Eco-Tourism

Outreach

Districts: 2 (Rudraprayag and Chamoli)

Villages: 60

Beneficiaries: 135

Revenues: 190000/ annum

Home to the spectacular Himalayas, the Garhwal region is blessed with prolific natural beauty, harboring sacred mountain peaks, life-giving rivers and bountiful forests. The allure of these serene, scenic habitats together with the mass appeal for some of India’s holiest shrines, gives this region enormous potential to develop a sound village based eco-tourism industry. At the state level, there is considerable interest to invest in eco-tourism. Yet, there is a dearth of genuine initiatives that truly live up to the ‘treading lightly’ ideals of eco-tourism. Specifically there are next to no eco-tourism enterprises attempted in interior parts of the state.

AT India initiated work on village based eco-tourism in 2004 to gauge its potential as a livelihood activity in the region. It has been functioning along the lines of the “bed and breakfast” model where food and lodging made available to tourists by participating village households. Ultimately, the idea is to link several eco-lodges to interpretation centers established by AT India in the area.

Over the years two approaches have been tested. One based on working with interested individual households and the second, working with a village based Self Help Group (SHG) that would jointly take up eco-tourism as an income generating activity.

Programme Highlights

After analyzing the opportunities and constraints for these activities, the project has contributed in several ways:

• Selecting sites for nature retreats and camps on the basis of location, potential for attracting tourists and; interest and motivation of the villagers.
  

• Identifying potential tourist activities around the nature retreats and developing camp curriculum in the case of nature camps.
  

• Designing and implementing a thorough training program wherein local stakeholders are trained on hospitality and hygiene, culinary skills and camp maintenance, together with business aspects of running a successful eco-lodge. Further, they are trained to guide their guests on the socio-cultural and natural features of the area. So far 71  BSPs (Business Service Providers), 13 anchors and 29 guides) have been imparted such training. Few of the local stakeholders were also sent to Sikkim for exposure on sound eco-tourism practices.
  

• Credit from UMM has been organized under the project for participating households to upgrade their facilities to tourist quality. This has involved construction of toilet and bathing facilities and renovation of sleeping quarters and outdoor spaces along with investments in furnishing.
  

• Publicity and marketing of the eco-tourism services is done through posters, travel exhibitions, on the ground agents in key cities and on-line reservations on a dedicated website (www.natureretreat.org).

The project thus aims to create a synergy between local ecotourism entrepreneurs, the conservation minded traveler, and the community as a whole.

Consequently in 2005, AT India, under the aegis of DNPCL, launched 2 categories of services under its eco-tourism mandate:

1. DevBhumi Nature Retreats: These cater to middle to upper-middle- class nature lovers; who enjoy proximity to nature with a modicum of comfort. It is aimed at persons who wish to enjoy the tranquility of the mountains through short nature walks, rather than long treks. (Click here to know more) link

2. DevBhumi Treks and Tours: These are designed for the trekking enthusiasts who are open to village home-stays and experiencing the extremes of nature. They are led by trained guides along mountain trails of varying intensities.

So far AT India has established 6 camps under DevBhumi nature retreats, of which 4 of the following are currently operational:

Mandakini Magpie Birdwatchers’ Camp, Kakdagat

The Village Lodge, Sari

Leopard’s Leap, Pothibasa  (picture right)

Panch Kedar Treks, Ukhimath

For further details look up www.natureretreats.org

Two more camps, are in the process of being set up this year in 2008. 

In these initial years, AT India's eco-tourism project has met with a good response. The proceeds from the tourists directly go to the participating households, providing them with a reliable though seasonal source of income. Average annual income for each participating household is approximately Rs 20,000.

Interpretation Centers

An integral component of ecotourism activities is interpretation centers. If properly delivered, interpretation not only enriches the ecotourism experience but also provides the basis for remembering and reliving it. Amongst the underlying causes of the threats identified, for the loss of biodiversity in the Central Himalayas is the lack of public awareness. Interpretation centers as an awareness building strategy have proved to have dramatically positive effects in several such contexts.

AT India in collaboration with BVIEER, Pune and consultation with the department of Botany, Kumaon University, has thus established two interpretation centers:

Lachhmoli village (approx. 14 kms before Srinagar; on the main Rishikesh –Badrinath highway)

Guptkashi (23 kms from Kedarnath, on the main Rishikesh- Kedarnath route)

These centers offer the following informational features:

· A detailed bio-geographical profile of the region in terms of its biological significance, endemic species, eco-system services performed as well as the major ecological threats to the region. The information have been presented in innovative easily interpreted formats with extensive use of 3D imagery, models and interactive audio visual facilities.

· The centers also provide information on the history, culture and economy of the region with an effort to show how these have impacted the environment, and the changes that it has wrought.

· Information has also been provided on the solutions that the project is working on and its expected impact over a 10 year time frame.

· A sales counter will also be housed at the Interpretation Center that apart from the NTFP based products, would also stock and sell literature and audio visuals on related environmental issues. The upkeep maintenance and operations of the center would be financed through an entry fee and sales of products/literature.

Ultimately the centers are expected to emerge as focal points for dissemination of regional information and raising the awareness of lakhs of tourists and pilgrims visiting the area each year.

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