My involvement with ecotourism began in 1995 when I became the South Asia coordinator for the USAID supported Biodiversity Conservation Network.
The project was designed to promote an enterprise-based approach to conservation, the premise being that if local communities are given a financial incentive, then they will be willing partners in conservation. Ecotourism was viewed as a low-impact enterprise based on natural resources. Each project had three basic tenets to follow. The enterprise had to enhance biodiversity in the area or at least ensure that biodiversity is not degrading; the enterprise should bring livelihood benefits to the local communities, the benefits should be equitably distributed and finally the business itself should be viable. This meant that there was an intensive monitoring component in each project and the organisations involved were selected on the basis of their ability to do so.
Thus began my journey on the ecotourism tract and my exposure started with two projects in the region that have gone on to become pioneering initiatives in this field. One was a project in the buffer zone of the Chitwan National Park in Nepal and the other focussing on the Yuksam-Dzongri-Goecha La trekking trail in the Indian state of Sikkim.
Ecotourism was a relatively new concept in the region then and successful examples were few and far between. This situation has changed over the years and now there are several interesting case studies across India and other countries. My interest in the subject also grew and my next involvement was with the WWF India supported community-based homestay programme near the high altitude lake of Tso Moriri.
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| Ecotourism Development in India: Communities, Capital, and Conservation |
At this point, I felt very strongly that there was very little documentation on ecotourism specifically related to India and I urged my colleague Syed Liyakhat from Equations (an organisation that works on issues of tourism) to co-author a book on ecotourism in India, titled 'Ecotourism Development in India: Communities, Capital and Conservation'. The book is an analysis of ecotourism policy both in the international and national context followed by a compilation of select ecotourism related case studies. It took years for the book to become a reality and it was finally published in 2008 in collaboration with the Centre for Environment Education and Cambridge University Press.
The Andamans
In 2007, I became part of research project titled “Building a Base for Advocating Sustainable Tourism in the Andamans” conceived and implemented by EQUATIONS, Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology, INTACH Andaman & Nicobar Islands Chapter, Kalpavriksh, Tata Institute for Social Sciences and Action Aid International (India, A&N Unit). The aim of the project was to present an analysis of current status of tourism and proposed tourism development and an assessment of social, cultural, economic, environmental, institutional and policy impacts of tourism in the Andaman Islands. This was done through primary and secondary data collection. The report also collated the perceptions, experiences and perspectives of a range of players in tourism – as to the extent to which tourism benefits them and what the dynamics and issues around tourism development are. This was certainly a key step to help raise concerns and draw attention to issues of tourism as a vehicle for sustainable development and to the sustainability of tourism in the Islands. An article I wrote soon after this project can be accessed here. Much has happened on the islands since the report was released. First, there was the issue of the siting of particular resort close to the Jarawa reserve and then the tragic death of a tourist as a result of a crocodile attack. All these issues only highlight the need for adequate tourism planning.
Certification
Ecotourism has today become the flavour of the day, even in India. There are now several hundred so-called ‘ecotourism’ initiatives mushrooming all over the country, most planned individually, with no standards to go by. While ecotourism can be beneficial, the lack of standards can do inordinate harm. As my work with ecotourism continued, I realised that were no set standards for ecotourism in India and there was definitely a need for the same. I have realised over the years that what is required is some kind of ‘certification’ that assesses, monitors, and gives written assurance that an ecotourism initiative conforms to specific requirements. Certification awards a marketable logo or seal to those that meet or exceed baseline standards, i.e. those that, at a minimum, comply with the national and regional regulations, and, typically, fulfil other declared or negotiated standards prescribed by the program. Ecotourism certification should measure a range of environmental, socio-cultural and economic equity issues both internally (within the business, service or product) and externally (on the surrounding community and physical environment). In other words, a program or scheme that includes a set of principles that tour operators can subscribe to.
Certification of ecotourism/sustainable tourism can help to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of tourism. It could also help ensure that the tourism industry is held accountable. As of now, there is no standard ecotourism certification program in India.
In 2008, I was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and got the opportunity to work with the Centre for Responsible Tourism (CREST) and its co-director, Martha Honey who is one of the pioneers in ecotourism and its certification. I focused on looking at the viability of ecotourism certification in India.