Sustainable management of ASEAN Heritage Parks through

valuing and improving eco-tourism

Korea Environment Institute (KEI) ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB)

Makiling Forest, Tarutao National Park

2

Contents

Designing BBI pilot-project 2

Introduction 1

3 Results of the project

Conclusion 4

3

Introduction 1

Background

4

• Eco-tourism is one of the most important ecosystem

services, providing a powerful incentive for national and

local economies which is also highlighted in SBSTTA20.

• ASEAN Member States declared ‘ASEAN Heritage

Parks(AHPs)’ to increase effectiveness of management,

including eco-tourism, on certain protected areas with high

conservation importance.

Location of 37 AHPs

Background

5

• However, due to lack of data, it

is a challenge to monitor eco-

tourism and set specific

management plan for eco-

tourism in AHPs.

⇒ ASEAN Centre for

Biodiversity(ACB) asked for a

science/technology-based

approach that can be easily

utilized in AHPs to assess

status of eco-tourism.

Dynamic population mapping using mobile phone data Deville et al. 2014

Objectives

6

• Korea Environment Institute (KEI), in collaboration with

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), will apply an

innovative modeling approach using social big-data to

examine the current status of management, and support

the development of related management strategies

encouraging eco-tourism that enhances cultural services in

AHPs.

⇛ Measuring and mapping the value of nature-based tourism &

recreation to a place

⇛ Understanding what characteristics of the ecosystem attract tourists

or deter them from visiting

7

Designing BBI pilot-project 2

Key Elements of BBI

8

Reflecting needs of

developing countries

Collaborative actions to

transfer

technic and knowledge

Partnership between

institutions

Close coordination

between experts

Support

Implication of

Aichi Targets

Showcase for

best practices

Key strategies to implicate BBI’s objective

9

A. Facilitate the linking of needs

through effective partnerships

between KEI and ACB

B. Participation of regional experts

C. Transferring techniques and

knowledge

Key strategies to implicate BBI’s objective

10

Field-survey in AHPs (Mt. Makiling, Philippines)

Exploring needs on management of AHPs

with local institutions(ACB) and local experts

Confirmed project sites

11

The research project will be piloted in two sites, namely: 1) Mt. Makiling Natural Reserve, Laguna Province, Philippines 2) Tarutao National Marine Park, Satun Province, Thailand

Mt. Makiling Tarutao Park

A Framework to evaluate eco-tourism in AHPs

Big Data - FLICKER

Characteristics

of eco-tourism

Spatial

Preference

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1. Estimate the spatial preference

2. Evaluate status and characteristic of eco-tourism in AHPs

Field study (Survey with questionnaire)

3. Support to develop strategies to facilitate eco-tourism in AHPs

Contents of the project

13

Transfer technologies and knowledges to assess

the current status on eco-tourism in AHPs

Technical modeling on the status of eco-tourism using social big-data

Field study(based on questionnaires) to evaluate status of eco-tourism

A training workshop on modeling technique

and best practices in eco-tourism management

Support to develop strategies for sustainable management

Contents of the project

14

(1) Transferring technologies and knowledges to assess the current

status on eco-tourism in AHPs.

- Technical modeling(InVEST Recreation Model) on the status of

management using social big-data.

- Field study(based on questionnaires) to evaluate status of eco-tourism.

- A training workshop on technical/scientific approaches to encourage eco-

tourism at the 5th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference.

(2) Support to develop strategies for sustainable management of AHPs

- Deter strong/weak elements, spatial visiting characteristic, and overall

trends of eco-tourism in AHPs

15

Results of the project 3

0.000

5.000

10.000

15.000

20.000

25.000

30.000

35.000

PUD_YR_ AVG

ASEAN Heritage Parks

0.000

5.000

10.000

15.000

20.000

25.000

30.000

35.000

ASEAN Heritage Parks

PUD_YR_ AVG

Ranking of PUD Ranking of AHPs having higher social preference

Evaluating spatial preference using social big-data

※ PUD(Photo-User-Days): Mean uploaded number of geotagged photographs per day in Flicker from 2005 to 2014

(1) Identifying ranking of AHPs with higher preference in FLICKER

0.000

0.100

0.200

0.300

0.400

0.500

0.600

0.700

Inlay Lake Ao

Phangnga -

Mu Koh

Surin - Mu

Koh Similan

Mount

Makiling

Mount

Timpoong -

Hibok-hibok

Kinabalu Ba Be Tarutao Hoang Lien

Son - Sa Pa

Gunung

Mulu

Khao Yai Bai Tu Long Preah

Monivong

(Bokor)

Top 12 AHPs with highest ‘PUD per park area’

PUD_YR_AVG/ park area

ASEAN Heritage Parks

Evaluating spatial preference using social big-data

(1) Identifying ranking of AHPs with higher preference in FLICKER

Support to analyze trend of eco-tourism after designating AHPs

Evaluating spatial preference using social big-data

(2) Identifying specific visiting characteristics for two sites

Tarutao AHPs

Legend

osm_points

realtrail

boundary

pud_results

<all other values>

PUD_YR_AVG

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.6

1.7

6.7

9.8

17.7

19.7

26.5

33.2

Makiling AHPs

Provide spatial characteristic identifying frequently visiting

natural and artificial attraction, landscape and spot

Identifying specific characteristics of eco-tourism

• Through the discussion between KEI’s experts and regional experts, three questionnaires were

developed for visitor, regional community, and manager

• Regional AHPs managers supported field survey to collect questionnaires

• Total number of respondents: (1) Makiling - 100 (2) Tarutao - 142

(1) Effectiveness of AHPs to eco-tourism among two national parks

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

It had major

influence

It had influence

but not major

Designation had

no influence

visitor

resident

manager

Makiling AHPs Tarutao AHPs

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

It had major

influence

It had influence

but not major

Designation

had no

influence

visitor

resident

manager

Among (1) biological, ecological value (2) social, cultural value and (3) facility,

designation of AHPs had major influence to increase biological and ecological value

Identifying specific characteristics of eco-tourism

(2) Visiting satisfactions of each attributes of eco-tourism

High Biodiversity,

3.8

High Conservation

Status, 3.6

Natural Ecosystems Services, 3.8

Convenient Facilities, 3.6

Infrastructure, 3.3

Recreation/Leisure

Program, 3.8

Educational Program, 3.5

Explanation of the

Environment, 3.5

Regional Identities/Co

mmunity Culture, 3.4

Regional Product, 3.4

Number of Visitors, 3.6

3.3

3.4

3.4

3.5

3.5

3.6

3.6

3.7

3.7

3.8

3.8Satisfaction - High

Low

Elements of eco-tourism

Makiling AHPs Tarutao AHPs

High Biodiversity,

4.2

High Conservation

Status, 4.0

Natural Ecosystems Services, 4.1

Infrastructure, 3.4

Recreation/Leisure Program,

3.8

Educational Program, 3.9

Explanation of the

Environment, 3.8

Regional Identities/Com

munity Culture, 3.4

Regional Product, 3.5

Number of Visitors, 4.0

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

4.0

4.1

4.2

4.3Satisfaction - High

Low

Elements of eco-tourism

Identifying specific characteristics of eco-tourism

(3) Suitability of management budget

Makiling AHPs Tarutao AHPs

After AHP designation, did management budg

et increased ?

Managers: 55.6% said Yes

Was it sufficient?

Managers: 90.5 % said No

How was the budget increased?

increased external funding: 68.2 %

increased government funding: 22.7 %

After AHP designation, did management budg

et increased ?

Managers: 88.9% said Yes

Was it sufficient?

Managers: 68.9 % said Yes

How was the budget increased?

increased government funding: 57.8%

increased admission fee: 31.1%

Transferring technologies and knowledges

Technical Workshop in Bukhan National Park, Republic of Korea

Transferring techniques to use social big-data to assess spatial preference

Identifying elements that need to be improved based on field study

Introducing Korea’s management strategies of national park

23

Conclusion 4

Conclusion

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• The places people visit reveal their preferences about natural environments

• Use of social big-data made available to assess spatial preference, and AHPs managers were able to recognize where it needs to be well and newly managed

• Within spatial data, results of field-study provide insights to identify status of eco-tourism to identify strong and weak elements

• Transferred technique, knowledge, and result of the BBI pilot project can be further utilized in management of AHPs to effectively implement Aichi Target 1, 11, 14.

Thank You (kimyj@kei.re.kr)