Great Himalayan National Park:Community Based Ecotourism in the GHNP

Presentation by Sunshine Himalayan Adventures , Kullu

ECOTOURISM

For Nature Conservation

Why work in the GHNP

Support International Ecotourism Principles Unique Nature Based Tourism Attractions Pristine Buffer Zone with minimal disturbanceSupport Local CommunityProactive Park Management Local Kullu based Organization Networking with other NGO’s - Conservation with Community Development

Our Approach in the GHNP

Developing Income Generating Ecotourism ActivitiesEmpowering Local Communities by Ecotourism trainings Providing Marketing LinkagesHelping institutional Development of BTCA and the Park Administration

Developing Ecotourism Activities

Birding and Wildlife Eco Tours : Trekking Eco Tours : Mountaineering Tours : Climbed over 5 virgin peaks in the National Park with international groups Homestay: Developed and promoted over 5 home stays in the buffer zone Cultural Interpretation Tours Buffer Zone ActivitiesForest Learning Program for School KidsVoluntourism

Ecotourism Trainings

Trained over 150 unemployed youths of the Ecozone in ecotourism related activities From having a total of 100 man-days in ecotourism in 2003 to providing over 3500 Man-days in 2012 in the GHNP Average Income raised from Rs 5000 yearly through ecotourism to almost Rs 4000 per member per month by the ecotourism teamTurned Poachers into Birding Guides Awareness in the local community about ecotourism and hence protection of the park resources.

Institutional Development

Promoting interdependence through Voluntourism. Ecotourism Advocacy Over 100 international volunteers have done various projects with the local community like save the weaver, developing marketing linkages for BTCA products, labels, organic farming , ecotourism trainings etc. Providing infrastructure support to various researchers with the help of BTCAIndirect monitoring of the park and wildlife through the movement of touristsGenerating revenues for the Bio Diversity Conservation Society through entry tickets and use of the accommodation facilities like SaiRopa which is ploughed back into the community development initiatives of the park. Making sure that the tourists who visit the GHNP turn into Friends of GHNP and contribute through their network for community. Trained over 100 local youth from other protected areas in various aspects of ecotourism operations

Providing Marketing Linkages

Developing networks with likeminded international and national organizations like WWF , Bombay Historical Natural Society , RSBP, Various Birding Clubs, Government and Non Government Organizations Helping save traditional Handicrafts Providing markets for BTCA products directly sold to tourists Promotion of the park through having events like Click the Tragopan Contest , Organizing Bird Counts, writing articles for magazines, photography databases etc.Helping develop the website of the Park along with using various web 2 tools like Face book, Twitter, YouTube etc for prompting park as the marketing budget is very limitedMaximizing Word of Mouth Publicity

Challenges

Capacity Building within the community Loss of trained manpowerSeasonal nature of ecotourism Exploitation by non ecotourism companies Unplanned development of the area Vulnerability to Unplanned Hydel Project Development Vulnerability to Unplanned Mass Tourism Poaching of medicinal herbs and rare flora and fauna Getting Women directly involved into ecotourism

Achievements

Unique Concepts like click the Tragopan Contest Extensive Documentation of prime Species like Brown Bear and Western Tragopan First Ever Photograph of the Western Tragopan First Accent of Five peaks – Yeshe , Chakri, Snow Leopard peak , Tribulation Point and Sentinel PeakVolunteerism Start of various home-staysStart of various micro enterprises in the field of ecotourismPlacement of the Great Himalayan National Park in the World Ecotourism Map Supporting livelihood options of several unemployed youths in the buffer zone