Tourism Award (2013), CNBC Awaaz Tourism Award (2009). Local community successfully conducting low ecological impact tourism since Significant conservation benefits.

12 Community-based Eco-tourism in Eaglenest There is a market for tourism built around lesser-known fauna.

13 Balpakram-Baghmara Landscape, Meghalaya South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. 600 sq. km of protected area & community land. Indo-Burmese Biogeographic region, borders Bangladesh. Dense tropical forest everywhere. Threats: mining-coal and uranium, tree felling (Bangladesh), hunting and poaching, land use practices (jhum), man-animal conflict, political unrest

14 Community-based nature eco-tourism in Garo Hills, Meghalaya Conducted by: Samrakshan, Garo community at Siju, Karwani Surveys for birds (325 species), butterflies (349 species), amphibians (26 spp.), reptiles (46 spp), moths (>250 spp.) conducted in Garo hills ( ). Initial tourism focus: Butterflies!. Tourism successfully initiated in Oct Intention to expand into birds and other tourism (culture, trekking, etc) to scale up and ensure sustainability. Local communities support Samrakshan conservation research programs (Elephant conflict, faunal inventories, GIS mapping..) Blue-throated Lizard Green Cat Snake Zigzag Flat Chain Swordtail

15 Eco-tourism in Garo Hills: Impact Nature-based tourism successfully initiated since Oct Established as butterfly hotspot in NE India. Annual revenues of Rs 6-8 L. 85% of revenues go to the locals. Community fee of Rs 100 per person per day. This money goes to the the local community at each of the above locations. Local tribes involved in conservation efforts-supporting the formation of Community Conservation Reserves, involved in campaigns to reduce hunting.13 CCR s established so far. Students Unions actively involved in conservation movement esp. against coal mining. Eco-tourism is an effective counter to illegal mining in the area. Ongoing research activities provide employment to 12 locals. Eco-tourism provides an incentive to conserve. Conservation research supplements these efforts.

16 Supporting CBET in the Garo Hills The meplip are helping conserve the Garo hills!

17 Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh 861 sq. km. Altitudinal variation from 150 to 1500 m. Elephant habitat. Pakhui and Kameng rivers bound the reserve. Incredible bio-diversity. Threats: Poaching, illegal tree felling

18 Community-based eco-tourism at Pakke Tiger Reserve Conducted by: Pakke Jungle Camp with support from GhoraAabhe Society, Help Tourism and Arunachal Forest Department Current status: Bamboo-hut based infrastructure established with local community with support from Help Tourism in Nov visitors since Nov Organised nature tourism still to begin Training & capability building conducted for local guides: birds, butterflies, herpetofauna (Titli Trust, NCF, Gaia Eco Tours). Hand-holding local community to market and conduct nature tourism. Wizard Mock Viper Atlas Moth Great Hornbill

19 Eco-tourism in Pakke Tiger Reserve: Impact Pakke Eco Camp provides livelihood to 3-8 people. 70 visitors in the last 12 months. Ghora-Aabhe Society actively involved in conservation activities. Strict rules and fines against hunting, illegal felling. Supports forest department in fighting forest fires, anti poaching and conservation education programs. GAS conducts campaigns to reduce hunting. Supports NCF s Hornbill Nest Adoption Program. Ongoing research provides local employment and complements tourism. Eco-tourism & research provides an incentive to conserve!

20 Supporting CBET in Pakke Tiger Reserve

21 Community-based in NE India: approach Engage the local community and other stakeholders. Assist the community to design the CBET tourism model: organization structure, benefit sharing, rules and regulations. Identify needs: capability building (soft skills, technical skills, financial, etc). Rules for forest conservation and hunting. Defining the role of the forest department (esp. in PA s). Basic infrastructure for boarding and lodging. Assist local community in the start up phase. Ensure eco-tourism is eco-friendly and equitable.

22 Community-based in NE India: approach Survey the flora and fauna. Identify the specials. Seasons, locations. Identify opportunities for long term research. Market the tourism. Conduct a few tours. Hand hold the local community in the start up phase. Take necessary steps to ensure the venture is eventually independent and sustainable. Hand hold beyond the start up. Take necessary to ensure independence and sustainability.

23 Forest department and its role in CBET Facilitating the CBET through all stages. Ensuring it is eco-friendly, equitable and sustainable. Tourism model: FD as a stakeholder (vs Conducting tourism). Enforcement of rules and regulations for tourism. Assessment of carrying capacity, monitoring impact. WLPA and its enforcement. Research and conservation go hand in hand, FD can facilitate. FD can play a crucial role as facilitator

24 Community-based Eco-tourism in NE India Opportunities Challenges Document biodiversity in a poorly studied landscape (NE India). Raising funds! Establish baseline data for future studies. Provide an alternate to Tiger-based tourism. Smaller ecological footprint. An alternate scalable, sustainable eco-tourism model. Provide an economic incentive to the local community to conserve the landscape. Spot-winged Grosbeak Common Red Flash Rugged, often inaccessible terrain & inclement weather. Building local capacity esp mkting. Creating the tourism market for lesser-known fauna. Sustainability, scalability Mitigating ongoing conservation threats-development projects Manage safety concerns linked to political unrest. Medo Pit Viper Unidentified bush frog

25 Constable Dichorrhagia nesimachus Chocolate Jungle Queen Sticophthalma nourmahal Blue Imperial Ticherra acte Scarce Red Forester Lethe distans Witch Araotes lapithis Grey Commodore Bhagadatta austenia Wizard Rhinopalpa polynice Common Batwing female Byasa varuna Tiger Brown Orinoma damaris

26 Baorisa hieroglyphica Cyana bellissima Brahmaea wallachii Agathia magnifica Oberthueria formosibia Actias parasinensis Plutodes flavescens Opisthograptis molleri Lyssa zampa

27 ABOUT TITLI TRUST About Titli Trust Not-for-profit organisation Focused on nature conservation & environment protection Established in late 2009 Trustees Ravi Chopra, Director, PSI Anchal Sondhi, Environmentalist Sanjay Sondhi, Naturalist Dehradun based Focus areas Philosophy Conservation research Sustainability Conservation action Equitable Conservation education & outreach Eco-friendly In western and eastern Himalayas

28 TITLI TRUST # 49, Rajpur Road Enclave, Dhoran Khas, Dehradun, Uttarakhand titlitrust@gmail.com sanjay.sondhi1@gmail.com