DNote Xpress, Issue #14 May 2015
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This document discusses the importance of ecotourism in India, emphasizing its role in preserving indigenous cultures, conserving natural resources, and providing livelihoods for local communities. It highlights successful case studies such as Chhoti Haldwani and Thenmala, promoting responsible travel and government initiatives in developing ecotourism as a sustainable economic model. The content underscores the collaborative efforts needed from governments, corporations, and communities to expand ecotourism and protect India's biodiversity.
DNote Xpress, Issue #14 May 2015
- 1. Issue: #14 | May 2015 In this issue: Ecotourism: Preserving Indigenous Cultures and Promoting Livelihood www.fiinova on.co.in Chhoti Haldwani – A Community Based EcotourismInitiative Thenmala – The First Planned Ecotourism Destination in India Popular Ecotourism Destinations Fiinobservation of National Days ECOTOURISM
- 2. A constantly changing climate has become the centrepoint of concern for nations across the globe. Intense debates and discussions on the need for corrective action and lowering factors that contribute to environmental problems have been going on. While we engage ourselves in bringing effective policies in place to counter climatic adversities, we also must focus on preserving our environment lent to us in its purest form. Our social development sector experiences have taught us and shown us that ecotourism not only conserves fragile, pristine, and comparatively undisturbed natural areas but also generates revenue for the local communities in the surrounding areas. Apart from this, it also provides a platform for local communities to highlight their cultural heritage through handicrafts, art and culture, cuisine and hospitality among others. This edition of DNote Xpress is dedicated to 'Ecotourism – Making India Incredible' keeping in mind the opportunity to promote tourism as an alternate revenue generation activity, aligning with conservation measures in eco sensitive zones. We, at Fiinovation, take pride in India's rich biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural heritage, and understand that it should not only be protected but promoted as well. I believe ecotourism is a sustainable approach towards conservation phenomenon, as often, the economic aspect is overlooked. There is a signicant amount of expenditure that goes into the conservation measures and there is a dependency on Central and State government budgetary allocations. Another crucial aspect of conservation is creating livelihood opportunities for the local communities, in order to reduce their dependency on natural resources. Therefore, ecotourism is an appropriate solution to this social challenge. It is in this context that I urge governments, corporations and civil societies to promote ecotourism in India. With ecotourism, India will not only safeguard its environment, but also promote its cultural heritage and well being of the local people. I also urge individuals to become responsible travelers and safeguard the environment for others to experience. I dedicate this month to a vision towards making India truly incredible. Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty CEO, Fiinova on (Innova ve Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd.) From the CEO’s Desk
- 3. Ecotourism: Preserving Indigenous Cultures and Promoting Livelihood 01 India has always caught the fancy of people from around the world, so much so that migrants from different parts of the globe chose to call it home, after having moved away from their place of birth. With the promise of endless riches, many invaders and raiders plundered India in search of wealth, leaving behind cultural footprints that got deeply embedded in India's roots, and those that form the core of its very existence even today. Symbiosis of various cultures, over the period of time, led to the creation of a unique India that reects hues of all the cultures the country has come to know. India's affair with its visitors has crafted a history that continues to attract attention of people globally. It's no surprise that tourism is the second largest service industry in India. Yet, it is ranked 42nd in terms of tourist arrivals across the globe. Besides being a source of foreign exchange earnings, it is an instrument of employment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable human development. Travelling is associated with enjoyment, adventure, relaxation and leisure. But beyond this, tourism provides an opportunity for conservation of nature along with livelihood opportunities for local communities. The ongoing serious discussions on the degradation of forests, threats to endangered species and environment is testimony to the rising concern on depleting natural resources that once was available in abundance. Ecotourism can be the solution to this problem, to an extent, as it helps protect nature, acknowledge natural and cultural past of a region while maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem and providing benets to the local people. Today, the chorus for responsible travelling is gaining ground across the world. As the concept of ecotourism promotes travelling to places with rich vegetation, animal-life and cultural inheritance, it plays a crucial role in the conservation of biodiversity and improving social well-being. It is also worth noting that ecotourism provides a traveler with an understanding of interdependency of human-life with the surrounding environment. According to the World Tourism Organization, ecotourism is one of the fastest growing markets in the travel industry. This points to the signicant contribution towards progression of the world's economy.
- 4. 02 The Indian government in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme has initiated projects to develop rural tourism through its sub brand 'Explore Rural India', of which many are ecotourism projects. With a view to maintain the sanctity of each destination, the Government of India is promoting ecotourism in less travelled areas with an emphasis on controlling the number of tourists arrival to the place. Yet, there is a lot that can be done. The corporations, especially from the tourism sector, can ensure development of ecotourism hubs catering to the needs of the travelers, and also serve as a source of income for regional people, communities, and other stakeholders which depend on the natural resources for their existence. The development of ecotourism destinations can also be a part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The Ministry of Tourism in India has set up basic guidelines to maintain the local culture, traditions and is investing efforts in its conservation, discouraging purchasing products made from endangered species, restricting access to avoid disturbing the ora and fauna, and advocating environment protection. It is suggested that all the stakeholders, including corporations and communities, should follow the laid guidelines to ensure conservation of forest. This can also lead to additional benets and help in: Increase in foreign exchange at a higher rateŸ Promotion of natural infrastructures leading toŸ increased economic activities Regional development of the surrounding areaŸ Increased employment opportunities for theŸ local communities Conservation of natural resources, henceŸ preserving the identity of the target region As ecotourism takes on a bigger role within the Indian travel space, new destinations are being explored and many destinations in India are being added to the list. Further, with the development of these regions, many inter-sector conicts can be avoided. With concerted efforts from government, corporations along with regional communities, the ecotourism industry can grow exponentially.
- 5. Chhoti Haldwani A Community Based Ecotourism Initiative Objectives: To take up tourism for the direct benet of the villageŸ communityalongwith withconservation Capacity building, generation of awareness, training andŸ workshops, documentation and eld research in the eld of ecotourism Choti Haldwani, better known as Jim Corbett's village, is located in the Nainital District of Uttarakhand, on the Ramnagar - Kaladunghi highway. The place was inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Uttarakhand on 4th August, 2003 at Chunakhan, on the outskirts of Corbett Tiger Reserve. The village is home to 138 families and earn their livelihood mainly from agriculture. Some of the major attractions of the village are Corbett's house (which was converted into a museum in 1967), the 'historical gun of Tej Singh' (that Corbett gave to Tej Singh, a villager), 'Moti's house' (a house that Corbett help build for Moti, his constant companion in the Kaladhungi jungles), the wall of the village, the Chaupal (a public space), Diben Baba ji (an elderly gentleman from Corbett's time), Aranya (thecommunitydiner), the iron foundries and theboar canal whichdate even further back. 03 Strategy: Mobilisation and consultations with local community members to promote the place as anŸ ecotourism hub Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti (formed in 2002) implemented the project at the village level - to conductŸ meetings,generate incomeand help organise visitstotourist spots Identication of theUnique SellingPoint (USP) of thevillage(Corbett Heritage Trail)Ÿ Undertaking other supporting activities such as training of people as guides, identifying home stays,Ÿ establishing a souvenir shop and an information kiosk Impact: Creation of new jobs and additional supplementary sources of livelihoodŸ withthepromiseof more opportunities Directengagement of 30 people through theinitiativeŸ Increase in number of tourists tomorethan 1000 annuallyŸ Ensured equal distribution of prots by sending a portion of income fromŸ allactivitiestotheSamiti Increased awareness about natural and cultural heritage and tourismŸ issues in localcommunities 03
- 6. Thenmala The First Planned Ecotourism Destination in India 04 Objectives: To develop Thenmala dam and its surroundings as a major touristŸ destination To promote ecotourism on the basis of sound principles of ecologicalŸ sustainability inthe surrounding areas To have a well planned tourist destination with emphasis on sustainableŸ tourism development so as to become a model for other destination development programmes ProcessandStrategy: Discussionsamong localcommunitiesand civicauthorities tocontrolmass tourism in theoutskirts of the sanctuaryŸ Establishment of the Thenmala Eco-Tourism Promotional SocietyŸ Co-ordination with Forest Department, the Irrigation Department and Tourism Department for implementation of various activities inŸ association witheach department Private initiativesundertaken in surrounding areas such as providing accommodation, transportation facilityetc.Ÿ Development of attractivetourist activitiessuch as trekking, bird watching trailsetc.through the institutionof Eco-development Committees/Ÿ Participatory ForestManagement Committees Organising environment impactassessment for the destination and the satellitespots by Kerala ForestResearchInstitute(KFRI)Ÿ Impact : Conservation of sensitiveecosystemsŸ Made alternative livelihood available to local communitiesŸ including 15 guides, reducing destruction and dependency on forests Ensured protection of forests from poachers and other illegalŸ encroachers Facilitated revenue generation for conservation of naturalŸ resources for the benet of locals and enhanced ecotourism experience Situated at about 72 kms away from Thiruvananthapuram, Thenmala has gained popularity due to its unique vistas, bio-diversity and functioning. This ecotourism destination is managed by Thenmala Ecotourism Promotional Society, which is an undertaking of the Government of Kerala. It offers equal opportunities for fun, adventure, leisure and learning the signicance and necessity of eco-friendly measures for promoting tourism related activities.
- 7. Mawlynnong Mawlynnong, referred to as 'God's own garden' has won the title of being the cleanest village in Asia in 2003. It is a community based ecotourism initiative, known for its cleanliness, and is located around 90 kms from Shillong. The community has collectively made the effort to maintain the ambience of a clean village. The destination is endowed with natural beauty and offers treks to the famous living root bridge at a neighbouring village Riwai. Besides this, the getaway is home to natural balancing rock which is a sight to behold. 05 Popular Ecotourism Destinations Kabini, Nagarhole National Park Kabini, Nagarhole National Park, is an ideal setting for an eagerly awaited vacation on the serene backwaters of the River Kabini. The place was once the hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Mysore, and has been rated as one of the top ve wildlife resorts/eco lodge in the world by the British Tattler's Travel Guide. Parambikulam Parambikulam, Palghat, a popular wildlife sanctuary, is one of the best ecotourism spots in Kerala. The destination is spread across 277 sq. kms amidst a range of hills. The region plays host to scientically managed teak plantation while the Kannimara Teak tree is the tallest and the oldest at 350 years. The retreat attracts the likes of wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers and botanists. Around 250 species of birds have been identied in the sanctuary. The place has an incredible oral diversity with 1320 species of owering plants to its credit. Hodka located in the district of Rann of Kutch, lies at the centre of the Banni grassland in Gujarat. It offers a perfect experience of rural India and connects the tourists to the cultural spirit of the local communities. The painstaking efforts of the local communities has turned the area into a picturesque locale with traditional Bhungas (mud houses) adorning the village. It is replete with architecture and arts, music and dance, textiles and cuisine, unique panoramas and topography. Hodka Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia, is popularly called Diver's Paradise for its exclusive dive resort and conservation centre. It is cocooned in an archipelago of uninhabited islands. At the very core of marine biodiversity lies the private resort island. Surrounded by 1220 sq km (465 sq mi/300,000 acre) Marine Protected Area the island and the scuba diving sites are truly a paradise for marine lovers. Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia Belize's topography compels visitors from far off places to visit the country, located in Central America. It is bestowed with vast water bodies and exotic marine life. Visitors ock to the destination to experience the natural surroundings which offers opportunity to explore lagoons, caves, waterfalls, rivers, wetlands, channels and reefs. Unspoiled by external intervention, the place shelters exotic birds, three species of sea turtles, three types of dolphins, river otters and one of the largest manatee population in the world. A major tourist attraction is water excursion that includes sailing, snorkeling and kayaking, allowing divers access to the animal's native habitats. Belize, Central America
- 8. Tweets of The Month 06 IIrene Lane@GreenloonsEco #Ecotourismdestination #Indiacasts its spell with#nature enthusiastshttp://ow.ly/LqYRG Utah:ParksRecTourism @UofUPRT Unsurprisingly, #ecotourism is a growing trend and it is easy to make #sustainable choices in your #travels http://ow.ly/LdRX4 #UtahPRT MEET Network@MedEcotourism #Ecotourism bringspoverty reduction to communities surroundingnatural reserveshttp://ow.ly/KNevh via @natureworldnews Agni Travel@AgniTravel It's always great to know that the destination you're visiting is conscious of #EcoTourism http://goo.gl/5h1sTM #Holiday #Travel #Greece NL ambassador SA @marisagerards Good visit to @HighgateOstrich learning about ostrich trade, products and #ecotourism.. Asper Ministry of Tourism, India earned over Rs 3.22 lakh croreworth of foreign exchange through tourism inthelast threeyears. The growth rate of ecotourism in India is 15to 20percent With 514 wildlife sanctuaries and 100 national parks, India is becoming a hub for ecotourism (As per Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 2009) In 60 countries, tourism is the number one export, of which ecotourism captures20 to25 percentof totaltravel As per Tourism Satellite Account of India 2009-10 and subsequent estimation, the employment generated through the tourism sector during 2010-11, 2011- 12 and 2012-13 were 57.94 million, 62.04 million and 66.96 million respectively. Food for Thought... "Responsible and sustainable tourism should develop skills and take into consideration the reality of the human footprint, tourism's socialeconomicas wellas itsenvironmental impact." - Sibongumusa Ngidi, Chief Director for the Department of Na onal Tourism, South Africa "The tourism sector has been increasingly recognized as a key engine for economic growth, especially in developing and least developed countries. It is not only responsible for a signicant share of world GDP (5%) and employment (6-7%), but is also an important source of foreign investment reaching as much as 30% of the world service'sexports. The number of international tourist arrivals isexpected toreach 1.6 billionby 2020.” - Luigi Cabrini, Director for Sustainable Development of Tourism, World Tourism Organiza on "Denitely, the biggest challenge that the global tourism sector faces is sustainability. Sustainable tourism development is as much about protecting the environment and societies as it is about creating wealth in destinations through lucrativeand long-lasting tourism enterprises." - Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, World Tourism Organiza on "Manipur and other north eastern states have huge potential for tourism. The tourism industry requires little investment but gets maximum returns. Everyone from tea sellers, taxi drivers to small homestay owners all can earn their livelihood through tourism." -Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India "It was like heaven on earth, and almost immediately, I found this opportunity to purchase an island there. The aim is to reverse environmental damage from overshing, deforestation and an eroding coastline. The focus is to do something that will change the world, I couldn't have gone to Belize and built on an island and done something likethis,ifitweren't for theidea itcould be groundbreaking intheenvironmental movement." - Leonardo Di Caprio, Actor, UN Messenger of Peace on Climate Change Hear the Inuencers Speak...
- 9. International Labour Day 1ⁿ May World Press Freedom Day 3 May International Biological Diversity Day 22ⁿ May Fiinobservation of National Days 07 Fiinovation, a research based organization, is an integrated solution enabler in the CSR and sustainability domain. It is focused towards enhancing quality across organizational value chain through meaningful innovation thereby ensuring sustainability. It is Asia's rst proposal research laboratory wherein research is focused primarily on four sectors, which include health, education, livelihood and environment. The practices CSR Portfolio Management (CPM), CSR-CSO Partnership, Initiative Design, Initiative Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, ImpactAssessmentand SustainabilityReporting help provide simplesolutions totheirpartners. Fiinovation 24/30, Ground Floor,Okhla Industrial Estate,Phase III NewDelhi-110020 Phone: 011-42332200| Fax : 011-42332205 website: www.inovation.co.in | Email:media@inovation.co.in Freedom of the press is the freedom of communication and expression through mediums including various electronic media and published materials (Source: Wikipedia). Every year on 3rd May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is observed as World Press Freedom Day. This day is said to celebrate the fundamental principles of freedom of press, assess its state throughout the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost theirlivesinthelineof duty. Media is not only a mirror of the society, it works towards informing and educating people and act as a medium of communication between various channels of society. It holds great power as it has the ability to change a culture and sway public opinion in a particular direction. Setting limitations upon the press as to what kind of information they can and cannot share, greatly intrudes upon their freedom. Unless this whole structure of ownership and control in the media is changed, the press cannot be freeintherealsense. India is slated to become the youngest country in the world by 2020. With 1.2 billion people and the world’s fourth-largest economy, India’s growth has been powered by many hands that came together to achieve this dream. Out of this, some have been acknowledged while others continued to work in anonymity. These “unsung heroes” are our labourers. The rst May Day celebration in India was organised in Madras by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on 1st May, 1923. This was also the rst time the red ag was used in India. It is estimated that India will add about 13 million new workers every year to its labour pool. We should envisage an India where no labourer should have to lead a life in penury for want of opportunities and where their standing in society is decided on the work they do. Let’s salute our workers for investing their efforts in lending a strong foundation to the nation. They deserve dignity of life and respect as much as any other working classinour society. There are 10 to 14 millions of species living on earth, all of which are integral part of our ecosystem. With more than 7 billion population, we humans are the dominant species on the planet. What makes us different from the rest of is our ability to think. Our continuous quest for progress led us to witness industrial revolution and since then wehave remained unstoppable. Realising the importance of safeguarding the environment, the world stands together to take initiatives for protecting the natural habitat of millions of species. One such initiative is International Biodiversity Day which is dedicated to spreading awareness regarding issues related to biological diversity in the world. In December 2000, UNGA adopted 22nd May as International Biological Diversity Day with the view to conserve biological diversity of the planet. In India, we use the phrase "Anekta mein ekta" for signifying the importance of unity and it's time to use the same phrase in context of biological diversity and implement it in our development initiatives. About Fiinovation