Issue: #14 | May 2015

ECOTOURISM

In this issue:
Ecotourism: Preserving
Indigenous Cultures
and Promoting Livelihood

Chhoti Haldwani A Community

Based Ecotourism Initiative

Thenmala The First Planned Popular Ecotourism

Ecotourism Destination in
Destinations
India

Fiinobservation of National Days

www.inova on.co.in

From the
Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty
CEO, Fiinova on (Innova ve Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd.)

CEOs Desk

A constantly changing climate has become the centrepoint of concern for

nations across the globe. Intense debates and discussions on the need for
corrective action and lowering factors that contribute to environmental
problems have been going on. While we engage ourselves in bringing effective
policies in place to counter climatic adversities, we also must focus on
preserving our environment lent to us in its purest form.
Our social development sector experiences have taught us and shown us that
ecotourism not only conserves fragile, pristine, and comparatively undisturbed
natural areas but also generates revenue for the local communities in the
surrounding areas. Apart from this, it also provides a platform for local
communities to highlight their cultural heritage through handicrafts, art and
culture, cuisine and hospitality among others.
This edition of DNote Xpress is dedicated to 'Ecotourism Making India
Incredible' keeping in mind the opportunity to promote tourism as an alternate
revenue generation activity, aligning with conservation measures in eco sensitive
zones. We, at Fiinovation, take pride in India's rich biodiversity, ecosystems and
cultural heritage, and understand that it should not only be protected but
promoted as well.
I believe ecotourism is a sustainable approach towards conservation
phenomenon, as often, the economic aspect is overlooked. There is a signicant
amount of expenditure that goes into the conservation measures and there is a
dependency on Central and State government budgetary allocations. Another
crucial aspect of conservation is creating livelihood opportunities for the local
communities, in order to reduce their dependency on natural resources.
Therefore, ecotourism is an appropriate solution to this social challenge.
It is in this context that I urge governments, corporations and civil societies to
promote ecotourism in India. With ecotourism, India will not only safeguard its
environment, but also promote its cultural heritage and well being of the local
people. I also urge individuals to become responsible travelers and safeguard the
environment for others to experience.
I dedicate this month to a vision towards making India truly incredible.

01

Ecotourism: Preserving Indigenous Cultures

and Promoting Livelihood
India has always caught the fancy of people from
around the world, so much so that migrants from
different parts of the globe chose to call it home,
after having moved away from their place of birth.
With the promise of endless riches, many
invaders and raiders plundered India in search of
wealth, leaving behind cultural footprints that got
deeply embedded in India's roots, and those that
form the core of its very existence even today.
Symbiosis of various cultures, over the period of
time, led to the creation of a unique India that
reects hues of all the cultures the country has
come to know.
India's affair with its visitors has crafted a history
that continues to attract attention of people
globally. It's no surprise that tourism is the
second largest service industry in India. Yet, it is
ranked 42nd in terms of tourist arrivals across
the globe. Besides being a source of foreign
exchange earnings, it is an instrument of
employment generation, poverty alleviation and
sustainable human development.
Travelling is associated with enjoyment,
adventure, relaxation and leisure. But beyond
this, tourism provides an opportunity for
conservation of nature along with livelihood

opportunities for local communities. The ongoing

serious discussions on the degradation of
forests, threats to endangered species and
environment is testimony to the rising concern on
depleting natural resources that once was
available in abundance.
Ecotourism can be the solution to this problem,
to an extent, as it helps protect nature,
acknowledge natural and cultural past of a region
while maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem
and providing benets to the local people.
Today, the chorus for responsible travelling is
gaining ground across the world. As the concept
of ecotourism promotes travelling to places with
rich vegetation, animal-life and cultural
inheritance, it plays a crucial role in the
conservation of biodiversity and improving social
well-being. It is also worth noting that ecotourism
provides a traveler with an understanding of
interdependency of human-life with the
surrounding environment. According to the World
Tourism Organization, ecotourism is one of the
fastest growing markets in the travel industry.
This points to the signicant contribution
towards progression of the world's economy.

02
The Indian government in collaboration with
United Nations Development Programme has
initiated projects to develop rural tourism
through its sub brand 'Explore Rural India', of
which many are ecotourism projects. With a view
to maintain the sanctity of each destination, the
Government of India is promoting ecotourism in
less travelled areas with an emphasis on
controlling the number of tourists arrival to the
place. Yet, there is a lot that can be done. The
corporations, especially from the tourism sector,
can ensure development of ecotourism hubs
catering to the needs of the travelers, and also
serve as a source of income for regional people,
communities, and other stakeholders which
depend on the natural resources for their
existence. The development of ecotourism
destinations can also be a part of Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The
Ministry of Tourism in India has set up basic
guidelines to maintain the local culture, traditions
and is investing efforts in its conservation,
discouraging purchasing products made from
endangered species, restricting access to avoid
disturbing the ora and fauna, and advocating
environment protection.
It is suggested that all the stakeholders,
including corporations and communities, should
follow the laid guidelines to ensure conservation
of forest.
This can also lead to additional benets and help
in:

Increase in foreign exchange at a higher rate

Promotion of natural infrastructures leading to
increased economic activities

Regional development of the surrounding area

Increased employment opportunities for the
local communities

Conservation

of natural resources, hence

preserving the identity of the target region

As ecotourism takes on a bigger role within the

Indian travel space, new destinations are being
explored and many destinations in India are being
added to the list. Further, with the development
of these regions, many inter-sector conicts can
be avoided. With concerted efforts from
government, corporations along with regional
communities, the ecotourism industry can grow
exponentially.

03

Chhoti Haldwani
A Community Based Ecotourism Initiative
Choti Haldwani, better known as Jim
Corbett's village, is located in the Nainital
District of Uttarakhand, on the Ramnagar Kaladunghi highway. The place was
inaugurated by the Honorable Chief
Minister of Uttarakhand on 4th August,
2003 at Chunakhan, on the outskirts of
Corbett Tiger Reserve. The village is home
to 138 families and earn their livelihood
mainly from agriculture. Some of the major attractions of the village are Corbett's house (which was
converted into a museum in 1967), the 'historical gun of Tej Singh' (that Corbett gave to Tej Singh, a villager),
'Moti's house' (a house that Corbett help build for Moti, his constant companion in the Kaladhungi jungles), the
wall of the village, the Chaupal (a public space), Diben Baba ji (an elderly gentleman from Corbett's time),
Aranya (the community diner), the iron foundries and the boar canal which date even further back.
Objectives :

To

take up tourism for the direct benet of the village

community alongwith with conservation

Capacity building, generation of awareness, training and

workshops, documentation and eld research in the eld of
ecotourism

Strategy:

Mobilisation

and consultations with local community members to promote the place as an

ecotourism hub

Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti (formed in 2002) implemented the project at the village level - to conduct
meetings, generate income and help organise visits to tourist spots

Identication of the Unique Selling Point (USP) of the village (Corbett Heritage Trail)
Undertaking other supporting activities such as training of people as guides, identifying home stays,
establishing a souvenir shop and an information kiosk

Impact:

Creation of new jobs and additional supplementary sources of livelihood

with the promise of more opportunities

Direct engagement of 30 people through the initiative

Increase in number of tourists to more than 1000 annually
Ensured equal distribution of prots by sending a portion of income from
all activities to the Samiti

Increased awareness about natural and cultural heritage and tourism

issues in local communities

04

Thenmala
The First Planned Ecotourism Destination in India
Situated at about 72 kms away from Thiruvananthapuram, Thenmala has gained popularity due to its
unique vistas, bio-diversity and functioning. This ecotourism destination is managed by Thenmala
Ecotourism Promotional Society, which is an undertaking of the Government of Kerala. It offers equal
opportunities for fun, adventure, leisure and learning the signicance and necessity of eco-friendly
measures for promoting tourism related activities.

Objectives :

To

develop Thenmala dam and its surroundings as a major tourist

destination

To promote ecotourism on the basis of sound principles of ecological

sustainability in the surrounding areas

To have a well planned tourist destination with emphasis on sustainable

tourism development so as to become a model for other destination
development programmes

Process and Strategy :

Discussions among local communities and civic authorities to control mass tourism in the outskirts of the sanctuary
Establishment of the Thenmala Eco-Tourism Promotional Society
Co-ordination with Forest Department, the Irrigation Department and Tourism Department for implementation of various activities in
association with each department

Private initiatives undertaken in surrounding areas such as providing accommodation, transportation facility etc.
Development of attractive tourist activities such as trekking, bird watching trails etc. through the institution of Eco-development Committees /
Participatory Forest Management Committees

Organising environment impact assessment for the destination and the satellite spots by Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI)
Impact :

Conservation of sensitive ecosystems

Made alternative livelihood available

to local communities
including 15 guides, reducing destruction and dependency on
forests

Ensured protection of forests from poachers and other illegal

encroachers

Facilitated

revenue generation for conservation of natural

resources for the benet of locals and enhanced ecotourism
experience

05

Popular Ecotourism Destinations

Kabini, Nagarhole National Park
Kabini, Nagarhole National Park, is an ideal
setting for an eagerly awaited vacation on the
serene backwaters of the River Kabini. The
place was once the hunting lodge of the
Maharaja of Mysore, and has been rated as
one of the top ve wildlife resorts/eco lodge in
the world by the British Tattler's Travel Guide.

Parambikulam
Parambikulam, Palghat, a popular wildlife sanctuary, is one of the best
ecotourism spots in Kerala. The destination is spread across 277 sq. kms
amidst a range of hills. The region plays host to scientically managed teak
plantation while the Kannimara Teak tree is the tallest and the oldest at 350
years. The retreat attracts the likes of wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers
and botanists. Around 250 species of birds have been identied in the
sanctuary. The place has an incredible oral diversity with 1320 species of
owering plants to its credit.

Hodka
Mawlynnong
Mawlynnong, referred to as 'God's own garden' has won the title of being the
cleanest village in Asia in 2003. It is a community based ecotourism
initiative, known for its cleanliness, and is located around 90 kms from
Shillong. The community has collectively made the effort to maintain the
ambience of a clean village. The destination is endowed with natural beauty
and offers treks to the famous living root bridge at a neighbouring village
Riwai. Besides this, the getaway is home to natural balancing rock which is a
sight to behold.

Hodka located in the district of Rann of Kutch,

lies at the centre of the Banni grassland in
Gujarat. It offers a perfect experience of rural
India and connects the tourists to the cultural
spirit of the local communities. The painstaking
efforts of the local communities has turned the
area into a picturesque locale with traditional
Bhungas (mud houses) adorning the village. It is
replete with architecture and arts, music and
dance, textiles and cuisine, unique panoramas
and topography.

Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia

Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia, is popularly called Diver's Paradise for its
exclusive dive resort and conservation centre. It is cocooned in an archipelago
of uninhabited islands. At the very core of marine biodiversity lies the private
resort island. Surrounded by 1220 sq km (465 sq mi/300,000 acre) Marine
Protected Area the island and the scuba diving sites are truly a paradise for
marine lovers.

Belize, Central America

Belize's topography compels visitors from far off places to visit the country,
located in Central America. It is bestowed with vast water bodies and exotic
marine life. Visitors ock to the destination to experience the natural
surroundings which offers opportunity to explore lagoons, caves, waterfalls,
rivers, wetlands, channels and reefs. Unspoiled by external intervention, the
place shelters exotic birds, three species of sea turtles, three types of
dolphins, river otters and one of the largest manatee population in the world.
A major tourist attraction is water excursion that includes sailing, snorkeling
and kayaking, allowing divers access to the animal's native habitats.

06

Tweets of The Month

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Food for Thought...

As per Ministry of Tourism, India earned
over Rs 3.22 lakh crore worth of foreign
exchange through tourism in the last
three years.
The growth rate of ecotourism in India is
15 to 20 percent
With 514 wildlife sanctuaries and 100
national parks, India is becoming a hub for
ecotourism (As per Ministr y of
Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, 2009)
In 60 countries, tourism is the number
one export, of which ecotourism
captures 20 to 25 percent of total travel
As per Tourism Satellite Account of India
2009-10 and subsequent estimation,
the employment generated through the
tourism sector during 2010-11, 201112 and 2012-13 were 57.94 million,
62.04 million and 66.96 million
respectively.

Hear the Inuencers Speak...

"Responsible and sustainable tourism should develop skills and take into consideration the reality of the human
footprint, tourism's social economic as well as its environmental impact."
- Sibongumusa Ngidi,
Chief Director for the Department of Na onal Tourism, South Africa

"The tourism sector has been increasingly recognized as a key engine for economic growth, especially in
developing and least developed countries. It is not only responsible for a signicant share of world GDP (5%) and
employment (6-7%), but is also an important source of foreign investment reaching as much as 30% of the
world service's exports. The number of international tourist arrivals is expected to reach 1.6 billion by 2020.
- Luigi Cabrini,
Director for Sustainable Development of Tourism, World Tourism Organiza on

"Denitely, the biggest challenge that the global tourism sector faces is sustainability. Sustainable tourism
development is as much about protecting the environment and societies as it is about creating wealth in
destinations through lucrative and long-lasting tourism enterprises."
- Taleb Rifai,
Secretary General, World Tourism Organiza on

"Manipur and other north eastern states have huge potential for tourism. The tourism industry requires little
investment but gets maximum returns. Everyone from tea sellers, taxi drivers to small homestay owners all can
earn their livelihood through tourism."
-Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister, India

"It was like heaven on earth, and almost immediately, I found this opportunity to purchase an island there. The
aim is to reverse environmental damage from overshing, deforestation and an eroding coastline. The focus is to
do something that will change the world, I couldn't have gone to Belize and built on an island and done something
like this, if it weren't for the idea it could be groundbreaking in the environmental movement."
- Leonardo Di Caprio,
Actor, UN Messenger of Peace on Climate Change

07

Fiinobservation of National Days

International Labour Day

World Press Freedom Day

1 May

3 May

International Biological
Diversity Day
22 May

India is slated to become the youngest

country in the world by 2020. With 1.2
billion people and the worlds fourth-largest
economy, Indias growth has been powered
by many hands that came together to
achieve this dream. Out of this, some have
been acknowledged while others continued
to work in anonymity. These unsung
heroes are our labourers.
The rst May Day celebration in India was
organised in Madras by the Labour Kisan
Party of Hindustan on 1st May, 1923. This
was also the rst time the red ag was used
in India.
It is estimated that India will add about 13
million new workers every year to its labour
pool. We should envisage an India where no
labourer should have to lead a life in penury
for want of opportunities and where their
standing in society is decided on the work
they do. Lets salute our workers for
investing their efforts in lending a strong
foundation to the nation. They deserve
dignity of life and respect as much as any
other working class in our society.

Freedom of the press is the freedom of

communication and expression through
mediums including various electronic media
and published materials (Sour ce:
Wikipedia). Every year on 3rd May, the
anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek
is observed as World Press Freedom Day.
This day is said to celebrate the fundamental
principles of freedom of press, assess its
state throughout the world, defend the
media from attacks on their independence
and pay tribute to journalists who have lost
their lives in the line of duty.
Media is not only a mirror of the society, it
works towards informing and educating
people and act as a medium of
communication between various channels of
society. It holds great power as it has the
ability to change a culture and sway public
opinion in a particular direction. Setting
limitations upon the press as to what kind of
information they can and cannot share,
greatly intrudes upon their freedom. Unless
this whole structure of ownership and
control in the media is changed, the press
cannot be free in the real sense.

There are 10 to 14 millions of species living

on earth, all of which are integral part of our
ecosystem. With more than 7 billion
population, we humans are the dominant
species on the planet. What makes us
different from the rest of is our ability to
think. Our continuous quest for progress led
us to witness industrial revolution and since
then we have remained unstoppable.
Realising the importance of safeguarding
the environment, the world stands together
to take initiatives for protecting the natural
habitat of millions of species. One such
initiative is International Biodiversity Day
which is dedicated to spreading awareness
regarding issues related to biological
diversity in the world. In December 2000,
UNGA adopted 22nd May as International
Biological Diversity Day with the view to
conserve biological diversity of the planet. In
India, we use the phrase "Anekta mein ekta"
for signifying the importance of unity and it's
time to use the same phrase in context of
biological diversity and implement it in our
development initiatives.

About Fiinovation
Fiinovation, a research based organization, is an integrated solution enabler in the CSR and sustainability domain. It is focused towards
enhancing quality across organizational value chain through meaningful innovation thereby ensuring sustainability. It is Asia's rst proposal
research laboratory wherein research is focused primarily on four sectors, which include health, education, livelihood and environment. The
practices CSR Portfolio Management (CPM), CSR-CSO Partnership, Initiative Design, Initiative Management, Monitoring and Evaluation,
Impact Assessment and Sustainability Reporting help provide simple solutions to their partners.
Fiinovation
24/30, Ground Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III
New Delhi - 110020
Phone: 011-42332200 | Fax : 011-42332205
website: www.inovation.co.in | Email: media@inovation.co.in