Post on 05-Jul-2015
description
What you see is what you payProfiting from eco-tourism in Cambodia
Ross Sinclair
Wildlife Conservation Society
• Good story…
• About a solution…
• With a happy ending!
• Making Tourism Work for PA’s
& Sustainable Development!
CambodiaNorthern Plains landscape
(>1 million hectares)
Cambodia
SE Asia
• Large expanse dry deciduous forest in northern plains
• Globally significant populations 25 threatened species
• Two Protected Areas – authorities limited resources
What we had in Cambodia
• Poor rural communities (unclear tenure/user rights)
• Clearance by communities widespread & unplanned
• Hunting threatened species consumption & sale
What we had in Cambodia
• Protected Areas at threat from agricultural concessions
What we had in Cambodia
The situation in 2008
The situation in 2012
• Populations of endangered species in decline
What we had in Cambodia
• People who cared/mandated protect – WCS, Government
• Massive tourist market – Angkor Wot, 4.5 million visitors
What we had in Cambodia
• Opportunity for Making Tourism Work for PA’s & Sustainable Development
What we had in Cambodia
• Park, people & NGO - clearly articulated & agreed process to address issues
• Land tenure &/or user rights secured for communities
– Participatory land-use plan that are official government documents
• Focus on additional Income for communities
– Conservation enterprises: eco-tourism and Wildlife FriendlyTM Ibis Rice
• Robust social institutions to manage activities & decision-making
What we did in Cambodia
• Dedicated organization for eco-tourism
• Focused a segment of market – bird watchers
– Now expanded to ‘nature lovers’
• Partnerships with business – tour companies
• Focus on service
– English speaking guides, great lodges, etc.
The business model
• Focus adding value in community
– run guesthouses, guide, cook & clean, etc.
• Add-ons to capture more tourist $$– donate to nest protection, etc.
• Payments - $30/tourist ONLY if see birds
• Community funds are discretionary
– strengthens committee
The business model
• Populations endangered species increasing
• Nest protection scheme - > 90% success rates
What we found in Cambodia
• Rates of deforestation declined
• Hunting of threatened species greatly reduced
Giant Ibis
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Def
ore
stat
ion
Rat
e (
ha/
year
)
Payment villages Inside PAs Outside PAs
Deforestation rates remain low in villages with Payments
2005: Protected Area started
• PA’s reduce deforestation rates
• Payments reduce deforestation rates further
What we found in Cambodia
• $30/tourist = 2,000-$4,000 per village
• Employment: average $160 / year
• ~30% households benefit - employment or selling services/products
• All households benefit from social institutions & agreements
What we found in Cambodia
What we found in Cambodia
• Household & community income increased sufficiently to changed behavior & generate conservation outcomes
• Households in scheme wealthier at faster rates than outside
BiodiversityPayments
AgriPayments Ecotourism
Paymentprogram
Series1 -0.19956029 0.75201459 0.71430678
ns * *-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
ChangeinHouseholdW
ealthStatus
• Household & community inside
wealthier faster than those outside
What we found in Cambodia
Households are wealthier
Households are poorer
• Business is profitable (Cambodian)
• USD$135,000 profit last year
• USD$150,000 investment back into conservation this year
What we found in Cambodia
• Communities now patrol their Community Protected Areas
– in coordination with park authorities
• Park is now seen as a model for Cambodia
• Value of the park has been demonstrated to higher levels of government
• Political and bureaucratic support for the park is now high
What we found in Cambodia
What happened in Cambodia
Cancelled land concessions
Concessions
ProjectNo project
Conservation
• Existing tourist infrastructure & tourists
• A product (wildlife!) people will pay to see
• Direct links conservation to incentive
• Social institutions capable of change behavior
• Generate enough $ to change behavior
What we learned in Cambodia
• Continue to grow the business & impact
• Expand other nature-based tourists (new products)
• New guesthouses & infrastructure
• Add value – merchandising, donations, etc
Next steps in Cambodia
Conclusion
Bird-Watchers
Wildlife
Village
Attracts
Only pay if see wildlife
No Hunting Land-use Plan
No illegal cutting
What you see is what you
pay
Acknowledgement
• Johnny Orn & team
- Sam Veasna Centre
• Tom Clements, Ashish John
• Ea Skoha & team
– Min. of Environment
• Tan Setha & team
– Forestry Admin.