1

Request for proposal

For

“Promotion of conservation-oriented ecotourism

model in Lahaul-Pangi landscapes of Himachal

Pradesh under SECURE Himalaya Project”

Issued by

H.P Forest Department (Wildlife Wing), Talland

Government of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla

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CONTENTS

1. Notice of Invitation for Submission of Proposal ………………………… 2

2. Instructions to Bidders ………………………… 3 - 4

3. Technical Proposal- Sample Forms ………………………… 5 - 9

4. Financial Proposal- Sample Forms ………………………… 10 - 13

5. Data Sheet ………………………… 14 - 15

6. Evaluation Criteria/Methodology ………………………… 16

7. Terms of Reference (ToR) ………………………… 17 - 27

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INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDER

I. General Instructions

▪ The organization (bidder) shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of

its proposal and H.P Forest Department (Wildlife Wing) will in no case be responsible or liable

for these costs, whether the proposal is finally accepted or not.

▪ Proposal validity shall be for 120 days.

▪ The organization (bidder) should submit its Bid Proposal, with supporting documents in the

prescribed formats only. The Bid Proposals should be sent by registered post/courier service,

along with Demand Draft of Rs. 2000 /- as tender/bidding document fee (non-refundable)

and Rs. 20,000/- (rupees twenty thousand only) in the form of FDR of any nationalized Bank,

as Bid Security (refundable), payable to PCCF (Wildlife) cum Chief Wildlife Warden Himachal

Pradesh, H.P Forest Department (Wildlife Wing) Shimla-171001, Himachal Pradesh payable

at Shimla.

▪ Proposal is to be submitted in a sealed envelope. The documents are to be arranged

systematically into Section A (Technical Proposal) and Section B (Financial Proposal).

Section A (Technical Proposal), and Section B (Financial Proposal) are to be kept in separate

sealed envelopes, which further should be kept inside an outer envelope and sealed as per

instructions and formats provided for the purpose. The envelope containing Financial Proposal

should be clearly marked, “Financial Proposal; Do not Open with Technical Proposal”.

▪ All the three envelopes must show the name of the participating firm, address and should be

super scribed as “Promotion of conservation-oriented ecotourism model in Lahaul-Pangi

landscapes of Himachal Pradesh under SECURE Himalaya Project”.

▪ The Technical Proposals should not include any information related to financial proposal. Such

proposals would be summarily rejected. All the inputs, which are part of the Technical Proposal,

should be included in arriving at the total Project cost in financial proposal. If not, it will be

presumed to have been included.

▪ After evaluation of Technical proposals, unsuccessful firms would be intimated and their

financial proposals would be returned unopened. Their attendance during opening of the

financial proposals would be mandatory.

▪ The Bid Security of unsuccessful bidders will be returned within 28 days after opening

of financial Proposal.

▪ The Bid Security of the successful bidder will be discharged when the bidder has signed the

Agreement and furnished the required Performance Security.

▪ On receipt of the Work Order/contract, the successful bidder shall have to submit Performance

Security for an amount of 5% (Five percent) of the Work Order value.

a) The proceeds of the performance security shall be payable to the H.P forest Department

(Wildlife Wing) as compensation for any loss resulting from the successful bidder failure to

complete his/her obligations under the contract. b) The performance security shall be in the

form of Demand Draft drawn in favour of H.P forest Department (Wildlife Wing) payable at

Shimla. c) The Performance Security will be discharged by the H.P forest Department (Wildlife

Wing) after successful completion of the work under the contract.

▪ Complete offers/bids are to be addressed to PCCF(Wildlife) cum Chief Wildlife Warden

Himachal Pradesh, H.P Forest Department (Wildlife Wing) Shimla-171001, Himachal

Pradesh. Offers duly filled and accompanying all supporting documents, should reach the

above address by Registered Post/ Courier/by Hand by 4 PM on or before 15th Feb 2021, after

which no Proposals would be accepted.

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▪ Incomplete, illegible and unsealed Proposals will be summarily rejected.

▪ Telegraphic Proposals will not be accepted, and no correspondence will be made in this regard.

▪ All offers should be made in English. Conditional offers and offers qualified by such vague and

indefinite expression such as “Subject to immediate acceptance”, “Subject to prior sale” etc.

will not be considered.

▪ Participating firms shall carefully examine the Proposal documents and the technical

specification and fully inform themselves as to all the conditions and matters, which may

in any way, affect the work or the cost thereof.

▪ PCCF(Wildlife) cum Chief Wildlife Warden Himachal Pradesh reserves the right to accept

or reject any proposal/all the proposals, without assigning any reason thereof.

II. Particular Instructions:

▪ The bidder should have at least 3 years’ experience working in field of Nature based

tourism/Eco-tourism and should have executed at least 1 projects related to the ecotourism.

Preference shall also be given to firms having experience in the field of ecotourism in Himachal

Pradesh itself.

▪ The bidding firm would be required to submit, in detail, the approach proposed to be adopted

by the firm in carrying out the assignment, to meet the desired objectives.

The proposal must be submitted in two sections as per prescribed format mentioned below:

Section A: Technical Proposal

The Technical Proposal must include the following:

a) Technical Proposals should be page numbered with different sections clearly separated.

Each numbered page should be duly signed by the authorized signatory.

b) Supporting documents (work order/completion certificates) for relevant experience are

mandatory. No marks will be given if supporting documents are not provided.

c) CV of Key team members proposed for the assignment with their experiences in the field of

Ecotourism/Nature based tourism.

d) Proposed approach, methodology, work process, resource deployment, deliverables and

timeline to fulfil the desired objective and scope of work within the specified time schedule.

Section B: Financial Proposal

a) Prices shall be quoted entirely in Indian Rupees (INR) and must be arrived at after including

all expenses, rates, and applicable taxes, including Goods and Service Tax (GST) as per

prevailing rate.

b) Financial Proposal to be submitted in the Prescribed format (F-I). The cost break-up/

justification and all taxes and levies may be submitted on separate sheet on organization

letter head.

c) The Price and conditions of the offer should be valid for at least a period of 120 days from the

date of opening. Proposals with validity of less than 120 days shall be rejected.

d) Each page of the Financial Proposal should be numbered clearly and duly signed by

the authorized signatory.

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Technical Proposal- Sample Forms

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Form T-1: Consultant’s Organization and Experience

A - Consultant’s Organization

[Provide here a brief (one page) description of the organization and general experience of

the Consultant and, if applicable, each joint venture member for this assignment.]

B - Consultant’s Experience

[Ecotourism/Nature based tourism assignments (at least 1 assignment executed and

minimum 3 years’ experience in the field)]

[Using the format below, provide information on each assignment for which your firm and each joint venture member for

this assignment, was legally contracted either individually as a corporate entity or as a lead firm or one of members within a

joint venture, for carrying out consulting services similar to the ones requested under this assignment. Use about 5-8

pages.]

Assignment name:

Approx. value of the contract (in INR):

Duration of assignment (months):

Country:

State:

Name of Client:

Address with contact details:

Name of joint venture member or Sub-

consultants, if any:

Narrative description of Project:

Description of actual services provided in the

assignment:

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Form T-2: Curriculum Vitae (CV) for Proposed Key Team

Members

1. General

Position Title and No.

Name of Key Expert

Name of the Firm proposing the

Key Expert

Date of Birth

Nationality

Country of Citizenship/Residence

2. Education: List college/university or other specialized education, giving names of educational institutions, dates attended, degree(s)/diploma(s) obtained]

3. Employment record relevant to the assignment: [Starting with present position, list in

reverse order. Please provide dates, name of employing organization, titles of

positions held, types of activities performed and location of the assignment, and contact

information of previous clients and employing organization(s) who can be contacted for

references. Past employment that is not relevant to the assignment does not need to be

included.]

Period Employer

(Contact

Information for

references)

Country/ State Summary of

activities

performed

relevant to the

assignment

4. Membership in Professional Associations and Publications:

5. Language Skills (indicate only languages in which you can work):

6. Adequacy for the Assignment:

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Detailed Tasks Assigned on Consultant’s

Team of Experts:

[List major deliverables/tasks in which the Expert

will be involved]

Reference to Prior Work/Assignments that Best Illustrates Capability to

Handle the Assigned Tasks

7. Certification:

I, the undersigned, certify to the best of my knowledge and belief that:

(i) This CV correctly describes my qualifications and my experience;

(ii) I am committed to undertake the assignment within the validity of Proposal;

(iii) I am not part of the team who wrote the terms of reference for this consulting

services assignment;

I understand that any misstatement described herein may lead to my disqualification or

dismissal, if engaged.

------------------------------------------------------------Date:................................................. [Signature of Key Expert or authorized representative of the firm]1 Day/Month/Year

Full name of authorized representative:...........................................................................

..........................................................

This CV can be signed by an authorized representative of the Consultant provided

that if the Consultant’s proposal is ranked first, a copy of the CV signed by the Key

Expert and/or specialist must be submitted to the Client prior to the commencement of

contract negotiations.

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Form T-3: Description of Approach, Methodology and

Work Plan for Performing the Assignment

Technical approach, methodology and work plan are key components of the Technical

Proposal. You are suggested to present your Technical Proposal (about 8-10 pages)

divided into the following three chapters:

a) Technical Approach and Methodology,

b) Work Plan, and

c) Organization and Staffing,

a) Technical Approach and Methodology. In this chapter you should explain

your understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services,

methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the

degree of detail of such output. You should highlight the problems being addressed and

their importance, and explain the technical approach you would adopt to address

them. You should also explain the methodologies you propose to adopt and highlight

the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach. Please do

not repeat/copy the TOR in here.

b) Work Plan: In this chapter you should propose the main activities of the assignment,

their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim

approvals by the Client), and delivery dates of the reports. The proposed work plan

should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing

understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working

plan. A list of the final documents, including reports, drawings, and tables to be

delivered as final output, should be included here. The work plan should be consistent

with the Work Schedule

c) Organization and Staffing: In this chapter you should propose the structure

and composition of your team. You should list the main disciplines of the assignment,

the Key Experts and Non-Key Experts, and proposed technical and administrative

support staff. You shall also specify if you will be the lead firm in a joint venture or in

an association with Sub-consultants. For joint ventures, you must attach a copy of the

joint venture agreement.

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Financial Proposal- Sample Forms

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Form F-1: Financial Proposal Submission Form

[Location, date]

To: [Name and address of Client]

Dear Sirs:

We, the undersigned, offer to provide the services for [insert name of assignment] in accordance with your Invitation of Proposal dated [insert Date] and our Technical Proposal. Our attached Financial Proposal is for the sum of [insert amount(s) in

words and figures1].

Our Financial Proposal shall be binding upon us subject to the modifications resulting from Contract negotiations, up to expiration of the validity period of the Proposal.

We understand you are not bound to accept any Proposal you receive.

We remain,

Yours

sincerely,

Authorized Signature [in full and initials]:

Name and Title of Signatory:

Name of Firm:

Address:

1. Amounts must coincide with the ones indicated under Total. This amount is inclusive of the local indirect taxes, which shall be confirmed during negotiations, and included in the Contract price.

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Form F-2: Financial Proposal/Price Schedule:

Sr. No Item Description Total Cost in INR

1. Promotion of conservation-oriented

ecotourism model in Lahaul-Pangi

landscapes of Himachal Pradesh under

SECURE Himalaya Project

2. Total Basic Cost

3. (+) GST (As Applicable)

4. (+) Any other charges/taxes etc. Which are

not covered as above

5. Grand Total

Note: Detailed cost breakup may be given in a separate sheet as per the template given

below.

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Suggestive Template for detailed cost breakup:

Description of Activity/Item Unit Rate (INR) Quantity (INR) Amount (INR)

1. Remuneration

1.1 Remuneration for Team (inclusive of per

diem allowance)

1.1.1 Team Leader

1.1.2 Team member 1

1.1.3 Support staff 1

1.1.4 Support staff 2

1.1.5 ………..

Subtotal of 1.

2. Out of Pocket Expenses

2.1 Travel/Transportation

2.2 Trainings

2.3 Exposure Visits

2.4 Facilitation cost/Gap funding for event

organisation

2.5 Office Supplies, Utilities and

Communication etc

2.6 Communication Costs to all personnel

and Office

2.7 Equipment Hiring/Rental (if applicable)

2.8 Reports and Document Printing

2.9 Surveys & Investigations

2.10 Workshop/meeting/seminar

2.11 Any other items…..

Subtotal of 2.

3. Contingency

4. Taxes/GST

Total Amount (1+2+3+4)

Total Amount in Words………………………………………………………………………………

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DATA SHEET

Sr. No. Details

1. Name of the Client:

H.P Forest Department (Wildlife Wing) Shimla-171001, Himachal Pradesh.

2. Name of the Assignment: Promotion of conservation-oriented ecotourism model in

Lahaul-Pangi landscapes of Himachal Pradesh under SECURE Himalaya Project

3. The Client’s representative: PCCF(Wildlife) cum Chief Wildlife Warden Himachal

Pradesh

Address: PCCF(Wildlife) cum Chief Wildlife Warden Himachal Pradesh

H.P Forest Department (Wildlife Wing) Shimla-171001, Himachal Pradesh.

Telephone: 0177-2625205, Fax: 2624193

Email: pccfwl-hp@nic.in

4. Proposals shall be submitted in the following language: English

5. Proposals must remain valid 120 days after the submission deadline date.

6. The Financial Proposal should be in Lump sum including everything.

7. Clarifications on proposal documents may be requested on e-mail and telephone

numbers given above within ten days from advertisement. However the final date of

submission will not be extended under any circumstances.

8. The Client warrants that the Client shall pay the amount for the work done as per the

schedule to be decided during contract negotiations

9. Time and date of the Proposal submission deadline:

- Time: 16:00 (Indian Standard Time)

- Date: 15th Feb, 2021

10. Consultants must submit the original and all copies of the Technical Proposal,

and the original Financial Proposal to the Client. Proposals must be submitted no later

than date and time stated above.

11. Technical evaluation, based on past experiences and technical expertise, shall be carried

out for eligible bidders by assigning Technical Scores as specified below:

Sr.

No

Technical Credential Max. Score

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1. Overall Experience in field of eco tourism/nature based

tourism and should have executed at least 1 project in the

Himalayan region. (Minimum 3 years)

25

2. Experience of executing similar assignments/work related

to ecotourism/nature Based tourism in Himachal Pradesh

(minimum 1 assignments executed)

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3. Team members 15

4. Proposed methodology 25

5. Quality of proposal 15

Minimum marks for qualifying in Technical Evaluation would be 60 marks

12. Expected date (month/year) for opening of Financial Proposals: 18th Feb 2021

13. The single currency for price conversion is: Indian Rupee

14. Quality-Cost Ratio: 70:30

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EVALUATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA/METHODOLOGY

The Proposal evaluation will be a Quality and Cost based Selection, giving weightages

as per following details: -

▪ Technical Proposal: 70%

▪ Financial Proposal: 30%

The Proposal shall be evaluated in a two-stage process.

Stage 1:

Technical evaluation, based on past experiences and technical expertise, shall be

carried out for eligible bidders by assigning Technical Scores as specified below:

Sr. No Technical Credential Max. Score

1. Overall Experience in field of eco tourism/nature based

tourism and should have executed at least 1 project in the

Himalayan region. (Minimum 3 years)

25

2. Experience of executing similar assignments/work related

to ecotourism/nature Based tourism in Himachal Pradesh

(minimum 1 assignment executed)

20

3. Team members 15

4. Proposed methodology 25

5. Quality of proposal 15

Minimum marks for qualifying in Technical Evaluation would be 60 marks.

Stage-2

Financial Proposals shall be evaluated only of those bidders who score at least 60 marks

out of 100 in Technical Proposal evaluation. The lowest evaluated Financial Proposal

will be given the maximum financial score of 100 points. The financial scores

(Fn) of the other technically qualified Financial Proposals will be computed as per the

formula given below:

Fn = 100 x (Fmin / Fb)

Where,

Fn = financial score for the bidder under consideration Fb = price quoted by the bidder

under consideration Fmin = minimum price quoted by any bidder

Bids will be ranked according to their combined technical (Tn) and financial (Fn) scores

using the weights WT = 0.70 (the weight given to technical proposal); WF = 0.30 (the

weight given to the financial proposal). The combined technical and financial score (S)

for the bidder under consideration shall be computed as per the formula given below:

S = (0.7 X Tn) + (0.3 X Fn)

The bidder achieving the highest combined technical and financial score (S)

shall be considered for award of the contract.

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Terms of Reference (ToR)

for

Promotion of conservation-oriented ecotourism model in Lahaul-Pangi landscapes

of Himachal Pradesh under SECURE Himalaya Project

Inviting proposals from various government agencies, non-profit organizations, trusts, foundations, and

rural tourism enterprises who are willing to collaborate as implementing agency with the ‘SECURE

Himalaya conservation oriented ecotourism program’ a livelihood development initiative of Himachal

Pradesh Forest Department under GEF-MoEF&CC-UNDP SECURE Himalaya Project.

About the Landscape:

The selected landscape for the project is Lahaul-Pangi Landscape in Himachal Pradesh. The Lahaul

– Pangi Conservation Landscape lies between the Dhauladhar – Pir Panjal and Zanskar ranges in

Himachal Pradesh in the upper catchment of Chandrabhaga (Chenab) forming a transition zone between

the Greater and Trans-Himalaya. This landscape is contiguous with Doda and Zanskar region of Jammu

and Kashmir in the North and spread over an area of nearly 8000 km2. The landscape is mostly tough,

mountainous, dotted with a number of valleys. The lowest altitudinal limit of Pangi is c. 2000m at

Sansari Nala and ranges over to 6,000 m comprising the lofty peaks adjacent to the Zanskar range.

There are some beautiful sub valleys in Pangi such as Sural Valley, Hudan Valley, Seichu Valley and

Parmar Valley, the way through which leads to Zaskar range. Biogeographically, Pangi region falls in

the transition zone of the Himalaya and the Trans-Himalaya. Pangi is a remote, rugged and poorly

developed tribal area. One of the reasons for its remoteness is rugged topography cut into deep gorge

by river Chenab that flows initially in the western and subsequently north-westerly direction. Much of

the landscape lies in the rain shadow zone of Pir Panjal, having scanty rainfall (<800 mm) and relatively

high snowfall.

Map of Lahaul-Pangi Landscape with project villages

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About the assignment:

Securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems

(SECURE) is a project being implemented by The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

(MoEFCC) along with UNDP, and funded by GEF. The project aims to support the Government of

India and State Governments to promote sustainable land and forest management in alpine pastures and

forests in High range Indian Himalayan Ecosystems that secure sustainable livelihoods and ensure

conservation of globally significant biodiversity and threatened species. Improved and diversified

livelihood strategies and improved capacities of community and government institutions for

sustainable natural resource management is a major expected outcome of the project. Promotion of

conservation oriented ecotourism amongst selected clientele is one of the major livelihood component

under the state-level livelihood strategy developed for Lahaul-Pangi landscape in Himachal Pradesh.

Nature Tourism or Eco Tourism is the beating heart of the SECURE landscape conservation and

livelihoods initiative. A series of activities that heighten awareness of nature and the environment and

re-iterate the values of the landscape and the bio-diversity among the local community and a global

audience, and through Nature-based tourism seeks to enhance livelihoods and achieve conservation

goals. The activities proposed are low investment (in terms of capital resources), high impact in

accelerating revenue through tourism.

The programme envisages working with local communities to upgrade nature-guiding skills, identify

nature trails, producing natural history documentation and local guidebooks / pamphlets and eventually

hosting an annual series of nature-based events. These events are conceived to be linked to the homestay

programme with nature guides being drawn from the same communities where homestays are being

run.

Currently a fair number of individuals from the local communities explore the landscape for medicinal

plants collection, as non-technical support crew for treks (porters, cooks etc) and as grazers. Their

exposure to the landscape, knowledge of a variety of flora & fauna and their traditional outdoors skills

makes them ideally suited to be trained as nature guides.

One of the important advantages of this set of activities are that they can be begun with minimal initial

investments. There are a large constituency of nature lovers, school and college groups who would be

ready to participate in well-guided nature watching events and trips. Nature festivals would draw

multiple constituencies of people together, boost the profile of the landscape and highlight the various

livelihood and conservation measures that are both underway and those that are required to be

undertaken. The goodwill and the positive feedback from such organized events would create the

environment required to strengthen the values on which tourism should be undertaken.

Specific Objectives or Summary of tasks of the Assignment:

The primary objectives of the programme are:

1. Framing and Establishing a programme for training, education and livelihood generation based

around the core Eco tourism activities of Nature

2. Helping in the long-listing and short listing of village clusters and individual beneficiaries

3. Organizing and conducting relevant training programmes –primarily within the landscape and

creating training modules for further local replication

4. Helping establish nature trails and nature circuits and developing and creating education,

information and promotional literature

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5. Using current and applicable citizen science and education tools to engage the local community

as well as the wider nature science, nature tourism community

6. Documenting the natural history and related folklore in close participation with the community

and helping identify and establish iconic species

7. Organizing cluster level nature tourism events and being one of the key organizers for the

marquee landscape level Nature and Culture Festival

8. Helping create an events calendar

9. Supporting the creation of a landscape level Nature Tourism Entity to have an umbrella

organization for Nature tourism service providers

10. Support the drafting of and help in establishing the implementation of Ethical Nature Tourism

principles or both the service providers and the clients

Detailed Scope of the work:

1. Initial Nature Guide Selection, Training and Workshops and Advanced Trainings

Baseline survey: A detailed baseline survey of the selected beneficiary/households will be done in

select project villages (List given in as annexure) to assess their current socio-economic status and also

to establish their pre-intervention income baselines. A similar post intervention survey will also be

conducted to assess the impact of the intervention on income enhancement of the selected households.

Of the few keystones for a successful Nature Tourism initiative, the first and most significant are the

people. Innately strong, in tune with the landscape and seasons and aware of their natural surrounding

the community is already in a good position to take the next and critical step of becoming actively

engaged Nature Guides.

The programme-implementing agency would need to work closely with communities initially to

promote nature tourism activities and then to identify people suitable for long-term training under

specific nature and outdoor guide training programmes.

Along with this, the implementing agency will be required to develop landscape specific training

programmes the curriculum for which should incorporate developing professional skills, active nature

observation engagements and inputs in the serious and scientific method to document nature

observations. The use of available citizen science tools may be promoted through these workshops.

Professionals from specific sectors – like butterflies, mammals, nature soundscapes, and flowering

plants may be hired to conduct skill upgradation sessions and such groups or individuals may also be

recruited to design short and long-term training programmes.

Finally, the training programme should include outreach programmes with local educational institutions

and at small community events – allowing the new guides to show case their skills and promote nature

conservation and nature tourism.

Over the during the programme period the implementing agency may seek to upgrade the skills of the

Nature Guides by helping arrange for higher skill level training either on site or in other appropriate

locations.

One example would be to seek the support of Cornell University’s Bird Sound Recording and Analysis

workshops conducted for advanced Birding enthusiasts and guides. Other similar advanced skill

programme may be identified and supported for implementation.

Combined with other low risk high impact adventure tourism activities it may be possible for Nature

Guides to also upgrade skills as Trip Leaders or in essential Wilderness Emergency response. Such skill

sets are more than just tourism multipliers and have a positive impact in regular and daily community

actions as well.

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2. Onsite Nature Trail Surveys and Establishing and Promoting Nature Tourism Circuits and Trails

Good and accurate documentation of the nature trails and nature circuits (Assessing Hardness

Classification, Distance, Hot-Spots, Trail specific USP, Ideal trek time and duration etc.) would be

essential in promoting Nature Tourism. The implementing agency would be required to use current and

accessible tools and conduct trail surveys that may constitute part of various training protocols. Outputs

may be in the form of Checklists incorporating seasonality, photo pamphlets, Citizen Science

documentation (ebirds, bird count India, ifoundbutterflies are some examples). The Nature trails

surveys must capture seasonal variations and provide inputs into feasible nature tourism activities across

the year.

Through informative pamphlets, posters, social media tools and through various government

programmes and information dissemination the programme is expected to highlight the high

biodiversity and natural heritage values in conjunction with pro conservation based livelihoods for the

landscape.

Proposals may be developed with detailed activities and cost breakup for atleast 3 nature trails in

landscape (2 in Pangi and 1 in Lahaul) for development of infrastructure part of those trails (pavers,

signages, visitor facility etc). The proposal will be submitted for accessing funds for same through

Government schemes for MGNREGA, Ecotourism society, Tribal Development funds etc.

3. Mini Festivals – Focus on Community Participation and Events

One of the lacunae in the slow uptake of tourism in the region is a dearth of positive information and a

lack of appreciation for the cultural and nature values of the landscape. The implementing agency would

be required to address this through a series of small events that broad-based Nature Tourism and

highlight the positive values that exists in the landscape. It would also be an occasion for the SECURE

Himalaya Programme beneficiaries to show case their skills and create active and positive engagements

with the larger communities. These events are expected to lead up to the marquee landscape level Nature

Tourism Nature Festival. At least 2 such mini events/festivals in collaboration with government

schemes/programmes.

4. First Marquee Landscape Nature Festival

The Pangi landscape suffers from bad press arising from a lack of awareness and paucity of accurate

information at the national and global level. The programme implementing agency would be expected

to collaborate with other departments/organization working in the sector and co-organize large and

unique events bringing together the local community and the new nature tourism service providers,

various Government Agencies, nature loving tourists and amateur and professional nature observers,

scientists, and students.

The festival could be designed to have a series of nature trail events (bird walks, tree walks, nature

treks), outdoor activities, visits by schools, talks by experts, short duration training programmes and the

publication and release of nature related literature and information (Bird Checklists, Posters on flora

and fauna etc).

The culminating events would be centered on a fair bringing together cultural activities, local

craftspeople, nature tourism and homestay service providers, SECURE Himalaya partners, and

concerned Government agencies. The fair is expected to focus on an accessible by non-typical location

that is planned and is being promoted as a hub for Nature tourism. Sechu Nallah (with a large school

ground and proximity to a variety of tourists trails and activities is one example.

5. Identifying and Selecting Iconic Species – That represent the cultural and natural heritage of the

area

The Lahual and Pangi landscape were chosen for the presence of one of the most enigmatic, elusive and

iconic Himalayan beings – the Snow Leopard. However, its elusiveness while providing mystery and

indications of high altitude drama will both hard to see and requiring of serious physical endeavors.

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However, the landscape already also has a variety of flora and fauna unique but not necessarily out of

reach.

The programme implementing agency would be expected to work with the community to identify such

iconic species and design nature events and trails that promote these species and their conservation.

While some species may remain static, the programme should plan for seasonal and temporral changes

in the chosen set of species across as many of the visible and accessible living groups as feasible.

One example is the Kashmir Nutcracker (Large-spotted Nutcracker) Nucifraga multipunctata. Globally

on the citizen sciences portal of ebird (there are only 81 observations of which 78 are from India and

only 8 observations from Himachal Pradesh. This species has a limited global presence but is very easily

seen in the Pangi Landscape – which is also home to the famous Chilgoza Pine (Pinus gerardiana). The

Chilgoza pine and the Kashmir Nutcracker have an intense ecological link and are just one of the many

stories waiting to be explored in the landscape.

A detailed proposal may be developed for exploring the possibilities of Winter Tourism in the

Landscape.

6. Exposure Visits of Guides to other locations and events

The programme-implementing agency would primarily focus on trainings within the landscape.

Marcel Proust, a French novelist in the early 19th century had this to say, “The real voyage of discovery

consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

So while the specific SECURE Himalaya programme makes ready to host travelers it is essential that

the hosts -i.e. the service providers – the guides experience new landscapes and other methods of work.

Ideas and experiences from similar habitats but difference landscapes or from altogether different

regions will help the landscape community grow in both thought and action.

7. Preparation of Local Plant, Bird, Butterfly and other Natural History Guides & Documenting

Natural History Folklore

A culmination output of the trail surveys and the nature guide training programmes and the visits by

professional nature educators is expected in the form of various Natural History Guides.

Along with Natural History, the programme also seeks to document the rich cultural heritage of folklore

related to the natural landscapes. Such records could be through documenting names of different flora

and fauna, stories, artwork, songs and music. These cultural elements would find space alongside the

publications on Natural History.

The ideal form could be field handouts, photo guides, multi fold pamphlets, and posters. Such outputs

should be designed to inform and educate and must at the ideally be bi-lingual – suitable for the local

community as well and incoming nature tourists.

The outputs are also expected to be part of the SECURE Himalaya landscape branding exercise.

Finally, the programme-implementing agency would need to support the community in putting in place

processes and procedures that will allow the required regular updates to the documentation.

8. Nature Tourism Calendar and Publicity and Promotion of Nature Tourism and Festival

If one of the keystones is a foundation of skilled resource people the next key is an active and exciting

publicity and promotion programme. One that reaches and engages the focused clientele – the

discerning nature traveler, the people who are seeking and willing to engage with communities and the

exciting but remote landscape.

Material drawn from the trail documentations and active social media presence highlighting cultural

and natural heritage values combined with a steady mix of planned events through an established nature

calendar would go a long way in promoting the right kind of tourism in the landscape.

Specific outputs could be,

a) Annual calendar of fixed programme events – focusing also on the local and marquee nature

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festivals

b) Seasonality calendar highlighting the best time and place to visit to observe natural

phenomenon

c) Social media presence though community run social media accounts

9. Institutional Set up and Setting in place – Booking, Payments and record keeping systems

The binding agent for a successful Nature Tourism programme will be a healthy, transparent and active

union of Nature Tourism enterprises. This could be either an umbrella organization for independent

operators or a federation comprising cohesive cluster level functional units in the form of

Panchayat/Village level Ecotourism Development Cooperative’s.

The programme-implementing agency would need to work with the community and the larger SECURE

Himalayan institutional partners to help create and establish such institutions. In addition, help the

institution and its members with the processes of good record keeping, basic accounts and finance

management and being able to handle commercial scale finances.

One component of this sub-activity would also be supporting and helping nature guides are registered

as per existing norms.

10. First season of Nature Tourism / Nature Guiding Events

Through the various training programmes and workshops, nature trail surveys, mini festivals and visits

by professionals it is expected that Nature Tourism will start to be established. Promotion by word of

mouth from the skilled visitors would be one of the important outputs.

The culmination of this would be for the Implementing agency to support, arrange and help organize

groups of nature tourists to the landscape. One significant group of such visitors could be researchers,

student groups and other scholars. Minimum 1 tour of 10-15 such selected participants to be organized.

11. Training modules and documentation

Concurrent to the various activities the implementing agency is expected to have adequate

documentation of the processes undertaken and help prepare training modules for the various

components. Such documentation and modules are in order to help with long term monitoring and allow

for self-replication.

12. Helping Develop Nature Tourism Guidelines for both hosts and guests

In order to promote a respectful relationship between the hosts and the guests and in order to make the

experience an enriching one the programme agency would need to work towards developing locally

acceptable Nature Tourism Norm, initially applicable to the SECURE programme beneficiaries with

the long-term goal of being subscribed to by the larger tourism community.

Concurrently clear expectations need to be laid out for the guests as well as to what are the nature

tourism principles - which could include aspects like

- Nature First - Anything harming or detracting from nature is to be avoided

- Protection from bargaining for services and rates (fixed rates and fixed services)

- Not everything is for sale (Souvenirs may be sought from specific locations)

- Waste disposal and carry in carry out policies

- Guidelines that prevent the sourcing and demand for intoxicants and other dangerous or illegal

substances

- Pricing Guidelines – The implementing agency is expected to help develop a standardized and

appropriate price range matched with services and facilities but importantly one that does not

undervalue either Nature Tourism or the skilled Service Providers

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13. Conservation action

Apart from betterment of the community through a diversified and hopefully secure livelihood, the

principle goal is to conserve the valuable, fast degrading fragile landscape. The implementing agency

would be required to help develop concrete conservation action plans. This could be (but not restricted

too)

• Creation of a conservation fund drawn from donations, and from contributions from people

benefitting from Nature Tourism

• Conservation action for specific vulnerable species and helping protect and re-wild degraded

landscapes

• Engaging actively to protect from harmful action

• Working with appropriate agencies to identify and plan for conservation action – example

BMC’s

• Instituting and promoting conservation action guidelines

14. Post intervention survey:

A post intervention survey will be carried out in similar lines as pre-intervention survey to assess

the impact of the intervention. An average 10% increase in the baseline income should be achieved

in one year. Further the homestay plan provided should target for 20% increase in baseline income

in next 2 years.

Note:

- All the activities will be done in close consultations and monitoring of H.P Forest Department,

Landscape Level Project Monitoring Committee’s (LLPMC), Landscape and State level

Ecotourism Societies, State Project Management Unit (SPMU), Landscape Level Project

Management Unit (LPMU).

- Atleast 40% women inclusion/participation will be mandatory in all the project

interventions/trainings.

- A Social and Environmental Risk assessment and mitigation plan should be there for all the

project activities.

- The Poor and underprivileged households/communities may be given priority

- All the beneficiaries should be from project villages given in the document.

Expected deliverables

1. Trained Pool of Nature Guides

2. Identification, Listing and documentation of Nature Trails and Circuits

3. Events and Festival Calendar accompanied by Nature Guides, Posters and Information

4. Institutional Framework – Support creation and strengthening

5. Organization of Events and Festival

6. Training and Workshops

7. Training modules and concurrent programme implementation documentation

8. Iconic Species – identification, selection, conservation and outreach

9. Nature information guides, pamphlets, posters

10. Positive and consistent engagement in Citizens science

11. Helping Draft ethical nature tourism guidlines – for both service providers and Clients

12. Conservation action

13. Supporting in the process of registering nature Guides, as per existing norms and practices

Thematic Nature Trails/Circuits

1. Bird Trails

2. Flower and Tree Trails

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3. High Altitude Ecology Trails

4. Mammal Trails

5. Chilgoza and Thangi Nature Trails

6. Livestock Nature Trails (Yaks)

Geographic Trails / Circuits

1. Chasak Bhatori Nature Trails

2. Sural Bhatori Nature Trail

3. Khanjar-Thanpattan Trail

4. Riverside Nature Trail

Timeline for implementation:

Activity Year 2021

Jan

to

Mar

Apr

to

Jun

Jul

to

Sept

Oct

to

Dec

Nature Guide Selection, Baseline Socio-economic Survey, Training &

Nature Tourism Calendar

Onsite Nature Trail Surveys

Mini Festivals – Focus on Community Participation and Events

Identifying and Selecting Iconic Species – that represent the cultural

and natural heritage of the area

Exposure Visits of Guides other locations and events

Revisions in Detailed Implementation Plans

Preparation of Local Plant, Bird, Butterfly and other Natural History

Guides

Establishing and Promoting Nature Tourism Circuits and Trails

Second / Advance Nature Guide Training – Multiple Small Groups

Documenting Natural History Folklore

Publicity and Promotion of Nature Tourism and Festival

First Marquee Landscape Nature Festival

Setting in place – Booking, Payments and record keeping systems

First Season of Nature Tourism / Nature Guiding Events

Post Intervention Impact Assessment Survey

Expected outcomes

Outcomes

Social Outcomes

▪ Creation of a pool of trained and registered Nature Guide

▪ Nature Tourism circuits are identified, documented and promoted

▪ Emphasis and reiteration on the values of the culture and bio-

diversity of the landscape

▪ Alternative to mass tourism

▪ Increased footfalls of Nature Tourists would attract both regulation

25

and eyes in the forests / alpine landscapes

▪ Nature festival becomes part of the local cultural landscape

▪ Greater awareness and education of bio-diversity heritage

▪ Identification and promotion of iconic species for the landscape

Economic Outcomes

▪ Increase in direct incomes through Nature Watching Activities

▪ Service Providers – Nature Guides, Homestays, Muleteers, Vehicle

owners and other suppliers are directly benefited by increase on

tourist footfalls through Nature Tourism based events

▪ Link to ancillary activities - New and Traditional goods and

services – Crafts, local foods and new valued added products will

find a ready market

▪ Reduced extractive stress on the physical landscape as families

would be gainfully engaged in Nature Watching and Homestay

Activities

▪ Conservation value of the landscape and its specific elements -

"nature" is highlighted

Deliverable’s and Payment Schedule:

Sr.

No.

Deliverable submission and approval Timeline Payment Schedule

(%age of total

assignment amount)

1. Inception Report with detailed methodology,

workplan with timelines

10 days 20%

2. First progress report with detailed of work

carried out including: Nature Guide Selection,

Baseline Socio-economic Survey, Nature

Guide Training report & Nature Tourism

Calendar

1 month 10%

3. Second progress report with detailed

documentation of Onsite Nature Trail

Surveys, reports on Mini Festivals organised

with focus on Community Participation and

Events, Identification and Selection of Iconic

Species – that represent the cultural and

natural heritage of the area i.e. Proposal of

Snow Leopard Winter Tourism Model,

Exposure Visit of Guides to other locations

and events

3 month 20 %

4. Mid-term progress report with report on

Preparation of Local Plant, Bird, Butterfly

and other Natural History Guides,

Establishment and Promotion of Nature

6 months 20 %

26

Tourism Circuits and Trails, Second /

Advance Nature Guide Training – Multiple

Small Groups, Documentation of Natural

History Folklore

5. Interim Progress report with details on

establishment of landscape level ecotourism

institutions/enterprise/cooperative/federation,

Publicity and Promotion of Nature Tourism

and Festival, First Marquee Landscape Nature

Festival, Booking, Payments and record

keeping systems

9 months 15 %

6. Final report with First Season of Nature

Tourism / Nature Guiding Events, post

intervention survey assessments and

incorporating all above reports.

12

months

15 %

27

Annexure:

List of project villages in Lahaul-Pangi Landscape, SECURE Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh:

Sr.

No.

Landscape Project village Panchayat

1. Lahaul Landscape Khanjar Tingret

2. Urgos (Urgus) Tingret

3. Udaipur Udaipur

4. Kurched Tindi

5. Bharaur Tindi

6. Bhujund Tindi

7. Hadsar Tindi

8. Lohni Tindi

9. Salgaraon Tindi

10. Thanwani Tindi

11. Tindi Tindi

12. Pangi Landscape Chasak Sechu

13. Chasak Bhatori Sechu

14. Mouji (Mojhi) Sechu

15. Saichu Sechu

16. Chaloli Dharwas

17. Dharwas Dharwas

18. Gaisal (Ghisal) Sach

19. Kuthal Sach

20. Sach Sach

21. Mahaliat Killar

22. Thamoh Killar

23. Parmas Killar

24. Kupha Killar

25. Seri Batwas Killar

26. Ghanghit Karyas

27. Hughal Karyas

28. Jhalwas Karyas

29. Praghwal Karyas

30. Pregaraon Karyas

31. Khinan Kumar

32. Purthi Purthi

33. Rusmus (Rusmas) Sural

34. Tai Sural

35. Sural Bhatori Sural