Aboriginal tourism and biodiversity
Sylvie Blangy University of Wisconsin Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development program G. Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies Department of Geography. Sept 26, 2007
Aboriginal tourism presents an important opportunity to protect and conserve not only biodiversity, but also cultural diversity and traditional knowledge
他 Collaborative research on line, using web based technologies & the content of a guide book with 183 initiatives 他 Partnership with 2 Aboriginal communities in Northern Canada, Inuit & Cree 他 Case studies of conservation based tourism
Who am I? A consultant and a researcher in aboriginal tourism 他 Rural Tourism officer in the South of France, 他 Consultant in ecotourism for 15 years, (50 assignements, 40 countries) 他 Instructor, lecturer in 5 Universities in France, Master in Ecotourism, Montpellier 他 Researcher, European Marie Curie fellowship, Carleton University, Ottawa
Where am I based & hosted? At Carleton University in Ottawa
Scientific Advisor; Nancy Doubleday
What am Iindoing in Canada? Research project Canada Research on aboriginal tourism, conservation of biodiversity, cultural revival & land management In partnership with 2 to 3 communities. – –
Cape Dorset, Nunavut Moose Factory Island, Ontario
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Is community based Ecotourism generating new innovative sustainable land and natural resources management strategies and models and helping to preserve and revive local cultures & biodiversity?
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Are indigenous communities influenced and inspired by visions of sustainability in the development of ecotourism related activities in their land management practice, the conservation of the biological diversity and the revival and/or the preservation of their cultural integrity?
The first worldwide guide book on Indigenous tourism 400 community based tourism initiatives were identified in 2005
For the ‘Guide des destinations indigènes’ we selected: – 183 initiatives from 60 countries in 5 continents The book was released in April 2006 – 2000 copies sold – Distributed in French speaking countries, Quebec included
Community based tourism is thriving all other the world
Indigenous People & Biodiversity ¾ IP comprise 5 % of the world’s population ¾ IP embody 80% of world’s cultural diversity ¾ Highest diversity in language spoken. Over 6000, 5000 are indigenous ¾ IP occupy 20% of the world’s land surface ¾ IP nurture 80% of the world’s biodiversity on ancestral lands & territories (hot spot)
Cultural diversity • Haida, Cree, Innu, Canada • Imraguens, Mauritania • Kali’na, French Guyana • Ye’Kuana, Venezuela • Zulu, South Africa • Maasaï, East Africa • Aboriginals, Australia • Quechua, Cofan,Infiernos Bolivia, Ecuador • Bribri, Costa Rica • Maya, Belize.
Book expensive, 30 Euros French speaking audience, Can’t be updated
Connect communities, exchange information, and lessons learnt
A new Web Site: www.sylvie-blangy.org A new web-site is created www.sylvie-blangy.org - to connect the communities so that they could exchange information and the many lessons learned - to promote the various communities -to reach a much broader audience -to upload the English version & update them.
The web master uses a Content Management Systems such as SPIP (spip.net) as the core engine of the website and implements a variety of integrated technologies; either from existing software, or by the creation of new web-based products
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Guide book downloaded on my web site
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Communities located on the Google map
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Forum of discussion between visitors & communities
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Survey (Quickpool)
With the help of a Web Master
opessin@gmail.com
www.spip.net
http://www.google.com/apis/maps/
All the case studies are uploaded & have an English version
Google Maps™ is integrated to provide a visual connection for readers interested in the geographic placement of the communities
The Google Map
http://spip.sylvie-blangy.org/spip.php?page=bigmap&id_rubrique=3
Quickpool: an integrated web based survey • An online edition of the survey composed of closed questions • Online answering of the survey with secure URL access • Automated mailing process that allows to quickly contact hundreds of people with nominative invitations. • Exportation of all data as a table (Excel or HTML compatible). • Display of a frame alongside each case study indicating the answers to the survey. •
An interactive Google Map representation of the survey results
An online edition of the survey composed of closed questions
Interactive
Online answering of the survey with secure URL access
Automated mailing process that allows to quickly contact hundreds of people with nominative invitations.
Display of a frame alongside each case study indicating the answers to the survey.
An interactive Google Map representation of the survey results
select a question from the survey and have the results displayed as colored pins see the importance of one answer by the dominant color.
Clicking on this pin displays the comments I have selected the most significant over the map questions relevant to your program
The motivations • Raise awareness: reach the international community – Land claims – Conflicts with logging or mining companies
• Improve the well being of community members – Jobs, employments – New source of income – Support development & conservation projects
• Develop cross cultural exchanges – Share knowledge, – Get to know other cultures
For 21% of the communities, tourism was initiated as a way to manage biodiversity and resources
The benefits Support community projects – schools, clinics, wells, cooperatives…) Contribute to the conservation of biodiversity – Encrease in protected areas (reserves, conservancies) – Ecological restoration – Restocking, reintroduction of threatened species Bring pride to the community – Cultural revival – Art work enhanced (totem carving, jewelery, basket making…) – Traditional ceremonies revived (potlach, healing sessions)
For 70%, tourism finances conservation projects
38% have ownership of the totality of their land
72% consider they are located in a biodiversity hot spot
52% are carrying out an ecological restoration project
1/3 has conducted a restocking program
50% are hosting a research program & working with scientists
64% run their accomodation in a environmentally friendly way
Cree Village Ecolodge, Moose Factory; Ontario
Ouje Bougoumou Ecovillage, Quebec
Furniture at the Cree Village Ecolodge
68% all speak their native language
What kind of projects are supported by tourism revenues? Schools
Women cooperatives
Ecological restoration projects
Blue Aras: Pantanal, Brazil
Baboon Sanctuary in BĂŠlize
Research, Scientific projects Ecovolonteer program In Bolivia
Community Baboon Sanctuary in Belize • • • • • • • •
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Founded in February of 1985 Initiated by Robert Horwich, to conserve one of the last healthy populations of the endangered Black Howler monkey Includes seven villages populated mainly by Creole families, stretch approximately 20 miles along the banks of the Belize River. Each owner pledged 1) to keep the forests intact alongside the Belie River, 2) to preserve fruit trees and other trees important to the howler monkeys on his or her rural lands, and 3) to keep the trees and vegetation along property lines, creating an aerial corridor for the monkeys to travel from one property to another.
Large farms alongside the river’s edge, offers canoe trips, horse riding, monkey viewing, bird watching, and relaxing in thatch-roofed cabanas.
CBS benefits both people and wildlife. ecotourism has brought a new way of life – a blending of the old and the new. It has diverted the urban sprawl of nearby Belize City, creating an oasis of rural, tropical paradise, and providing jobs and opportunities for the local Creole farmers and their children for years to come.
A pageant story: celebrating youth & conservation
“the annual April celebration of the Miss CBS Pageant! The crowning of a local, high-school age “queen of conservation” represented the importance of the Community Baboon Sanctuary in the lives of these rural people.” Gail Lash
Saami, reinder herders; North Sweden Sami
Reinder Herders
Climate Change. Early frost. Reindeers had to be fed in the winter time. Saami people turn to tourism
Per-Nils Paivio, BrittMarie Labba start a tourism business
They host visitors in traditional Kota and Lavvu
We all go Salmon fishing with Per-Nils I learn how to make Saami shoes & hats
Soline is our ambassador She has a lot of friends She goes to the Saami school
Jean-Louis & Per-Nils catch reindeers
We learn how to mark reindeers in the coral
We are invited to take part in public meetings
Huaorani community in Ecuador
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Hunter & gatherers peoples Amazonia, tropical forest, old growth Conflicts with oil companies Organise guided tours in partnership with TROPIC, a travel agency to raise pubic awareness Group of aboriginal guides
Diversity of landscapes & ecosystems
Desert Namibia
Cliffs, Burkina Faso
Toundra Canada
Himalayan mountains
The Andes, Bolivia
The Amazonian, Brazil
Diversity of accommodations
Kota, Sami, Northern Sweden Gers, Kyrgyztan
Tipi Cri, Canada
Gers, Mongolia
Homestays, Guesthouses, Bed & Breakfast, Host Villages
Baboon Sanctuary homestays in Belize
Amadiba Guesthouses in South Africa
Host Village network, Doudou in Burkina Faso
Ecolodge in Ecuador & Bolivia
Diversity of activities: Sharing daily activities
Cattle raising, cooking, gardening, farming
Fishing, hunting, trapping, berry picking
Art work, handicraft making
Itineraries, treks, migration routes, theme (silk, salt) roads
events, ceremonies, gatherings