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Community managed ecotourismAn effective means of Red panda awareness
and conservationBibhushan Timsina (Red Panda Network, Nepal)
Naveen K. Mahato (Texas State University, USA & Red Panda Network, Nepal)
Nepal
CHINA
NEPAL
INDIA
BHUTAN
BANGLADESH
ElevationHigh
Low
Tourism in Nepal
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year
Nu
mb
er o
f in
tern
atio
nal
to
uri
sts
(in
th
ou
san
ds)
Eco-tourists
Nepal’s ecotourism destinations
Major destinations
Tourism and conservation Tourism generates revenue for
conservation Economic benefits to the locals for
conservation Economic benefits often not retained in
the targeted community Both positive and negative impact on
culture Ecological impact significantly observed
Ecological impacts of tourism - Chitwan Trampling by high number of vehicles/elephants
carrying tourists Impact on forest regeneration Reduced soil permeability
Negative impact on second largest population of the endangered Indian Rhinoceros inthe world
Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Ecological impacts of tourism – Everest Deforestation – very significant
To meet energy need of tourists Construction/maintenance of infrastructure
Solid waste and garbage deposal
Soil erosion and degradedtrail conditions
Wildlife habituated to human presence – low reproductive success
Himalayan tahr in Everest, Nepal
Red Panda Network – Nepal (RPN) Four years of establishment Goal – Conservation of red panda, its
habitat and associated species Focus – Community and Conservation Activities
Scientific research Community-based monitoring of red panda and
other rare species Conservation education Community development
Red panda in Nepal
RPN project area
Red panda eco-tour First tour in 2006
Second tour in 2007
So far 7 groups of intl. tourists including (2006-2010) Photographer & filmmakers Conservationists & biologists University students Nature lovers
Several groups of native tourist
Red panda-based tourism enterprises A sustainable livelihood
alternative
Conservation incentives
Pilot project in Upper Mai Valley
Major attractions Red panda
Rhododendron & mixed forests
Mountain peaks
Ethnicity & culture
Pilot implementation - Mai Valley Formation of tourism management group
Role division
Preparation of management mechanism
Benefit sharing mechanism
Capacity building
Marketing and promotion
Eco-tours
Preliminary findings Need of additional infrastructure
Identification of supplementary tourism products
Identification and collaboration with other partners and stakeholders
Marketing and promotion
Replication potentials
Challenges Ecological sustainability
Safeguarding the negative impacts on Vegetation and wildlife Physical environment Traditions and culture
Maximum benefits to the local community
Capacity of local community
Balance with other livelihood opportunities
Future directions Careful monitoring of
tourism impacts
Adaptive management
Policy formulation at locallevel for eco-tourism management
Enhancement of local capacity
Acknowledgments The entire RPN team, esp. Ms. Anugraha Sharma,
Mr. Sunil Shakya, Mr. Kamal Kandel. Community at project site District Forest Office – Ilam and Panchthar Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Department of National Parks & Wildlife
Management (DNPWC) Mr. Jitendra Bhattarai, NTB Mr. Sunil Sharma, NTB Dr. Ken Mix, Texas State University, USA
