Community managed ecotourism An effective means of Red panda awareness and conservation Bibhushan Timsina ( Red Panda Network, Nepal ) Naveen K. Mahato ( Texas State University, USA & Red Panda Network, Nepal )

Nepal CHINA NEPAL INDIA BHUTAN BANGLADESH Elevation High Low

Tourism in Nepal

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 in the 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 degraded trail 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 ( ) 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 local level 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

RED PANDA NETWORK-NEPAL P. O. BOX KATHMANDU, NEPAL