Community-based Eco-Tourism to Support

Wildlife Conservation in NE India

22 May 2014

IGNFA, Dehradun

Sanjay Sondhi

Eco-TourismCurrent model (for the most part…): High end tourism.Charismatic mega-fauna focused.Large ecological footprint.Carrying capacity largely not assessed.“Outsider owned and invested”.Limited local community benefit.Limited conservation benefit…Corbett, Kanha, Ranthambore, Kaziranga.

Current tourism model is largely focused on charismatic mega fauna. Core issues: community and conservation benefits suspect……

Community-Based Eco-Tourism (CBET)

CBET model:Community owned & managed. Smaller ecological footprint. More “interested/concerned” tourists. Charismatic mega- and lesser-known fauna.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

North East IndiaOne 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-ChineseHabitats ranging from flood plains, foothills, hill forests, alpine....Spectacular bio-diversity, yet unexplored. Many areas still inaccessible. New species waiting to be revealed.

Blue-throated Lizard Elephant Blue-capped Rock Thrush Green Cat Snake

NE India-A Biodiversity ParadiseNo of species World India NE India

Birds ~10,000 ~1,300 ~900

Butterflies ~17,500 ~1,300 ~900

Amphibians ~7,000 360 110

Reptiles 9,766 (Feb 13)

535 180

Orchids 700

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 focused on lesser-known fauna a viable option as an incentive to conserve?

Community-based Eco-Tourism presents an opportunity to incentivize conservation

CBET in NE IndiaA 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

Eaglenest WLS, Arunachal Pradesh

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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

Community-based Eco-tourism in EaglenestDr. Ramana Athreya discovered the Bugun Liocichla at Eaglenest in 2006. First new bird species to be found in mainland India in 50 years.

Initial tourism focus: birdwatching, initiated by the Bugun Welfare Society in 2006.

Expanding into butterfly, moth and herp tourism. First butterfly tour in Oct 2012.

Ongoing research: butterflies, moths, bird behaviour, herpetofauna

Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory Dafla Mountain Lizard Picasso Moth Small Niltava

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh

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Bugun Liocichla Liocichla bugunorumNew species

Mictopholis austenianaRe-discovery

Jerdon's pitviper Trimeresurus jerdonii 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…

Leptobrachium bompu New species

Oberthueria formosibia New record for IndiaTibetan Brimstone

New record for India

Eco-tourism in Eaglenest: ImpactAnnual revenues of ~ Rs 12-20 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 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)….

Success of wildlife tourism has resulted in Sherdukpens beginning tourism at Bompu.

Local community successfully conducting low ecological impact tourism since 2006. Significant conservation benefits.

Community-based Eco-tourism in Eaglenest

There is a market for tourism built around lesser-known fauna: supporting eco-system needed….

Balpakram-Baghmara Landscape, Meghalaya

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South Garo Hills, Meghalaya.

600 sq. km of protected area & community land. Indo-Burmese Bio-geographic 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

Community-based nature eco-tourism in Garo Hills, MeghalayaConducted by: Siju & Karawani Conservation & Ecotourism Society (SECOS/KECOS). Supported by Titli Trust. Samrakshan missteps……

Surveys for birds (325 species), butterflies (>350 species), amphibians (26 spp.), reptiles (46 spp), moths (>500 spp.) conducted in Garo hills (2009-13).

Initial tourism focus: Butterflies! Tourism successfully initiated in Oct 2010.

Intention to expand into birds and other tourism (culture, trekking, etc) to scale up and ensure sustainability.

Local communities have supported conservation & research.

Blue-throated Lizard Green Cat Snake Zigzag Flat Chain Swordtail

Eco-tourism in Garo Hills: ImpactNature-based tourism successfully initiated since Oct 2010. Established as butterfly hotspot in NE India.

Annual revenues of Rs 6 L. 100% of revenues go to the locals.

Initial success by SECOS resulted in formation of KECOS. Forest department funded homestay at Karwani. Additional funds provided by Titli Trust.

Community fee of Rs 200 per person. This money goes SECOS/KECOS for community welfare.

Students Unions actively involved in conservation movement esp. against coal mining. Proposed coal mining ban?

Ecotourism is an effective counter to illegal mining in the area.

Ecotourism provides an incentive to conserve. Conservation research supplements these efforts.

Supporting ecotourism in the Garo Hills

The “meplip” are helping conserve the Garo hills! Rs one lakh raised since Apr 2013 from the book to support ecotourism.

The local communities now

support tourism and conservation

Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh

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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, proposed dam construction

Community-based eco-tourism at Pakke Tiger ReserveConducted by: Pakke Jungle Camp with support from Ghora-Aabhe Society, Help Tourism and Arunachal Forest Department

Bamboo-hut based infrastructure established by local community with support from Help Tourism in Nov 2011. Bird & butterfly tourism started.

Training & capability building conducted for local guides: birds, butterflies, herpetofauna (Titli Trust, NCF, Gaia Eco Tours, WWF).

Hand-holding local community to market and conduct nature tourism.

Wizard Mock Viper Atlas Moth Great Hornbill

Eco-tourism in Pakke Tiger Reserve: ImpactPakke Eco Camp, Seijosa provides livelihood to 3-8 people. Expected earning in 2014-15~Rs 4 lakhs.

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.

Examining opportunity to expand ecotourism to Tipi and Pakke-Kesang (ecotourism zones).

Eco-tourism & research provides an incentive to conserve!

Supporting CBET in Pakke Tiger ReserveBook published with funding support from Arunachal Forest Department.

Supports tourism, encourages research.

Proceeds from book go to Pakke Tiger Conservation Foundation, Rs 20 K since Feb 2014.

Doherty’s Oakblue-rediscovered after 70 years, only 2 nd record ever from India…

Community-based in NE India: approachEngage the local community and other stakeholders.

Assist the community to “design” the CBET tourism model: organization structure, benefit sharing, rules and regulations.

Identify needs for start up: infrastructure, funding, capability building (soft skills, technical skills, financial, etc).Hand hold during start up phase.

Survey the flora and fauna. Identify the “specials”. Seasons, locations.

Identify opportunities for long term research.

Hand hold the local community in the start up phase including conducting tours.Assist local community in the start up phase. Ensure eco-tourism

is eco-friendly and equitable.

Community-based in NE India: approachSustaining the venture (low engagement phase)

Take necessary steps to ensure the venture is eventually independent and sustainable.

Identify needs for sustenance: marketing, skill upgradation, new “products”…..

Conservation actions: rules for forest conservation and hunting.

Need Center and States to set up institutional framework to support these ventures.

Forest department and its role in CBETFacilitating 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

OpportunitiesDocument biodiversity in a poorly studied landscape (NE India).

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.

ChallengesRaising funds!

Rugged, often inaccessible terrain & inclement weather.

Building local capacity esp mkting.

Creating the tourism market for lesser-known fauna.

Sustainability, scalability, inclusive

Mitigating ongoing conservation threats-development projects

Manage safety concerns linked to political unrest.

Spot-winged Grosbeak Common Red Flash Medo Pit Viper Unidentified bush frog

Community-based Eco-tourism in NE India

Constable Scarce Red Forester Wizard Dichorrhagia nesimachus Lethe distans Rhinopalpa polynice

Chocolate Jungle Queen Witch Common Batwing female Stichophthalma nourmahal Araotes lapithis Atrophaneura varuna

Blue Imperial Grey Commodore Tiger Brown Ticherra acte Bhagadatta austenia Orinoma damaris

Baorisa hieroglyphica Cyana bellissima Plutodes flavescens

Brahmaea wallachii Agathia magnifica Opisthograptis molleri

Oberthueria formosibia Actias parasinensis Lyssa zampa

ABOUT TITLI TRUSTAbout Titli Trust

Not-for-profit organisation

Focused on nature conservation & environment protection

Established in late 2009

Dehradun based

Trustees

Ravi Chopra, Director, PSI

Anchal Sondhi, Environmentalist

Sanjay Sondhi, Naturalist

Focus areas

Conservation research

Conservation action

Conservation education & outreach

In western and eastern Himalayas

Philosophy

Sustainability

Equitable

Eco-friendly

www.titlitrust.com

TITLI TRUST# 49, Rajpur Road Enclave,

Dhoran Khas, Dehradun, 248001

Uttarakhand

0135 2607452titlitrust@gmail.com

www.titlitrust.comsanjay.sondhi1@gmail.com