potential impacts of ecotourism on livelihoods and … conservation threats with ecotourism...
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Potential Impacts of Ecotourism on Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management
A Social Enterprise Approach Presented by: Dr. Don Hawkins
Why Ecotourism for alternative livelihoods?
• Tourism supports 10% of all economic activity on the planet
and 8% of all global employment
• Sustainable tourism is growing 3x faster than the tourism
industry overall
• Tourism employs natural and cultural assets as capital
• Tourism provides incentive to preserve and conserve natural
and cultural assets
• Tourism is a labor intensive activity that provides alternative
livelihoods for local communities neighboring protected areas
Ecotourism’s Importance to Protected Areas “Tourists demand places that are unpolluted and free from waste. Many tourists
also appreciate the wildlife and flora around them… In a recent survey of high-
volume tourism companies, many reported that large numbers of their clients take
excursions to see wildlife at some point during their holidays. Biodiversity is a
main component of specialist holidays, whether based on scuba diving around
coral reefs or on wildlife watching.” –Convention on Biological Diversity, 2007
• Tourists are drawn to biologically diverse
areas
• Tourism is often the only non-extractive
economic option in and around protected
areas
• According to a World Bank study, “natural
capital” accounts for 26% of total wealth in
low-income countries
Addressing Conservation Threats with Ecotourism
Destination
Protected Area
Species
Habitat
Unsustainable Forestry, Flora
& Fauna
Coral Mortality
Solid Waste Pollution
Nutrient Pollution
Lack of Economic Alternatives
Coral Bleaching
Visitor Disturbance (coral breakage,
sunscreen pollution)
Dive/Snorkel Boat Anchor Damage
Sedimentation
Lack of Infrastructure
(trash bins, trash pick up services)
Lack of Local Conservation
Awareness
Global Warming
Lack of Visitor Conservation
Awareness
Lack of Monitoring & Research
Lack of Conservation
Funding
Lack of Tourism Regulations &
Guidelines
Unsustainable Tourism
Development
Develop voluntary or mandatory protected
area user fees
Develop PA or conservation-themed brands and merchandise
Target resource extractors with
sustainable tourism employment
Indirect Threats
Direct
Threats
Target
Condition
5
Social Enterprise: social mission driven
organizations which apply market-based
strategies to achieve a social purpose.
“The movement includes both non-profits that use business
models to pursue their mission and for-profits whose primary
purposes are social”
Examples of Social Enterprises
Today’s development
challenges are complex
We need business
led solutions like
ecotourism
Established companies offer marketing support to enterprises in
exchange for their adoption of sustainability criteria, environmental
best practices, or other forms of direct conservation support
How To: Inclusive Business Approach
Improved marketing & promotion
Sustainability criteria / best practices
Training & technical assistance Financial or in-kind support
Increased sales & revenue Quality assurance
Ecotourism Social
Enterprise
Case Studies
Pearls of Uganda
• Local communities were seen as the
biggest threats to conservation due
to lack of alternative livelihood
opportunities
• Supported the creation of 18
Ecotourism Social Enterprises that
were committed to addressing
conservation threats
• Developed a marketing and sales
program to connect enterprises to
over 30 private tourism companies
• 60% increase in revenue in targeted
social enterprises over 2 years
Bale Mountain Ecolodge, Ethiopia
• Local communities were seen as the biggest
threats to conservation due to lack of
alternative livelihood opportunities
• The lack of visitor services and
accommodations to attract visitor spending
• Worked with the Government of Ethiopia to
create a concession policy to enable impact
investments
• Developed feasibility studies and attracted
$1 million in impact investments to build an
ecolodge
• Lodge is under construction and anticipated
to employ 75+ local community members
Choco Community Tours, Colombia
• Local communities were seen as the biggest
threats to conservation due to lack of alternative
livelihood opportunities
• Created an alliance of 4 different ecotourism
social enterprises that were unable to reach the
market
• Provided training and technical assistance to
create multi-day tours and packages
• Developed a marketing and sales partnership
with a tour operator to help implement marketing
strategy and manage reservations
Strategy to support
Ecotourism Social
Enterprises in Myanmar
Myanmar Recommendations 1. Identify & nurture ecotourism social enterprise entrepreneurs
&impact investment funds
2. Create social enterprise ecotourism incubators to assist with
business planning, training, and access to capital & markets
3. Develop partnerships between social enterprises and their
communities & clients) to support protected area management and
conservation strategies.
4. Create mechanisms to mobilize scientific, academic, volunteer and
educational (SAVE) domestic, regional and international resources
5. Integrate ecotourism social enterprises into Myanmar’s destination
marketing and energy efficiency/green economy initiatives