Project report for tented nature camp at

Lokkere village, Karnataka

Prepared by Virginie OUEDRAOGO

Adressed to

Junglescapes Charitable Trust

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THANKS …

I thank Mr V. Ramesh for having me welcomed and given me an opportunity

to realize this project as a project leader.

I thank Mr Suranjan Mithra and Ms Nayantara Karnik for being project guide

throughout and also for helping me to visit Lokkere.

I thank Ms Ragini for helping me during my whole internship.

Virginie

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PROJECT FOR

TENTED NATURE CAMP

AT LOKKERE VILLAGE

KARNATAKA

INDIA

Internship Project Report prepared by

Ms Virginie OUEDRAOGO, University of Lyon 2 France

Internship in Junglescapes Charitable Trust, Bangalore, March – July 2010

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Contents

I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 5

II. A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT 7

III. DEVELOPMENT POLICY 9

IV. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TENTED CAMP 10

V. ACTIVITIES IN THE TENT CAMP 11

VI. TARGET CLIENTELE « GET INVOLVED » 15

VII. HUMAN RESOURCES 17

VIII. MATERIAL REQUIRED 19

IX. TYPE OF PACKAGE 20

DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL 21

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I. Description of the project

The Lokkere Village Project develops the idea of creating a tented camp near the

Bandipur National Park (Karnataka, India) which proposes nature and sports activities.

The aim of this project is to create a tourist area dedicated to pure nature lovers and

managed only by the local community. The most important point is to give the traveler the

opportunity to share moments with the local community, enabling him to discover the

ecological, cultural and social richness of the place. The idea is to invite the traveler to fit

into the life of the village.

This project has to answer to ecological and sociological problems that the

inhabitants of the village are confronted to since a couple of years: rural depopulation, sale

of the family lands, threat of wildlife to their crops, etc … In fact, the creation of a new

activity in an area where agriculture is the only source of income will enable the village to

see its life with a new horizon and protect its environment with a new vision.

The main point of this project is that it must be managed by local people who are

concerned and motivated to change their future and above all, who want to keep their

heritage safe. The community will be in an approach of sharing its culture and its traditions

and the traveler and will show interest for a different culture but without crossing the line of

voyeurism.

The idea is to encourage the traveler off the beaten track with a different way of

traveling and at the same time, encourage the local community to become actor of the

development of its region, its life, its economy and create a real exchange between two

worlds, two civilizations, two cultures.

The zone of Lokkere village replies to all the criteria needed to set-up a natural camp:

- The local community is involved in an eco-responsible project with an NGO

partnership

- The area benefits from natural richness (hills, fields, forests, wildlife etc…)

The Lokkere village will propose nature and sports activity through an original way.

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MAIN AIMS OF THE PROJECT

- To act against difficulties encountered by local communities;

- To raise the tourist awareness about the environmental stakes;

- To help tourist understand the way of life and thinking of local communities;

- To encourage the local community to take care of their ecology and wildlife by

giving them an alternate livelihood in an eco-responsible activity

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II. A sustainable tourism

development

The natural camp project in Lokkere is initiated by the NGO Junglescapes and aims at

suggesting an original accommodation to real nature lovers. It also aims at allowing the local

community of the Bandipur National Park to manage this accommodation and protect the

environment through the nature tourism activity.

This project is totally sustainable and respects the 3 pillars of sustainable tourism.

• The social aspect: the natural camp will be entirely based on the local community. It

will depend on their will and their motivation. Local people will manage 100% of the

activity without help (just some advice from the NGO). They will be responsible for

the durability of their project and its good management.

• The economic aspect: this activity will complement the agriculture, the current main

source of income in the countryside. The development of the economy will act in

favor of the environment and the social aspect. The profit generated by the tourist

activity will be dedicated to the development of infrastructures and way of life of the

villagers and to the environmental protection.

• The environment aspect, the natural camp will respect an environmental program.

The main work of this tourist activity is to take care of nature through reforestation,

awareness raising, knowledge sharing.

The finality of this project is that it will be integrated into the network of the actors

of sustainable tourism in Karnataka, INDIA.

a. The objectives drawn up by the NGO are the following:

- Help the development of local communities through tourism;

- Help the conservation of the historical values and heritage;

- Help raising the awareness of ecotourism through environmental program;

- Help the conservation of nature and ethnic art.

b. Role of the NGO in the project:

The Lokkere village has knowledge about nature and knows better that anyone how to

protect it.

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Junglescapes will have the role to help the inhabitants developing eco-tourism in their

village and its surroundings as well as helping them in the mediation and the sharing of their

knowledge with the visitors.

The NGO will help to start and run the project at the beginning. It will also advance funds

and help the villagers organize the tourist project. Expenses covered by the NGO to set up

this project will be paid off by the village on a 3 years scheme. However, if the tourist activity

doesn’t generate enough profit to pay off, the NGO makes a commitment to suspend the

debit until the activity starts again.

The NGO will have to check the good running and the quality of the service of the natural

camp and will have to be ready to help the village if it meets difficulties in the development

of its activity.

c. The NGO will be in charge of:

- Promoting the project with the target audience chosen from its office in Bangalore;

- Being the interlocutor between the village and the visitors;

- Making sure that the motivation of the visitor is in adequacy with the project

- Asking visitors for feedbacks in order to improve the project.

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III. Development policy

Ethics will be the base of this project and the keyword of the development policy.

The distribution of profits generated by this activity will be transparent and the

distribution will be fair. According to my experience, it is necessary to name a responsible

agency that would be in charge of not losing the money to useless spending.

An environmental policy will be implemented to the management of the site.

Besides, a system of parity between men and women will be applied as involving women in

the project is essential.

It is very important to change the relationship between “visitor/visited” by

developing a relationship of equality but especially of exchange between both groups.

100% of this project will be reinvested in the internal development (improvement of

the facilities, development of the activity, and construction of amenities in the village).

Limiting the tourist inflow is essential, the tourist activity has to remain a secondary

activity because this natural area needs to be preserved, that is the reason why only small

groups of 1 to 8 persons will be accepted.

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IV. Implementation of the tented

camp

The Lokkere village is situated adjacent to the Bandipur National Park, one of the

biggest reserves of tigers in India. This place benefits from an exceptional pure environment,

beautiful landscapes and rich fauna and flora.

The panoramic view from the village enables the visitor to enjoy quietness; it’s the

perfect place to live an original experience with nature.

The Lokkere villagers have a broad knowledge about the conservation and the

protection of the environment. They know nature like no one and they are the better suited

persons to explain how their own environment is threatened by tourism and globalization

because they live every day along with nature.

a. Description of the Tent camp:

The tent camp will consist in two tents with a welcoming capacity of 4 persons each

maximum. The tents will be situated on a plot of land in the village and protected from the

coming of the elephants.

To protect the equipment, tents will be unsettled and packed up when there will be

no visitor in the camp.

The visitors will take their meals in the area laid out for this purpose and will be then

briefed on the next day program.

A rest area will be fitted out around tents so that the visitor can enjoy reading or

pondering over the sky before going to sleep.

The activities chosen beforehand by the visitor will take place during the day and will

be led by an English speaking guide of the village.

b. Plan of the Lokkere Village

Lokkere copie.pdf

V. ACTIVITIES IN THE TENT CAMP

ACTIVITIES DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITIES RESOURCES ADVANTAGES FOR THE

COMMUNITIES

� Observation of fauna and

flora

• Topics:

- Bird watching

- Medicinal plants

Excursion of 3 to 4 hours in the Lokkere

Reserve forest:

Discovery of animal and vegetable species

existing in the reserve zone of the National

Park of Bandipur

Explanation of their role and their

importance in the biodiversity of the park

Technique of recognition of plants and their

property to healthcare

Technique of recognition of birds

Naturalist guide + Forest

department permission

Accessories:

- Binoculars

- Book on the different

species of the fauna

and the flora

They can be actors in the

protection of their environment

threatened by tourism

They can transmit their

knowledge

They can raise the tourist

awareness about the issues linked

to the environment

� Wildlife photography

Activity dedicated to the photographers

(amateur or professional) who want to

realize pictures for their personal account,

for the realization of a website or for a

publication in a newspaper

Naturalist guide

Material carrier

Building an observation hut in a

top of a tree

Best period : June - July

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� Trekking Excursion

Discovery of the region by trekking one or

two days around the camp.

Departure very early in the morning, break

for lunch and for resting and then, return to

the camp or bivouac in a privileged place.

Allying sports activity, discovery of

landscapes and observation of the fauna

and the flora.

Guide having a good knowledge

of places

Accessories : first-aid kit,

binoculars, map, compass

Carriers for the lunch and the

tents

A good way to give a message of

environmental protection when

tourists can evolve in the middle

of nature during one or several

days.

� Cooking lessons

Learning to cook some local dishes taught

by the women of the village

Discovery of the local techniques of cooking

Sharing the village life

Location : the empty house in

the village

Kitchen facilities

Utensils

Implication of the women in the

economic and tourist activity of

the village

More responsibilities for women

Sharing of an important moment

in the life of the village

Sharing and exchange of

techniques

� Demonstration and making of

handcrafts

• Lantana object design

Demonstration about the handcraft method

Lantana confection

Sell of crafts to tourists

Location : the empty house in

the village

Artisans

Place of exposition

Perpetuate handcraft knowledge

Solution to the lantana problem

in the forest

Source of additional income

Partnership with the village Chik

Yel Chetti

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� Botanical track

Creation of a botanical track about endemic

species and medicinal plants of the region.

The visitor could discover the endemic and

medicinal plants through a botanical track.

Explanation about their virtue will be given.

Naturalist / botanist guide.

Discovery of the endemic species

of the region

Discovery of healing plants and

their utility

� Voluntary work

- Reafforestation

Nature camp which could welcome

voluntaries wanting to do something for

the future of India.

Seedball making

Plantation of tree in the threatened areas

Creation of a “bio garden kitchen”

Indians or foreigners voluntaries

Voluntary service

Help their community and participate

in the protection of their environment

All activities are only dedicated to the learning and the sharing of the knowledge.

Actually, the main way to discover nature is the safari within the framework of a resort implanted in the region of the park. The Lokkere project is an original

and sustainable way giving nature lovers the possibility of knowing and acquiring knowledge on behalf of real experts who do not use nature as a source of

profit for their tourist activity but as real tools in their daily life.

These activities will enable the visitors to reach the privileged places of the site as well as to know and to share the life of the village.

This natural camp will also be opened to the work of volunteers who want to help to protect the environment.

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Comment:

Concerning the handcraft, the Lokkere village will have to develop a partnership with the neighbor village Chik-Yel-Chetti which has the skills in Lantana

confection.

An object designer who works in bamboo object will come to give them new confection and design models.

VI. TARGET CLIENTELE « GET

INVOLVED »

a. Marketing policy

The project will be presented in the form of booklet and will be sent by e-mail to various

type of organizations and groups listed in a database studied beforehand.

The database will consist in associations of naturalists, photographers, NGOs working on

the environment, etc. In other words, the common denominator of all the organisms that we

shall contact will be their passion for nature.

TARGET CLIENTELE:

NATURE LOVERS

PERSON WHO WANTS TO GET

INVOLVED IN SUSTAINABLE

PROJECTS

JUNGLESCAPES

- Members of the NGO

- Members who want to

discover an example

of sustainable tourism

PHOTOGRAPHERS

- Reporters

- Wildlife

photographers

- People who has

passion for photo and

wildlife

PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS

PROJECT

- Foreigner volunteers

- Students

- Naturalist who wants

to discover a new area

and new species

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There will also be schools and universities having environmental and/or biological

programs and for whom, the village can represent a field trip within the framework of their

studies.

The village of Lokkere could be a ground of study prevailing in their program.

� The product will thus be presented as a chance to see nature under another eye, to

benefit from knowledge of the local community who lived on these lands for decades

and who know how to “treat” nature in a caring way.

It is not a holiday resort but a place of discovery and learning, there will be thus no key point

on the comfort aspect because it is not the purpose of the project.

� The price will be set according to the sum needed to pay off the investments, the

costs of raw materials as well as the costs of the daily needs of the customer. A

percentage of value-added will be charged to enable the village to make a profit.

� The promotion will only be made on the site of the NGO.

An informative report on the evolution of the camp will be published in the form of

newsletter available on the website.

The information will be available at the Junglescape’s office. People interested in booking a

trip will have to contact the person responsible for booking and get his approval before

going to the place.

� Place: Any reservation will be directly dealt with the NGO.

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VII. HUMAN RESOURCES

The two organizations already existing in the Lokkere village (Sree Sakthi & VFC)

could help in the realization of the project.

They could make a kind of partnership in the running of the camp. Each organization

will be in charge of a different responsibility.

The money will be put together and a part of the sum will be redistributing in equal

percentage.

One of the villager will be named to manage this activity but before that, an exterior

person with a serious experience in this type of project will train the local community in the

managing and the running of the tent camp.

a. Members required

General Manager of the

tent camp

Accommodation

Manager

Activities

Manager

Meals Manager Financial

Manager

Welcoming

clients

Setting up

tents

Nature

activities

Handcraft

activities

Cook Book keeper

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b. Fonctions of the members

- The general manager of the tent camp will be in charge of :

o Making sure that everything works well;

o Checking the quality of the service;

o Being the main interlocutor between the project and the NGO.

He will have to be understanding and to make decisions always in the interest of the

project and not in his own. This responsibility must be attributed to a person keeping his

commitment and on whom the NGO can count to give feedbacks of the project.

- The Accommodation Manager will take care of all the equipment (tents and other)

and will make sure that the visitor has all the things he needs during his stay. He will keep

the place of setting-up clean and he will make sure to pack up the equipment when the

visitors would have left.

- The Activities Manager will be responsible for the implementation of the activities

(way lasted etc.). He will have to be innovative regarding the choices of supports and the

mediation chosen during these visits.

- The Meal Manager will be responsible for creating varied and balanced menus for

the visitors. This activity can be given to the women in the village who are good at cooking.

- The financial manager will have the task to manage and redistribute the profits of the

activity in an ethical, equal and fair way. He will have to keep a diary of book-entry and

update it every time a tourist arrives. He will also be in charge of bringing together the

three other managers to make the decisions of purchase and investment for the

project. They will vote the suggestions of all the members and choose the mode of

financing. The person who will be in charge of this task will have to make a monthly

report of the financial activity to the NGO.

This function should be managed by the women of the village because it is a good way

to involve them in the economy of the village and to give them a decision-making power

onto their future.

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VIII. MATERIAL REQUIRED

- 2 tents (ref, T4 2 XL Air Decathelon) ;

- 8 adult sleeping beds;

- Solar lamps;

- Installation of two toilets with shower;

- 2 binoculars (e-bay selling).

- Cooking equipment, plates and cups for serving food

Material Quantity Price Total

Tent 2 20 000 INR 40 000 INR

Sleeping beds 8 4 700 INR 37 600 INR

Solar lamps 2 3 250 INR 6 500 INR

Binoculars 2 4000 INR 8 000 INR

Cooking Equipment 10 000 INR

Toilets 2 20 000 INR 40 000 INR

Miscellaneous items 20 000 INR

TOTAL 162 100 INR

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IX. TYPE OF PACKAGE

Days Morning Lunch Afternoon Evening Night

Day 1

Arriving in the

camp at the

end of the

morning

Installation in

the camp

Visit of the

village and its

inhabitants

Lunch in the

village

Trekking in the

Lokkere reserve

forest (3 to 4

hours)

Share dinner

with local

community

Tent

Day 2

Bird watching

Photo

shooting

Discovering of

Medicinal

plants

Picnic

Around 4:00pm

Back in the

camp, share

moments with

local

community;

demonstration

of making of

Lantana

furniture

Departure

PRICE PER NIGHT / PER PERSON ALL INCLUDED : 600 INR

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DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL

Tent T4.2 XL Air

Price : 20 000 INR

Tested: The waterproofing of Quechua tents is checked by a full tent shower of 200l of

water/hr/m². The water column test (=mm schmerber) is quite well known but is not a good

indicator for measuring tent waterproofing, only for fabric. Of course, the fabric needs to be

waterproof (and is from 1,000mm!), but the tent must be designed and developed to keep water out

of seams, flaps, openings, zips etc. This is tested in a lab tent shower.

Composition: PU-coated polyester flysheet, breathable polyester bedroom, polyethylene bedroom

and living area groundsheet, 9.5, 11 and 12.7mm fiber glass poles.

Maintenance: CLEANING: if it’s needed, clean the tent with soapy water then rinse (with a hose if

possible). Then dry completely. RESIN STAIN (very hard to remove): once the stain is dry, gently

scratch it off whilst holding an ice cube on the inside of the fabric to make the resin brittle so it will

come off more easily. STORAGE: after use or cleaning, do not store your tent until it is completely dry

to prevent odors and mould formation.

Easy to use: Lined fly sheet. Permanent canopy. Many ventilation flaps. Mosquito netting.

Waterproof: Laboratory (shower test: 200 l/hr/m²!) and field tested.

Size: Carry cover 65 x 34 x 34cm.

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Capacity: Large 6m² living area (ht: 190cm) + storage. 2 big 160 x 210cm bedrooms.

Sleeping Bed

Price : 4 700 INR

Freedom of movement: Easy to turn in bag. Allows all sleeping positions. Can be joined to

other bags.

Easy to use: Built-in self inflating mattress + pillow. Rolls up for storage.

Puncture resistant: Mattress has excellent puncture resistance.

Weight: 2.6 (l) - 2.7 (xl)

Storage instructions: Before storing, open the mattress valve, roll up the mattress/cover,

applying pressure to deflate (beginning at the bottom of bag). Close valve. Do the same to

place in storage bag.

Thermal properties: Comfort at 11°C, min 6°C (Euro standard).

Solar lamp in electricity

Price: 3250 INR