tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5520752179850166662024-02-06T22:43:52.295-05:00A Sustainable Tourism Teaching JourneyTourism is recognized by the United Nations as one of the largest industries in the world, and its diverse, global footprint can threaten ecosystems and local cultures worldwide, and cause ever growing carbon emissions.
This blog describes the experience of creating the first course on Environmental Management of International Tourism Development at Harvard University Extension in the Fall of 2010.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-28981350012944077182010-11-02T11:45:00.003-04:002010-11-02T12:03:55.550-04:00Destination Stewardship in BelizeLast week, we discussed destination stewardship in class with Seleni Matus joining us by telephone from Belize. Seleni and I have collaborated over the years on a number of projects in Belize. She worked as the ecotourism director for Programme for Belize and I was at that time the president of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES). One of TIES board members, Joy Grant, was executive director for Programme for Belize, and together our two organizations were able to raise funds to do research in Belize on questions of user fees for Marine Protected Areas, and a model assessment processes for rural peoples, which we named the Rural Ecotourism Assessment Project (REAP).<br /><br />Seleni was the one to point out that I have always used Belize as a testing ground for new ideas! I never thought of it that way until she mentioned it, but it is very true. Belize has only 330,000 people living within a country which has extraordinary rain forests and the second largest barrier reef in the world. There are many conservationists there, who have decades of experience managing tourism in fragile natural environments.<br /><br />This year my firm, EWI, helped Seleni and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), which she now leads, undertake an Action Plan for 2010-2012. It led me personally down familiar pathways with old friends, whom I had not seen in years. But it also led me to see how much the country had changed, due to the number of cruise tourism arrivals, who were not even present on my last visit! In 2010, it is estimated 800,000 tourists will arrive in Belize on cruise ships. <br /><br />The Action Plan focused on marketing, quality assurance, operations, and destination stewardship. I led all teams, but personally supervised the destination stewardship component. Much of the focus by necessity was on cruise arrivals, as the management of these arrivals had fallen far behind and Belize City itself, never a very beautiful city, was losing almost all these tourists to outlying areas where day trips were being efficiently organized.<br /><br />The challenges were many, but I wanted to focus on the poverty alleviation possibilities for Belize City, and the idea of creating tourism friendly neighborhoods, an idea I named and proposed, seemed to be a good one for Belize City. I am also leading a process for the development of of Destination Stewardship Knowledge Management System which could help provide more consistent and informative statistics for BTB and the government of Belize to make strategic decisions on managing their destinations for tourism in future.<br /><br />These ideas at the front of my mind these days. I see that destinations continue to court and accept tourism growth, without funds for the protection of ecosystems or necessary basic benefits for local citizens. It is easy to use corporate statistics, such as provided by cruise lines, to prove the gross and net economic benefits to the nation of tourist arrivals. But this is where the thinking stops. Without looking at specific sites, and how to ensure tourism is actually contributing to the protection of the sites themselves, the discussion is moot. Without looking at the existing infrastructure for local people, which may not even be considered adequate at the most minimum levels, the discussion is moot.<br /><br />So, I do believe more research is required, and I continue to believe Belize is a great place to do it!Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-90774116320771797662010-10-20T15:07:00.002-04:002010-10-20T15:44:35.276-04:00Environmental Management Research CorpsI am traveling by bus again to Boston to teach my class tomorrow in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This seems to be one of the few times I can write my blog! It is certainly nice that our Greyhound buses now have Internet. It makes the time so much more productive.<br /><br />During my journey, I prepared my lecture for tomorrow and am in the middle of providing input on student projects.<br /><br />All of our 70 students have taken up the challenge of studying one specific type of environmental management problem for one sector of the tourism industry. We have asked them to focus on practical questions, using quantitative analysis to review the current problem and research on comparable sites to determine best approaches for mitigation. <br /><br />They are reviewing the management of solid waste, waste water, air emissions, CO2 emissions, sensitive habitat destruction, and questions of water use, wildlife impacts, and runoff, sprawl and other types of regional planning problems, questions of preservation of key tourism destination assets for countries around the world, and the improvement of supply chains.<br /><br />It is quite exciting to see the range of proposals. We suggested that a few local students look at Logan Airport in Boston and about 3 are going over questions of waste management and sourcing of more healthy, local foods for this local transport hub. <br /><br />We have many international students. One is reviewing the question of water use in Mombasa, Kenya as global warming and rising seas create increasing problems for the city's water supply in this tourism dependent city. We have a review of how to improve the environmental design of the new luxury Sofitel in Dubai by one of its architects, after the project was put on hold due to the current economic downturn. One student is looking at increasingly problematic algae blooms in Lago Atitlan in Guatemala and what may be the factors causing it, with mitigation approaches based on his results. One student is looking at her home country of Jamaica and how to improve standards of sewage treatment for hotels operating on the island. Another is looking at the largest hotel chain in Colombia and how it can reduce its environmental impacts by creating a more well planned, lower impact supply chain for its many amenities, from terry robes to shampoo.<br /><br />I am working with one student on the question of how the destruction of mangroves in Belize for more tourism development may be impacting its most important tourism asset - the Barrier Reef, and we have a review of Bonaire's management of tourism in its coral reef reserve.<br /><br />There is one student looking at air emissions in Long Beach, California and how cruise lines will be affected by the strict California laws. <br /><br />We have a number of students looking at how to lower the impacts of hotel chains, via a review of their policies, and several looking at domestic policies for tourism destinations, from Baltimore Harbor to Oklahoma City.<br /><br />All in all, it is very satisfying to have the student environmental management research corps we have established by virtue of teaching this course looking at such a wide range of practical questions. It feels so cutting edge, as if we are in the vanguard here. While certainly tourism has received some scrutiny, there are vast gaps in the industry's efforts to manage even the most fundamental impacts. Perhaps even more overlooked is the role of municipalities and local authorities to manage tourism's impacts in ports, airports, and other tourism destinations where regulations are generally weak. It is well known that sewage still flows untreated from tourism destinations around the world, likely due to lack of regulation and enforcement of regulations. We know that a large majority of U.S. airports do not recycle, which seems remarkable in this day in age.<br /><br />With our ad-hoc student environmental management research corps, we are likely to uncover a surprising number of positive, and "doable" solutions. We will be ascertaining costs, and looking to create economically feasible approaches. All students are being trained to look at the economic impacts of their approaches and many are talking directly with corporate,municipal, or protected area managers. In this way, we will not only quantify what is transpiring, we will be making proposals on improvements that are possible to adopt.<br /><br />We are all excited to see these outcomes!Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-38749045651259454352010-10-04T12:39:00.003-04:002010-10-04T13:18:34.029-04:00Alphabet Soup of Monitoring BodiesI am preparing my next lecture today. We have heard some terrific talks on corporate approaches to environmental management from Sabre and Rock Resorts. This coming week we will hear from TUI.<br /><br />I want to provide my students with context, and have been looking up all of the bodies particularly in Europe that help travel and tourism companies to manage reporting on the environment and carbon. The Global Reporting Initiative and the Carbon Disclosure Project are critical resources. I then look at the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, and I am trying to understand even myself, how to distinguish between the reporting initiatives and this effort to create global standards. I am searching the web for the new materials that make the connection for me and I am getting frustrated!<br /><br />Obviously, this is an emerging field. And it is clear that the effort to consolidate the reporting process with so called "accreditation" is still on-going. As we look over all of the major hotel chains, we see that each is creating their own internal mechanisms as well. These are proprietary certainly, but trying to develop a fair presentation on the most practical and responsible approach is getting even more difficult than I imagined.<br /><br />I have followed this field of reporting and certification now for almost 10 years. I continue to study it, but it is still a conundrum to me what is the right move for a company that seeks to manage its impacts in the most efficient way possible!<br /><br />I am working on it.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-47467116791311764252010-09-24T10:49:00.005-04:002010-09-24T11:24:02.761-04:00Dow Jones Sustainability IndexAfter our class last night on the efforts of Passport Resorts to create a truly sustainable model for hotel development, I think all of us were in awe of Mike Freed's ability to create a sustainable model for resorts from the ground up. <br /><br />I was amazed he was able to negotiate developing a solar array that his company will own later, by selling the power both to his resort and to the grid. I was really impressed that he was able to keep the Fort Baker complex in Sausalito so historically well preserved while winning a Gold Leed certification, creating what is now the incredibly beautiful Cavallo Point Lodge - a place I have enjoyed numerous times as part of my work at the Institute at the Golden Gate. <br /><br />Peter Haase, the civil engineer with Fall Creek Engineering who works through many of the sustainability solutions for Passport, gave a thorough review of nuts and bolts solutions to water management, laundry, landscaping, sewage and waste. He stressed interdisciplinary team solutions. He made me think about how much the approach to creating and developing sustainable hotels is still in process. While we have celebrated the break throughs in ecolodge development for 15 years, we are still just beginning to create a thorough set of development procedures for hotel developers around the world to adopt. In fact, we still have not gotten far enough with this at all! The question is how to create standard procedures now that achieve the best results. I will review more of his thoughts in my next post.<br /><br />This morning at breakfast, here in Boston, I was reviewing my notes from Faith Taylor's lecture and looked up the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. There is a very clear movement in the marketplace to reward sustainability procedures, not with seals or awards, but with encouraging more investment. The website is quite clear that sustainability as a principle for attracting investment is becoming increasingly important. It is a means of "driving shareholder value" and "managing risks from economic, social, and environmental development"<br /><br />Interestingly, they rank companies in "supersectors" annually. For travel and leisure, Air France/KLM won the top kudos! They are rated on corporate governance, risk and crises management, reliability, brand management, environmental policy and management, air quality, fleet age, route network, talent attraction, standards for suppliers, noise, human capital development.<br /><br />According to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index report, <br /><br />"A growing number of investors is convinced that sustainability is a catalyst for enlightened and disciplined management, and, thus, a crucial success factor."<br /><br />Let's hope so, as we continue to look at the triggers, and the hard work behind developing tourism more sustainably.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-16354857571992949102010-09-17T11:01:00.003-04:002010-09-17T11:44:09.766-04:00Wyndham Hotels Green Program<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0WCgD85pThysqOWXWcqlk9Railt52M_7WHGCmO_dX-nR3hJVYZe2qEX9743I067-BoNqLXewTZfsrjjlM4i7BBK4pcO_-_SWn1C0mz6hJCkeCUyol5ygeInKwwEs1SBp3Q81qjX70PCN/s1600/faith-taylor.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0WCgD85pThysqOWXWcqlk9Railt52M_7WHGCmO_dX-nR3hJVYZe2qEX9743I067-BoNqLXewTZfsrjjlM4i7BBK4pcO_-_SWn1C0mz6hJCkeCUyol5ygeInKwwEs1SBp3Q81qjX70PCN/s320/faith-taylor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517900483482776322" /></a><br />Faith Taylor spoke last night about the <a href="http://www.wyndhamworldwide.com/media_center/es/show_source.cfm?id=104"> Wyndham Hotels Green </a>program. She is Worldwide Vice President for Sustainability and Innovation. Her warm and optimistic approach to converting the company to a holistic sustainability model was refreshing. She recently launched a global initiative to train Wyndham employees about the value of sustainability, she is actively undertaking the measurement of the corporation's green house gas emissions and setting reduction targets, and supporting the innovative ideas for building hotels around the world that are using fewer non-renewable resources.<br /><br />I loved her story of introducing changes in the Wyndham supply chain, where her team worked with the uniform company that supplies hotel staff uniforms. This large supplier, was resistant to the idea of creating a uniform from recycled products, but ultimately styled a new front desk suit made from recycled PET bottles. They tested this "plastic suit" in a variety of locales, including Puerto Rico to make certain it was comfortable and breathable. The new uniform was a hit with staff across the world, and the company is now using this green product line for other hotels worldwide. Faith's idea of modifying the corporate supply chain and reducing environmental impacts using their hugely influential buying power, is right in line with research about the most effective approaches to improving the hospitality industry's ability to have positive impacts both economically and environmentally.<br /><br />Faith lit up when she spoke of her own life decisions. She is clearly someone who is comfortable with innovation in business and has always been part of launching new product lines and brands. So her move to develop an innovative approach within the hospitality industry that is based on sustainability was natural for her. Asked by our students if she might move forward with her ideas in other corporate settings, she made it clear she is on a mission to see results from the groundwork she has laid at Wyndham and is looking forward to seeing the changes that take hold there over time.<br /><br />She was extremely interested in the power of technology to facilitate change, and spoke quite passionately about using new technologies to track both corporate and individuals' carbon impacts. She understood that much of the world is still catching up on the idea of reducing environmental impacts. She was deeply supportive of the idea of working more in China and countries that will be the next leaders in corporate hotel development.<br /><br />With 7000 hotels in the Wyndham family, from luxury to budget, she made it clear that globally firms like Wyndham can make a real difference in lowering carbon and environmental impacts.<br /><br />I was impressed by Faith's "can do" fun-loving attitude toward her work, and I believe all of us were charmed by her willingness to constantly adapt and change to the latest challenges and make things happen.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-5300712040401319002010-09-16T10:43:00.002-04:002010-09-16T10:54:43.748-04:00Why is tourism not managed as carefully as other industriesIn our course on environmental management, we are looking first at the types of responsibilities the various stakeholders have for the management of tourism around the world. We discussed the role of government in detail, and how government has frequently not sought to scrutinize the impacts of tourism as carefully as other industries.<br /><br />My students sent in many questions as part of their assignment this week related to this. Why have governments not carefully scrutinized tourism?<br /><br />My answer is the fact that tourism has no smokestacks. It appears to be a benign industry, and it is easy to show it has economic benefits. While Environmental Impact Statements (EIAs) have certainly been applied to large tourism complexes around the world, the overall effort to prevent sprawl and the impacts of population and growth of services and housing around tourism complexes has eluded government after government. The lens with which tourism is scrutinized is <span style="font-weight:bold;">not wide enough</span>.<br /><br />Even if large scale resorts undertake environmental management systems, that seek to reduce impacts, what happens in the periphery of these complexes is frequently not considered. From their experiences in Cancun, Mexico; the Pacific coast of Costa Rica; and coastal beach resorts in the Dominican Republic, our students are now asking why the process of managing growth and development around tourism is not more carefully reviewed.<br /><br />In our discussions, we are looking at the tools governments can apply to manage growth. These are not easy tools to implement. And we are discussing how and why they have not been implemented. Mostly, it requires stakeholder consensus that in fact regional planning is required - as a primary tool for making tourism sustainable.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-54671847106632866162010-09-06T18:53:00.004-04:002010-09-06T19:09:40.525-04:00Students taking the course<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RtlWmBHwXIYaaXhNrw-0U6Ior99jijPXqzli6Joffks-Y8-KwSGJ5_RTUZmQGZX7Du2ffZz_Ov5E_NtfILjDP_MBpu9OE3YJH9ktGVSQ-rQXPcA6-mH3tjhbgnguEcxhvfkPuKmGB4Ti/s1600/MEWfirstclass.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RtlWmBHwXIYaaXhNrw-0U6Ior99jijPXqzli6Joffks-Y8-KwSGJ5_RTUZmQGZX7Du2ffZz_Ov5E_NtfILjDP_MBpu9OE3YJH9ktGVSQ-rQXPcA6-mH3tjhbgnguEcxhvfkPuKmGB4Ti/s320/MEWfirstclass.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513940200970212354" /></a><br />Our first class last Thursday was filled with exciting moments. We have launched our website which helps us manage information for students taking the course from around the world. Students are now introducing themselves, and they are a very interesting group.<br /><br />I just read an introduction from an architect who is working in Dubai on a hotel next to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. Another student, from Jamaica is getting her MBA at the Bainbridge Institute and trains on climate change as part of the team organized by Al Gore, she is photographer who focuses on sustainability and conflict areas. Another student recently returned from working at a safari lodge in Zambia. We have a hospitality student from Brazil, and someone working for an ecotourism company in Panama. There is a representative of a tourism foundation in Qatar.<br /><br />All in all we have 68 students to date, and we are hustling to prepare the assignments for them. The program depends on all students working through a learning program on-line called Elluminate, where they meet weekly with our Teaching Assistants to prepare their projects.<br /><br />The first week we focused on explaining the overview of how the tourism industry is structured and the types of environmental impacts caused by tourism.<br /><br />I made it clear this is not an ecotourism class! This class intends to look at tourism worldwide as an industry, or system, which has complex and difficult impacts to manage. We will not seek to construct products for tourists at all. Rather, we will focus on understanding what approaches will be the most effective for managing environmental impacts of this enormous industry.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-91835240272685723182010-09-01T17:15:00.001-04:002010-09-01T17:26:47.254-04:00First ClassBeginning with the launch of The International Ecotourism Society, I have been researching how tourism affects environment, cultures, and economies for over 20 years.<br /><br />After 12 years as an NGO leader and 8 years as an international consultant, I am bringing together the most ambitious project I have yet attempted to review the management of environmental impacts of tourism.<br /><br />The course seeks to introduce all students to how the industry is structured first. The unique challenges of managing tourism’s supply chain will be a primary focus throughout the course. Tourism is an export industry, which brings the customer to the producer, almost unique in all forms of development. This fact makes tourism a highly unique product to manage from the environmental perspective. O<br /><br />Harvard University Extension has provided the amazing venue to reach students around the world. My goal is to create a symposium that will help to define the challenges ahead, with many excellent speakers contributing.<br /><br />My first class is tomorrow. I hope to document the experience of working with the students, my wonderful Teaching Assistants Alison and Mariah, and all of the guest lecturers.<br /><br />I will update this blog throughout the semester. Course information is found here, and late registration is still possible! http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k72217Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-82081186204402824362009-04-09T10:04:00.002-04:002009-04-09T10:15:33.532-04:00Life Back at the ComputerThe journey home to the United States went smoothly via Dubai. Though it takes over 30 hours on the return, a rest stop at a nice hotel in the Dubai airport, including a spa with jacuzzi and sauna definitely makes this trip more enjoyable!<br /><br />The team in Bangladesh has now submitted all of the completed data sheets and notes for the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats study in the Sundarbans Reserve Forest, and I am already hard at work preparing the report. The revised Teknaf Peninsula Strategy will also be produced for our team by the end of April.<br /><br />There is alot to do to create a more sustainable set of circumstances for the management of ecotourism in Bangladesh. Detailed action steps will be provided as an addendum to the revised Teknaf Strategy, as part of my report. With this information, the local team should have the appropriate tools to begin the real work!<br /><br />For now, I will discontinue the blog as I write up all the results and provide the action plan. This blog will come alive again when action begins. Stay tuned!Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-43034142476960278972009-04-02T11:43:00.005-04:002009-04-02T12:35:25.592-04:00Traditional Boats of BangladeshOur team visited master boat maker, Yves Marr, today. Yves' story is unique. He flew over Bangladesh in an airplane when working for Air France, and decided this watery delta would be the destination for his latest adventure - in a life dedicated to exploring the world by boat. He arrived in 1994 in a boat he had built himself in France. Just when he was in striking territory, a cyclone was slamming the eastern region of the country near Chittagong. So he piloted his boat into the safety of the Sunderbans mangrove system, on the west side of the Bay of Bengal. There he saw for the first time the most remarkable diversity of traditional boats on earth. Yves was dumbstruck but quickly came to learn that traditional boat makers were disappearing and that this unique world heritage was slipping away. Few would have understood the importance of this cultural resource. But Yves did, and as a result he never left Bangladesh. He fell in love with and married a Bengali woman and has since devoted much of his time to preserving traditional boats and the craftsmen who still design them by eye to perfection. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYTcOtA9ehyphenhyphen60dpuLwx-svUhPb4I-luvPKAN9K2qFeyZBy_TxrCFKANy8zNvP51pj4IYnM8N_l-a87gX5cjazRp5uZOtOFM9_XiMbrh59R9GEWGriA2aMvHsiNhCx9sivml-CZPl-BWtr/s1600-h/IMG_2201.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYTcOtA9ehyphenhyphen60dpuLwx-svUhPb4I-luvPKAN9K2qFeyZBy_TxrCFKANy8zNvP51pj4IYnM8N_l-a87gX5cjazRp5uZOtOFM9_XiMbrh59R9GEWGriA2aMvHsiNhCx9sivml-CZPl-BWtr/s320/IMG_2201.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320121466763406706" /></a>We visited his boat yard today and traveled in the smaller boat he crafted for day trips. Yves successfully launched a beautiful museum exhibition on the traditional boats of Bangladesh in 2005, which was displayed in Dhaka and is now touring Europe. To his immense surprise, Orson Welles did a documentary on sail boats around the world, and a big portion of the documentary was shot in Bangladesh. The film is now part of the exhibition.<br /><br />His current plan is to create a museum of traditional boats, with a working boatyard on the property with boats under construction by traditional boat makers at all times. We toured the boats that are presently in his inventory including this remarkable shampan - a large ocean cruising boat that he and his team built from scratch based on the memories of boat makers, as the craft has disappeared from use. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFa5_UomBBIBcpFT8ZRUSATVmdXPRYOd5yd64e4qdCA16fvIZ_cBrsPxvSDi0WPTRkX0QQbCjNacfBkCeONsFq0HJVcY0QqkrXNDuCbtqIOUCqdy-rB0hPtlhxP2-NUk0UvZ3McY5FTp_/s1600-h/IMG_2204.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFa5_UomBBIBcpFT8ZRUSATVmdXPRYOd5yd64e4qdCA16fvIZ_cBrsPxvSDi0WPTRkX0QQbCjNacfBkCeONsFq0HJVcY0QqkrXNDuCbtqIOUCqdy-rB0hPtlhxP2-NUk0UvZ3McY5FTp_/s320/IMG_2204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320123450032417058" /></a> The name Shampan is derived from the Chinese boat name, sampan. Before European arrival, Dhaka and the delta were influenced by both Arabian and Chinese boatmaking styles. On our visit to the Sundarbans we encountered smaller river going shampans, but the ocean going craft has disappeared.<br /><br />The opportunity to discuss boat making with such a master made for a great afternoon. He explained his new approach - reproducing traditional styles with fiberglass. He is no longer able to maintain the full size historical craft, as it takes immense amounts of costly labor. Instead, he will create molds of the traditional styles and preserve the heritage in fiberglass. Naval architects are also creating a digital archive of the traditional designs, as the boat builders simply bend the boards to their needs by eye and practice without any written record. <br /><br />Our hope is to work with Yves on creating a new ocean going replica for cruising along the Teknaf Peninsula.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd9idBz_iLfivUEcqptNfP4oKyokOaMfazRY1VpDeo78KhcKnKzFOcVoLqPzxHYUV-KrwS1QdHmaX9P9F_H3wN6KneAi3P3dFhPPfXvIQTNG5vxMqRWje88rfDKRkoXY3JTyYo0FGuvIh/s1600-h/Ecoteam.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd9idBz_iLfivUEcqptNfP4oKyokOaMfazRY1VpDeo78KhcKnKzFOcVoLqPzxHYUV-KrwS1QdHmaX9P9F_H3wN6KneAi3P3dFhPPfXvIQTNG5vxMqRWje88rfDKRkoXY3JTyYo0FGuvIh/s320/Ecoteam.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320126297347543378" /></a>Today is my last day in country, and our core team traveled to Yves' boat yard for this last mini-field trip. In this picture, Nasim, Zahangir, myself, and Sumaiya gathered for a group shot. We have created a strong camradrie after many days traveling in remote parts of Bangladesh together. We met many people throughout our journeys, like Yves, who strongly support our mission to conserve natural areas and benefit local people through ecotourism.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-5449352811086877272009-03-31T05:59:00.007-04:002009-03-31T06:54:04.106-04:00Sundarbans Wildlife<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs4kFwvJftJ3qA694Do9gCjeivdaaDHpY1jN-1qTKSUcFcKi-1tZf28N93aSZvsvP-WSs7c7r7C7_9T15kvcti7Vg9y592PFGHh7xyLj-ib5pOJwkIPzMLUPBVHfQ-crY-sQcYOfTqmCQ/s1600-h/IMG_2084.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs4kFwvJftJ3qA694Do9gCjeivdaaDHpY1jN-1qTKSUcFcKi-1tZf28N93aSZvsvP-WSs7c7r7C7_9T15kvcti7Vg9y592PFGHh7xyLj-ib5pOJwkIPzMLUPBVHfQ-crY-sQcYOfTqmCQ/s320/IMG_2084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319290201992662050" /></a> The SWOT team has now completed our survey work of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats for tourism in the Sundarbans Reserve of Bangladesh. Two days were spent on local boats, called Joly Boats in areas near the port of Mongla, where local people primarily visit. The small Forest Post of Krimangal is the home of a breeding center of the endangered saltwater crocodile. We observed the feeding of the captive breeders, Romeo and Juliet - so named by their croc manager. Romeo is pictured here. The post suffers from serious over visitation and problems with management of tourism, which we documented.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqwscvpuMJPizelrK_5g3xlQudL7ExwGcxR1YnVAZXdZ_gc-b-CQBEqh16IJbPShcF2ENutPe0gEpRI7f7a61UVdRdZGF09xl6KF43VtsdSrBpj6nJrsQ8bb81K8aALzo2jo6-Gn0ZKcA/s1600-h/IMG_2096.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqwscvpuMJPizelrK_5g3xlQudL7ExwGcxR1YnVAZXdZ_gc-b-CQBEqh16IJbPShcF2ENutPe0gEpRI7f7a61UVdRdZGF09xl6KF43VtsdSrBpj6nJrsQ8bb81K8aALzo2jo6-Gn0ZKcA/s320/IMG_2096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319293812993818194" /></a>We moved on to observe the Katka area via a Sunderbans Guide Tours boat, hosted by its owner Hasan Mansur. We were very grateful to him for accompanying our team as we observed the management issues related to this popular point, where many overnight ships visit. Here we were able to observe the Spotted Dear in some abundance. According to an IUCN study there are over 6000 deer in this area, making tasty prey for the resident Bengal Tiger. According to the same study, this is the area of highest density for the tiger populations in the reserve, but they thankfully concentrate on eating the deer, and there are no incidents of man eating in this area.<br /><br />Men were cutting thatch in this area for roofing for their houses with permits from the Forest Department. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe0DKnZG2s3rzNCRVYdNYj4dlX0zBJ_k6VmVPAhFf4Anxd9nHmDtHYk9Y2tDhjMGK3sWl09oOH7qfWK7OVUdiZTwkhyphenhyphenLRhXnFJwQCOC46aYy1zYbTkqbSeY1wEp4T7KM1BGU9eijS64h2/s1600-h/IMG_2104.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe0DKnZG2s3rzNCRVYdNYj4dlX0zBJ_k6VmVPAhFf4Anxd9nHmDtHYk9Y2tDhjMGK3sWl09oOH7qfWK7OVUdiZTwkhyphenhyphenLRhXnFJwQCOC46aYy1zYbTkqbSeY1wEp4T7KM1BGU9eijS64h2/s320/IMG_2104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319294302511593618" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Yesterday, we traveled to Burigoalini by car to visit Kolagachia Forest Post, which has a lovely trail on raised mud paths in the flooded forest, teaming with wildlife even in the hot, mid-day sun. This owl was observed in close quarters, much to our surprise. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaDBPYzJ6DZhz1JFtmCUwX0i56sA7jZ_PhDoas4xpmt4Q1KglbmFhS1U4j6FJ22PepKibMoDmcAkEyqO9r5MGQAqrv1TNvO_OcNcEzOhQzoYZbQR7KkSCL2jXUR9Ff-mAGxZUy0j7oDts/s1600-h/IMG_2180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaDBPYzJ6DZhz1JFtmCUwX0i56sA7jZ_PhDoas4xpmt4Q1KglbmFhS1U4j6FJ22PepKibMoDmcAkEyqO9r5MGQAqrv1TNvO_OcNcEzOhQzoYZbQR7KkSCL2jXUR9Ff-mAGxZUy0j7oDts/s320/IMG_2180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319300873507123490" /></a><br /><br /><br />The honey collectors were gathering in this area, for their annual,highly dangerous journey into the forests in this Western region of the reserve. On April 1, they race into the forest by boat on inauguration day of the harvest season. Honey collector teams were practicing their racing skills as we passed heading into the reserve. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_FNVhVPuoZwph_8lmj1wYQJZ3sYYeL3e75eUVMouU8x0XfpHUpfTwKA636Sf7kvd1RLagZgUu9_PoPjRJRLQlbXhPfcicO_aZxVKVTqlvWzHwgLiBxotP7qi8BZCUpedau70Ijgr1k3P/s1600-h/IMG_2160.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_FNVhVPuoZwph_8lmj1wYQJZ3sYYeL3e75eUVMouU8x0XfpHUpfTwKA636Sf7kvd1RLagZgUu9_PoPjRJRLQlbXhPfcicO_aZxVKVTqlvWzHwgLiBxotP7qi8BZCUpedau70Ijgr1k3P/s320/IMG_2160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319299970454727346" /></a>Last year nearly 1500 individuals entered for honey collection, on 191 boats. Over 30 were killed by tigers. This dangerous profession continues to attract the collectors, as the Sundarbans honey is considered to be some of the best in the world. Our team interviewed a Sundarbans honey vendor who was financing the honey collectors and profiting with approximately $8000 in sales from the collection after expenses.<br /><br />Our data, now completed, will be written up in April and provided to the Forest Department, Department of Environment, and Fisheries and other opinion leaders who are seeking to improve livelihoods for the Sundarbans "stakeholders" who use the forest for a wide variety of livelihoods. As opposed to my notes earlier,there are no communities living within the boundaries of the reserve. All are outside, but it is estimated that nearly 1 million intrepid souls enter the reserve for wood, honey, thatch and other resources supporting as many as 3 million people all dependent on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods. Tourism will be a very small part of the solution and planning program - as the need for investment in tourism planning and management must precede further tourism development throughout this region.<br /><br />But our data process enabled a team of 9 Bengalis to come to a much greater understanding of how tourism planning and research takes place. This is a genuine investment in the future of tourism planning in Bangladesh, and our team did an outstanding job!Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-21150716077465384012009-03-27T02:42:00.003-04:002009-03-27T03:01:03.002-04:00Sunderbans Local Community<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CF0plPAcYFtSub_eZk5ZEtvqB6H533aFc9o8wwV7U1HEoEz-0m29wyKSB2LdzVUUrjTs97ay2A9WQqgRc_VMZWP_4IA_zAxnxT6RbqMDDRfCNrYOZKIhYKEeBbe8ol5Gj2QegrY6uVpu/s1600-h/IMG_2049.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CF0plPAcYFtSub_eZk5ZEtvqB6H533aFc9o8wwV7U1HEoEz-0m29wyKSB2LdzVUUrjTs97ay2A9WQqgRc_VMZWP_4IA_zAxnxT6RbqMDDRfCNrYOZKIhYKEeBbe8ol5Gj2QegrY6uVpu/s320/IMG_2049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317755056839306466" /></a> A team of 10 ecotourism researchers has arrived in the Sunderbans to do a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of tourism in the Sunderbans. A group with varying skills and levels has been quickly trained into an outstanding team. Each day data is collected in field locations with different objectives via a survey instrument I devised using World Tourism Organization indicators.<br /><br />We visited Chadpai yesterday, where we saw hundreds of men and women collecting shrimp larvae for middlemen who purchase the fry for shrimp farmers. The collection is an illegal activity in the Sunderbans Reserve. <br /><br />All the community members in this region are dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods, either shrimp fry collection or illegal wood harvest. The team interviewed community members who derive some extra income from tourism: a banana retailer, van driver, pharmacist, and others. The team agrees based on our data that ecotourism is an activity that increases local income and provides a real option for these people who rely totally on illegal resource harvest for their livelihoods. Some had not eaten recently. There has been no training as yet and no effort to bring more formal tourism approaches to this area.<br /><br />While tourism cannot be the only answer for these disenfranchised people, our team agreed the potential to assist with more tourism income generation was high.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-60978961347038050362009-03-24T13:01:00.005-04:002009-03-24T13:36:59.966-04:00Wedding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefQR6BGEA0hwGgFAAwMW8B7MTJZARKXL0hL7pTGj1oCqBdFVen-1rACd8MFQUGAapU00T-SODxCbMfHMhs7qWmmTr7WFL3dXewVoidYgFmLL9kUN3DAPGM6d_PKBemFBHSIEJ3zIexjiP/s1600-h/Brist+and+Shohag.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefQR6BGEA0hwGgFAAwMW8B7MTJZARKXL0hL7pTGj1oCqBdFVen-1rACd8MFQUGAapU00T-SODxCbMfHMhs7qWmmTr7WFL3dXewVoidYgFmLL9kUN3DAPGM6d_PKBemFBHSIEJ3zIexjiP/s320/Brist+and+Shohag.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316801514309826930" /></a>The bride and groom were in full bloom at the wedding reception of Bristy and Shohag, whom I met on the Teknaf Peninsula. They own the Mermaid Cafe and Ecolodge already a legend and a unique example for this country. I found them via Lonely Planet, and since have stayed at their lodge. We shared many animated conversations since about the importance of ecotourism for Bangladesh. They immediately joined our effort to develop the Teknaf sustainably and introduced me to a wide range of intriguing friends.<br /><br />This warm family embraced my team into their celebration, and the evening was full of opporutnities to enjoy this meaningful moment with members of their family. We joined hundreds at the ceremony in Dhaka.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAn8TziBT9lw-b8s-S8iTaYZEPKGxrqDMuR84uHOhc5XOaNBmmq_Ua7N0bMz1gg0LXbFpSA2xMMES9pd79mP6KZNgVNlWBb9Lv1l6xZUuApr1U64oePZ58sZ6-DgYHVFDD1khQoNqjTgf/s1600-h/Bristi+%26+Megan.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAn8TziBT9lw-b8s-S8iTaYZEPKGxrqDMuR84uHOhc5XOaNBmmq_Ua7N0bMz1gg0LXbFpSA2xMMES9pd79mP6KZNgVNlWBb9Lv1l6xZUuApr1U64oePZ58sZ6-DgYHVFDD1khQoNqjTgf/s320/Bristi+%26+Megan.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316803625202547442" /></a><br /><br />After the bride and groom arrived, they invited friends and family members to join them for photographs, so I was able to sit with Bristy, while friends Bob and Emily took some photos for this blog.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-42088022962532311272009-03-22T10:52:00.013-04:002009-03-22T21:32:29.698-04:00Ecotourism Team Maps Trek in Bangladesh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQPJdBVeDlcPbM86pNE7lK_M5kO2ljPy38hC5GSL0yHA63juszQgGMBeTx9LPpUNZr4KRrWjXshA43BJEGxaPop61u4BcJt_T-wIGfCmyelsafg6a5MvJHIpiZvNwrh2hzCLXtN0ROmpV/s1600-h/IMG_1942.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQPJdBVeDlcPbM86pNE7lK_M5kO2ljPy38hC5GSL0yHA63juszQgGMBeTx9LPpUNZr4KRrWjXshA43BJEGxaPop61u4BcJt_T-wIGfCmyelsafg6a5MvJHIpiZvNwrh2hzCLXtN0ROmpV/s320/IMG_1942.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316176683146063682" /></a> An American Bengali team were the first to map a trek across the remote Teknaf Peninsula. Following local paths, the team was easily able to develop a new ecotourism adventure that will bring excitement to the plan to develop community-based nature tourism to the Teknaf Peninsula<br /><br />Departing at 7AM, the team viewed wild Asian elephant on the hillside above the trek's starting point. They were distant, but their dusty backs and trunks were clearly evident. These elephant are a remnant population, and highly endangered. Elephants are the most important megafauna remaining on the Teknaf, living in the wild in the central foothills. The elephant is of high conservation importance, as they are considered to be endangered both within their total range in Asia, and in Bangladesh. <br /><br />Tigers which once roamed wild on the Teknaf, are now without habitat. Experts say it is possible they could repopulate the area, via existing wildlife corridors, if the region were re-forested with native flora and wildlife species. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuj45_14OsOe2vy_kdptznO2TUOqyzSF9am8YGrhfpfu-v9Z7RSM6y_M11p80R0jEmbtFzXjKHYeDTTrnyPBsT4N23V-eM_HiAI9vlAuRan7zg91VIY3RITrXJmi6AggFwN4KZhtzTeSn/s1600-h/IMG_1912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuj45_14OsOe2vy_kdptznO2TUOqyzSF9am8YGrhfpfu-v9Z7RSM6y_M11p80R0jEmbtFzXjKHYeDTTrnyPBsT4N23V-eM_HiAI9vlAuRan7zg91VIY3RITrXJmi6AggFwN4KZhtzTeSn/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316026798892358290" /></a><br />This beautiful forest was in the eastern Naf Watershed near the entrance to the reserve.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj-YxIysjQUTT-mOEjPbqqS01IAKJXFtFtCOJ74kDQ_35JQsOag97wwQEe80ep3k0oPKzBbhvz63n7NsUmJTMlBszCPRJM-64nsXoNRNzbYR87zLCpDR-0xzuwwWRwbE8RcQHuUgm1vCl/s1600-h/IMG_1938.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj-YxIysjQUTT-mOEjPbqqS01IAKJXFtFtCOJ74kDQ_35JQsOag97wwQEe80ep3k0oPKzBbhvz63n7NsUmJTMlBszCPRJM-64nsXoNRNzbYR87zLCpDR-0xzuwwWRwbE8RcQHuUgm1vCl/s320/IMG_1938.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316176664114117682" /></a><br />The trek included walks through canyon like areas as the team followed several river beds, making the trek only feasible in the dry season. Higher ground routes will be possible, for trekkers interested in more rigorous adventures.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCp70i1MgxJTaf_B4drTEEcP1qhvy0Dd3-6fKInhWMRXb4I8VLpc947LPQJI0lYSqbbZn1fPKAvcy7PbXxhTDFVRoBM-MS8JPJcOkWBmMxzPCzGxAJ9n2wJ-QaQX_xj759qlw-PlIbHRz/s1600-h/IMG_1965.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCp70i1MgxJTaf_B4drTEEcP1qhvy0Dd3-6fKInhWMRXb4I8VLpc947LPQJI0lYSqbbZn1fPKAvcy7PbXxhTDFVRoBM-MS8JPJcOkWBmMxzPCzGxAJ9n2wJ-QaQX_xj759qlw-PlIbHRz/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316180843850288818" /></a><br />On arrival at the beach we spent time with the local fishing communities to learn more about their livelihood. We were very surprised to learn that already 25% of the land had been purchased by local speculators interested in developing beach hotels, and we even met some business men looking at land. The area is relatively accessible from the village of Teknaf, and so we learned that a land grab is already underway on the beach side of the peninsula.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXskPG0s0cbwySm_7vkOvJdgrZLYk1p4gZRpkeQQjL45UqMvP15mFzNUlZd-VN3djWx6vPlgwhSH4jfSNkcvoqYh7N59X2BkoGGvXh01Qg7oC7bOodzu91WqX6mempcUnktRLGsgfPmh2d/s1600-h/IMG_1978.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXskPG0s0cbwySm_7vkOvJdgrZLYk1p4gZRpkeQQjL45UqMvP15mFzNUlZd-VN3djWx6vPlgwhSH4jfSNkcvoqYh7N59X2BkoGGvXh01Qg7oC7bOodzu91WqX6mempcUnktRLGsgfPmh2d/s320/IMG_1978.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316183340343927506" /></a> The opportunity to cross over a watershed, view elephants, and interact with the unique cultures on the Teknaf's enormous beach is world-class. The 140 plus classes of boats in Bangladesh have already been nominated for UNESCO world heritage status. The team is now working closely with Contic - the French Bengali company that has undertaken a full study of the traditions of boatmaking, with a boatyard in Dhaka where they continue to foster traditional boat crafting. We were able to look at the different style of Bengali boats on the beach this visit with repesentatives from Contic who are helping our team to evaluate tourism potential of the Teknaf.<br /><br />The trek across the Teknaf was a resounding success. Community members who led the trek had only crossed the peninsula once or twice in their lives. Our team of natural resource, ecotourism, and community specialists will now incorporate the trek into the Teknaf Peninsula Community Based Ecotourism Strategy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdZJvru_Mt3Qm2DOkTWX_Ff33nLBI5UTaYjsKMk5Mp3p975lK_Yai0RdhcMDv8heS-FR5tPesg12-aKUzAqWl9gKcv8fDd64hdvtL1V4wT8ilT9VoGv1AgLuTyGunn4TDVf5rFZGMmgK6/s1600-h/IMG_1986.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdZJvru_Mt3Qm2DOkTWX_Ff33nLBI5UTaYjsKMk5Mp3p975lK_Yai0RdhcMDv8heS-FR5tPesg12-aKUzAqWl9gKcv8fDd64hdvtL1V4wT8ilT9VoGv1AgLuTyGunn4TDVf5rFZGMmgK6/s320/IMG_1986.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316186827507596914" /></a>Given this area is highly endangered by rapid land speculation and an impending coastal road, the team is encouraging the development of an Ecotourism Management Plan with government involvement as soon as possible. Further meetings on this topic with high governmental officials are transpiring today.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-85901815560599360822009-03-19T07:39:00.002-04:002009-03-19T07:56:49.033-04:00Fardeen Eco CottageI am sitting across from Teknaf Game Reserve at the dining table of the Fardeen Eco Cottage with Salahuddin and his brother Ziauddin as the sun sets with family and friends who are helping to expand their Eco-cottage. We plan to take a trek tomorrow across the peninsula led by Salahuddin, who has lived here all his life and presently runs the cottage and has trained as an eco-guide. <br /><br />A team will be mapping the trek with GPS, as it is the first time it has been scouted for visitors to walk. There are wild elephant in the mountains and nearby. Elephants yesterday came very near Salahuddin's house and destroyed his banana tree. Some folks saw the elephants up in the mountains as well, near where we are hiking. We will be hiking with Forest Guards who do carry rifles just in case! But the idea is to try out the trail which crosses the peninsula and finishes up at the beach.<br /><br />The distance is very easy, just 3 kilometers. But since the trail is not fully scouted we are giving all morning to the trek and leaving at 6AM. Other members of our team will be driving around to the very tip of the peninsula and coming to pick us up at Noon. We will all go up to see some coastal sites, including a waterfall, and visit some communities and then return to the eco-cottage tomorrow night.<br /><br />It is an exciting day as Wasama has arrived as well from Contic, a wonderful boat building and tourism company. He is out now scouting boat launching sites, and we are all talking about combining the beautiful traditional boats his company builds for journeys on the Naf River with beach and forest trekking and wildlife watching. The Naf forms the border with Burma and flows south into the Bay of Bengal just east of where we are sitting. <br /><br />Our team mapped all of the areas with tourism potential on our last visit, and we printed out very large GIS maps for this visit to review all the potential boating and hiking areas with local community members, private sector and government. We are already well underway with the vetting process having met with the private sector and government as well as local community and getting their endorsement to proceed.<br /><br />The overall plan is to undertake an ecotourism management plan that would be bioregional and we are having meetings both at the local and national level about this. But for the next 2 days we are in the field scoping boating and trekking options. The whole community is very excited and so are we!Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-29981049179174196452009-03-17T09:43:00.003-04:002009-03-17T09:51:06.283-04:00Workshop Trains Trainers in Ecotourism<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZreYt1s638bym8kicBjKNNWC5gEQM61wlxjp3Mh2eqZ4EVLGmkvlxKY67wCAlViv1LyG9-I_Vpj50fuQnoW8_lSenUCU2x2ZJYg3u9GbZVauFZVcuOKrgBeJMVD3pPsWzKgQcMpz_HMT/s1600-h/IMG_1900.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZreYt1s638bym8kicBjKNNWC5gEQM61wlxjp3Mh2eqZ4EVLGmkvlxKY67wCAlViv1LyG9-I_Vpj50fuQnoW8_lSenUCU2x2ZJYg3u9GbZVauFZVcuOKrgBeJMVD3pPsWzKgQcMpz_HMT/s320/IMG_1900.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314152367498965746" /></a> We completed our Ecotourism Planning workshop today in Dhaka. Our group came from throughout the country and left with excitement and motivation to apply their skills. All have roles as enterprise development and site coordinators, each with responsibility for areas in buffer zones around key protected areas. Officials from the Forest and Fisheries Department also took part and there was excellent dialog regarding policy directions.<br /><br />Our group is standing in front of the Forest Department offices in Dhaka where the workshop took place. I leave for the Teknaf Peninsula in the morning.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-89085841492720598932009-03-16T12:01:00.002-04:002009-03-16T12:13:05.744-04:00AlJazeeraThe world of Dhaka has slowed down again with the lights flickering on and off with power outages a common plague to this rapidly growing city. Sitting in my hotel's simple dining room, we often just continue eating with the lights out at dinner time. It must be a time of surging peak power use. No one rushes to get candles. We just eat our food in the dark until the lights return. The management runs out to turn on the generator, but this only powers the television not the lights!<br /><br />I am watching AlJazeera English a great deal while traveling in Bangladesh. It is by far the most comprehensive source of news, and I rate it more highly than CNN or BBC. The channel gives me a window on the world where people live outside of the major capitals of Europe and Asia. The reporters cover questions of life and death in countries we never hear about,like Malaysia or Laos. Pakistan is a main focus right now, as they fight over questions of justices on their supreme court. Gaza and its life there is a major focus, but there is a great deal of coverage of Israel as well. I just saw an excellent story on the election in El Salvador, where they just voted in the center left opposition party for the first time ever! It is so heartening to see genuine participation in new and legitimate governments who seek to serve the disenfranchised. <br /><br />My work proceeds in an exciting way, with one day of ecotourism training completed for over 30 participants, all learning about questions of ecotourism planning and management virtually for the first time. I will be visiting two of the teams in the field. We head to the Teknaf on Wednesday and will be reviewing our strategy there, but also doing a field analysis - looking at a new trail, places for developing traditional boat itineraries, and a world class beach trek. Bangladesh was named as one of the top 10 new countries to visit in 2009 by Lonely Planet, and this is putting some wind in our sails!<br /><br />I look forward to reporting from the Teknaf.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-4883991641785023572009-03-14T20:32:00.002-04:002009-03-14T21:01:51.113-04:00DhakaHere in Dhaka, the city awakes at 5AM with the call to prayer. I am enraptured by these beautiful, haunting calls that reverberate throughout the city in a minor key that is so mournful. It sounds to me as if they are sung live with different verses and voices every morning on loud speakers throughout the city. It is a truly heart-rending call to the part of human nature that worships some greater power beyond our day to day existence. There is one mosque very close to my new hotel and the call to prayer is quite near.<br /><br />The birds are very active. Dhaka is a city of rivers and the bird life is up early, singing, fishing, diving and generally calling out their presence before the city is awake.<br /><br />It is a misty city with the transpiration of so much water rising in a slow foggy mist for hours. The sun is emerging above the foggy horizon, an orange ball striped with wisps of fog. Though it is now 6:30AM,this city of millions, in what some consider the most densely populated country in the world, is quiet! The birds rule the roost. Perhaps, the city's leafy northern reaches, where I am staying is quieter - after all I am at a nice hotel facing a small river with walking paths along it. But nonetheless in a megalopolis of this size, there should be a roar of traffic and horns. None. <br /><br />One of the things Dhaka is famous for is its rickshaws. They crowd every street, and reduce the need for noisy, polluting cars. The country has also made some other extraordinary and surprising strides in environmental management. For example, they have banned plastic bags. Here in Dhaka all petrol and diesel vehicles are being replaced by cleaner, cheaper compressed natural gas vehicles. Fuel stations are apparently multiplying now throughout the country.<br /><br />While this is a crowded city, with some very polluted water ways and poverty that some might find difficult, it retains a flavor of both the old and new. It is not one the shining new cities of Asia, but it is dignified, with some beautiful monuments, old castles, gardens, leafy streets, and a beautiful university campus. Does it have lots of traffic, certainly, but at this hour, just ten minutes before seven Dhaka is still quiet.<br /><br />I have my windows open and there is actually a cool breeze, with a little help from my overhead fan. Sunday is a work day here, so the work begins for me today after a safe and uncomplicated journey to get here.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-1309022988966240802009-03-12T12:26:00.002-04:002009-03-12T12:45:51.009-04:00Day of DeparturePreparations for the 24 hour flight to Bangladesh seemed so much easier this time. The idea of doing an assignment with 3 weeks in country, 5-6 weeks back in the office, and 3 weeks in country again is working out beautifully! I needed only a few new items for the trip, a better bag for carrying my notebook, camera, and binoculars, some new long-sleeve shirts, and toothpaste. I am all packed!<br /><br />In Bangladesh, I am excited to see all the action on the ground! The draft <span style="font-style:italic;">Teknaf Community-Based Nature Tourism Strategy</span> is now being circulated to our leadership, and we have also sent it to a leading economist whom we collaborate with and the head of the most prominent tour operator, <a href="http://www.guidetours.com/">Guide Tours</a>. I have invited both to speak at the workshop which will take place next Monday and Tuesday. Over 36 students are now enrolled and we expect more. I set a cap at 50.<br /><br />The invitation lists for our stakeholder meetings on the Teknaf Peninsula came yesterday for my review. We are having one public meeting, for high ranking leadership in the tourism community, Forest Department, Department of Environment, and local municipal leaders on March 18, and a community based meeting the following day- with the heads of the Community Management Committee for the Teknaf Game Reserve. Our team will work closely with the high ranking leadership and communities to be sure our strategy is fine tuned to the needs of both groups.<br /><br />Here at home, my friend Sue and I measured ourselves for some Salwar Kameezes! I bought two of these beautiful outfits in ready to wear stores in Dhaka on the last trip. Both are cotton, very breathable, lovely and so comfortable! So this time, I am going to a seamstress to have one more made for myself and for Sue! We should be real fashion plates this summer for events in Burlington! <br /><br />I took my dog, Tucker for a long farewell walk this morning, did my workout, downloaded some new music for my ipod and an audiobook for the journey, and was fortunate to do a very engaging interview for a new ecotourism magazine being launched in Canada! The interview was great fun, the writers are both tourism academics with lots of experience in the field. We agreed so much that our field needs to grow and expand. It is my hope that more students and professionals will be trained in every aspect of developing ecotourism destinations in future. <br /><br />This blog is an important way to get the word out on how important this profession is to countries, like Bangladesh. Will update the blog again from Dhaka!Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-60627677309688097702009-03-10T09:46:00.002-04:002009-03-10T10:01:38.654-04:00Rallying for Second TripAll systems are go for a return to Bangladesh on March 12. A country clearance came only over the weekend. This is unusually late to get clearance, but there had been a rebellion in Bangladesh that caused a higher security alert throughout the country. The border guards murdered hundreds of their military superiors and then sought to escape. This was headline news on BBC and even appeared in my hometown newspaper. Fortunately, the new prime minister got control of the situation quickly and many of the perpetrators have been arrested. My colleagues in Dhaka were restricted to the diplomatic part of the city for almost week. <br /><br />We were fairly certain that my clearance would come through, and the situation is now calm. I am preparing materials for our upcoming field trips and for a workshop.<br /><br />The agenda is packed. A 2 day workshop is first up for all of the project's enterprise coordinators and for representatives of the Forest Service, Department of Environment and Fisheries.<br /><br />Next our team heads to the Teknaf Peninsula where the draft strategy for community-based nature tourism will be presented. I have spent the last 4 weeks processing this, writing, reviewing maps, and agonizing over the approach. A field trip to the lower peninsula will allow us to map a promising cross-peninsula trail that will start from the Teknaf Game Reserve's main entrance to the wild, lower beaches on the west coast. A wonderful boating company, <a href="http://www.contic.com">Contic</a>, will be evaluating traditional boat journey options as part of our program. <br /><br />The next week we head to the famed Sundarbans National Park. With a team of students from Bengali universities, we will be performing a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats Assessment of sustainable tourism in the park. The Sunderbans shelters the largest population of Bengal Tigers in the world and it is the world's largest wetland. A World Heritage Reserve it has attracted tourism in both India and Bangaldesh for decades. A variety of boat journeys are available to travel through this enormous mangrove. The reserve is also home for many farmers and settlers who plant their crops in this dangerous area. More local people are killed and eaten by tigers here than anywhere else in the world. Amazing stories of their bravery and efforts to repel the tigers abound. I am sure I will hear more. But I will be traveling on a boat, and it is very doubtful my team will see a tiger.<br /><br />After these field trips. a return to Dhaka will be on the agenda with some meetings before return home by April 6.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-30801121636277481252009-02-10T12:29:00.003-05:002009-02-10T12:59:15.715-05:00Return home and write-upThe long journey to the U.S. and home is now complete! <br /><br />Flying via Dubai, the transit through a variety of scenes and worlds is always of interest. From Dhaka to Dubai, I was virtually the only woman on board. All the passengers were Bengali men traveling to work in Dubai. A very quiet crowd with great decorum. The 15 hour flight out of Dubai to Washington,D.C., began at midnight, and we all slept a long time, but conversations started as we awoke. All the passengers in my area of the plane were traveling home from Baghdad. They were not military personnel, but rather private citizens working for contractors in Iraq. Interesting conversations - they all work 7 days a week for a certain period of time (I forget how many weeks) and return home for 3 weeks of R&R. This was a work-a-day crowd involved with such firms as KBR. I believe our new government may now be removing some of these actors from the scene in Iraq and elsewhere. <br /><br />After a joyous return to my home and a chance to rest only briefly, and a day or two of processing mail and handling accounts, the next phase of work begins. Two reports will be written. The first, a trip report is due next week. It will supply project leaders with a set of comments on how ecotourism can be managed internally with existing programmatic staff in the field and in Dhaka. The second key report will be the draft strategy for the Teknaf Peninsula due in mid-March. Both will be full of in-depth insights, I hope, on the management of sustainable tourism in this challenging set of circumstances.<br /><br />A second visit to Bangladesh is already programmed for mid-March. This visit will include a training session for local staff, and the presentation of the draft Teknaf Peninsula strategy where we will begin to help local players envision how to zone tourism into front and back country experiences, create more structured opportunities for communities to earn a living from tourism, how to include the private sector, how to create a set of experiences there that will provide a lasting legacy of sustainability - and create a vision of how tourism can become a long-term positive contributor to the this far-flung peninsula on the Bay of Bengal.<br /><br />There will also be visit by boat in the Sunderbans - a world heritage natural area which is the largest mangrove wetland in the world. A multidisciplinary team will review the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for tourism there using the methodology I provide, working in advance as well as during my visit. Finally, there will be a final set of meetings with a wide variety of decision makers whom we hope to instill with a set of strong policy considerations on how the various departments we work with, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, can coordinate and begin to establish a framework for the legal management of tourism.<br /><br />Not too much of a challenge!! There is a burden of responsibility and a great sense of excitement that these assignments can help develop a foundation for a more logical and systematic approach to this vital economic development tool in future.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">This blog will become inactive for a time, until mid-March. On the eve of my return to Bangladesh, the blog will begin anew and the second trip will be covered in full.</span>Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-39846986154995732622009-02-06T04:53:00.010-05:002009-02-06T05:42:13.860-05:00Culture Clash<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKMuN-Xk_Ciqiwy4PtLYBF0kooZT2CDFV-roSxJVKckA32KNhSGO_r8ZRWqrbS9zxgaEkv5TIA-ACLoSCZjcrYxGedrCzwQihObisSGnAjGcQ3-qAXdlfJXz4wb5ZIWRZoxbgAnN4aKMS/s1600-h/IMG_1870.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKMuN-Xk_Ciqiwy4PtLYBF0kooZT2CDFV-roSxJVKckA32KNhSGO_r8ZRWqrbS9zxgaEkv5TIA-ACLoSCZjcrYxGedrCzwQihObisSGnAjGcQ3-qAXdlfJXz4wb5ZIWRZoxbgAnN4aKMS/s320/IMG_1870.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299623626018873618" /></a> Yesterday our team traveled down the western coast of the Teknaf peninsula. There was no road past the Forest Station at Inani, thus our vehicles traveled on the enormous hard sand beach. Known as the largest unbroken beach in the world, it is vast, wide and populated with thousands of fishermen who are living a life that appears to be unchanged for centuries. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF_oMNyzE3v-MyTpOw5eLqGURwsfIRqXfZWixuZcoSv575H6owvr6bkqf8oOdItkEPDAsRskq3G7kDpRtqElYcM2nFWAW8iEYkOw46p_5l8407yQpidewhB0bdknO9qYL97gMTQZ6aKa4/s1600-h/IMG_1876.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF_oMNyzE3v-MyTpOw5eLqGURwsfIRqXfZWixuZcoSv575H6owvr6bkqf8oOdItkEPDAsRskq3G7kDpRtqElYcM2nFWAW8iEYkOw46p_5l8407yQpidewhB0bdknO9qYL97gMTQZ6aKa4/s320/IMG_1876.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299624185488153410" /></a>We were all moved in our own way, we had a group of biologists who were fascinated by the fish being netted, plopped on the beach and divided among villagers. Others were in awe of the traditional boats each unique in color and form, flying flags like an armada of medieval design. The beach itself was so vast, it was difficult to capture, but its scale and scope all convinced us that indeed it must be unique in all the world.<br /><br />We had scientists, entrepreneurs, foresters, conservation biologists, and community members from the forest lands all converging, asking ourselves can we responsibly develop this beach and give the local community in the forest land and the fisherman a fair shake where there might not be an avalanche of development following the ecotourism project we decide to develop.<br /><br />Ultimately, my plan will be presented with GIS maps showing the peninsula as it presently stands today. The map will show all of the types of protected land, of which there are numerous categories, the remaining forest patches, existing paths in the forest, the areas where existing tourism development lies now, much of which is not permitted, and where we propose creating a new ecological tourism zone with trails and ecologically built shelters with community trained and operated facilities and services. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxcTOqviqOd1QcbTiJA8qtyq4-9G366JM9jXRi5RNoAfkzy8ZqxNGupzvf53ymWUqF8LwVWsx9OKjj1WLuUaKRZM9rKCL83wAx5jcICBsYuHPXw1fCZZu50ccG06w9DWVmlvQ4BNeZFvM/s1600-h/IMG_1745.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxcTOqviqOd1QcbTiJA8qtyq4-9G366JM9jXRi5RNoAfkzy8ZqxNGupzvf53ymWUqF8LwVWsx9OKjj1WLuUaKRZM9rKCL83wAx5jcICBsYuHPXw1fCZZu50ccG06w9DWVmlvQ4BNeZFvM/s320/IMG_1745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299629812444019538" /></a>When we were traveling this beach, we all knew, we knew that this beach is the world class resource that could bring tourists from around the world. But can we do it responsibly? <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This morning, we passed through Cox's Bazar again. This tourism boom town does not augur well for our ability to manage growth. Every weekend buses come bursting with visitors all pouring out on the landscape. There is no zoning, master plan, or required Environmental Impact Statements. Small eco-establishments such as the Mermaid Restaurant are being forced out for the construction of roads and million dollar hotels. <br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBPWFJY1Dn3lPmxRH-rvjvPhqb7Luv2W_CMUp4b4oRtfKAtmC3MFBRFfrWb5skai_a8rUHDNCQnffiS2giI8I7uJ38HrusJ4Aom7nU73OJGyl7Cbg1HXApNJFF5r7-WBr6AI21Z__M82y/s1600-h/IMG_1893.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBPWFJY1Dn3lPmxRH-rvjvPhqb7Luv2W_CMUp4b4oRtfKAtmC3MFBRFfrWb5skai_a8rUHDNCQnffiS2giI8I7uJ38HrusJ4Aom7nU73OJGyl7Cbg1HXApNJFF5r7-WBr6AI21Z__M82y/s320/IMG_1893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299628111563340882" /></a><br />The grandest of ecological plans are crushed in the wake of this tsunami of hotel development. It will move down the coast, and we have sought to see how to encourage more planning, but our words are little in the face of this emerging culture clash. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3TdUMjkTzkonaVzVXZ4tlu5OUa-LJpsi4NIBtUc_lxtiFhgFQidXQHfazBnqQ6Jr8lEci9rQD972LRlwf9Tzz2aKvBOUsMusFZkjmia65fYRjFmWnPsTisOYxMfSOkhnBszCnCCbQsnV/s1600-h/IMG_1884.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3TdUMjkTzkonaVzVXZ4tlu5OUa-LJpsi4NIBtUc_lxtiFhgFQidXQHfazBnqQ6Jr8lEci9rQD972LRlwf9Tzz2aKvBOUsMusFZkjmia65fYRjFmWnPsTisOYxMfSOkhnBszCnCCbQsnV/s320/IMG_1884.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299627045887624786" /></a>The traditional peoples living on the beach are continuing to live on as they have for generations without knowledge. We are on the front line and it is our job to help buffer the blow of this emerging confrontation between boom tourism and vast, world heritage class beach and its peoples.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-50002377837942901582009-02-04T20:34:00.003-05:002009-02-05T09:28:49.652-05:00Waste<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_69ivE9xeo3SvgzbyjEvh0fBWyq-EOkZqDjWv5LYByFkrdD5oMCGmCc3vTCChsQhH-6ptGO3sIxL4v2f9TXANBNsqlNOadqDMkijI0vxYaXV0IEKbeNukNZIeQq0ZmGrNlNLr30XpeES/s1600-h/IMG_1789.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_69ivE9xeo3SvgzbyjEvh0fBWyq-EOkZqDjWv5LYByFkrdD5oMCGmCc3vTCChsQhH-6ptGO3sIxL4v2f9TXANBNsqlNOadqDMkijI0vxYaXV0IEKbeNukNZIeQq0ZmGrNlNLr30XpeES/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299122189176456194" /></a> We visited St. Martin's island for the last 2 days, which is 12 kilometers off the tip of the Teknaf Peninsula in the Bay of Bengal. We traveled down the Naf River, which forms the border with Burma and landed after a 3 hours ride. This is Bangladesh's one coral island. There is little or no tourism management. <br /><br />Four boats a day carrying some 320 passengers or more visit the island, mostly with day visitors. St.Martin's was not a tourism destination until recently, and it is experiencing a sudden boom. <br /><br />We met with Oceanic Diving, as I prefer to get my information on the status of coral reefs from divers who have spent their lives on the reef day after day. The owner, pictured above, is a professional diver who has been diving in St. Martin's since 1987. He runs his commercial tourist dive operations at a loss on the island, because he wants to educate Bengalis about the importance of preserving their one and only coral reef.<br /><br />There is no waste management on the island, and according to my sources, all of the waste left behind by visitors is dumped into the ocean. This leads to an untold amount of waste landing on their precious coral reef.<br /><br />Oceanic Diving had just completed a reef clean up activity, where they invited divers to come for free from throughout Bangladesh if they would take bags underwater and pick up waste off the reef. They had some 20 divers come and were successful in collecting bags and bags of waste. <br /><br />Bangladesh is still a poor country, but its population density, and inexperience with tourism has created rapidly growing pressures on its most popular destinations, and there is little or no expertise here on the management of tourism. Sometimes the odds almost seem too high to save destinations like St. Martins. Oceanic Divers said they have no natural allies on the island who are helping with their efforts to preserve the reef.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2nq70r9DLfXRYLapjdGD70d-2XLN58kRC9J7djGm7CERlrO_xm7Dzj3NNzhK_0IZK6NlJwfFEIKprkmG1lZnh26K41rflZQWwdzUGWTjxLh5brmtgniLVu_hYohG6gzgc1kkWIIOWJdn/s1600-h/IMG_1803.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2nq70r9DLfXRYLapjdGD70d-2XLN58kRC9J7djGm7CERlrO_xm7Dzj3NNzhK_0IZK6NlJwfFEIKprkmG1lZnh26K41rflZQWwdzUGWTjxLh5brmtgniLVu_hYohG6gzgc1kkWIIOWJdn/s320/IMG_1803.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299319497441696450" /></a>This is not entirely true as there is a very active community-based conservation guard program which has arrested all sea turtle egg harvesting on the island, a significant accomplishment. But the rapacious harvest of mollucks, shells and coral continues with little controls, apparently guided by middle men who pay the poor islanders to collect the beautiful underwater shells for souvenirs that can be seen throughout the peninsula. Local people are terribly poor, and receiving no benefits from tourism. Our project can certainly begin the process of linking the islanders to the tourism supply chain via training.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf095zuHzK4E_sQ39DJhP6DKS97AqqjbKaOSjMytrt170mnDLk6ZPWcdVWqRSmo8oPDulOPl6dYPLlWnitEeA5GlZFMukiSXqZHLp4ZExIwVYm3nyUMvm2HEuZzoJRtwRvBj1-8rgpMyBG/s1600-h/IMG_1797.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf095zuHzK4E_sQ39DJhP6DKS97AqqjbKaOSjMytrt170mnDLk6ZPWcdVWqRSmo8oPDulOPl6dYPLlWnitEeA5GlZFMukiSXqZHLp4ZExIwVYm3nyUMvm2HEuZzoJRtwRvBj1-8rgpMyBG/s320/IMG_1797.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299318189367227602" /></a>One area we will work on is guide training. On a visit to a small coral island yesterday, I met a young man who was the most natural guide I have met in a while. He showed me the trees, flowers, fruits, and all of the various sea life that had washed ashore. It is my hope he will be the future of tourism on St. Martins.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-87404717487784459682009-02-02T19:30:00.005-05:002009-02-02T20:23:51.846-05:00Traveling on the Teknaf Peninsula<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DkGj4x8OGFG4d7LVEqN6SVceHqRkhJRINdr95FSs-DbP624Ch6HtbwYgfUIa9chk081JknTjJH9WeQd9Zay2C4ECmH5XYRseerIbIXjItFa2cdbOwQ7VdSE6yecQN9v7ZaEM_jnVX5Jj/s1600-h/IMG_1666.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DkGj4x8OGFG4d7LVEqN6SVceHqRkhJRINdr95FSs-DbP624Ch6HtbwYgfUIa9chk081JknTjJH9WeQd9Zay2C4ECmH5XYRseerIbIXjItFa2cdbOwQ7VdSE6yecQN9v7ZaEM_jnVX5Jj/s320/IMG_1666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298363159708132322" /></a><br />Via an early flight from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar, I arrived on the Teknaf Peninsula on the morning of February 1. The project has a local cluster office here, with a brand new team, so I was treated to a meeting of our young, and high enthusiastic Bengali team, a quick round around on Cox's Bazar's vast beach and then a larger gathering of about 30 tour operators, hoteliers and representatives of the Forestry Department, which works hand in glove with our project on the ground.<br /><br />The challenges in Cox's Bazar are not dissimilar to any quickly growing beach destination, and here Bangladesh even Environmental Impact Statements are not required. With the growing prosperity here in the country, the new middle class is coming to enjoy the beautiful and expansive beach in bigger and bigger numbers, about 300,000 every weekend. The hoteliers are seeing little being done to handle the increasing impacts. The discussion was fruitful, comments extremely well taken, and the need to undertake a planning program evident. The last master plan here, was done in 1991, and that was never implemented.<br /><br />After a quick lunch, the team moved down to coast to see a potential community project at Bora Chora. This was previously running, with thousands coming every weekend. Already developed, there was a set of short trails with a waterfall and a good viewpoint next to a local village. The project was shut down by the forest department, as it is on forest in-holding land and a private concessionaire had only made arrangements with the village. Our project could easily fix the problem, and facilitate this to become a community-managed tourism project. The potential was obvious, and the villagers fully ready. Our brand new ecotourism coordinator for this cluster, had already worked on this for the Department of Environment, but made no headway as the Forest Department was not involved. We have already spoken with our leadership about this project, and we are optimistic the village should receive permission to manage this project with facilitation via our local cluster office. <br /><br />This was a quick win! And the revenue could be excellent. If some 150,000 people visit, taking account of the off season, and the entry charge is 10-15 taka, which would be the equivalent of 20 cents -, the initial income potential would be $30,000 or so for the village, and this does not include the many linked enterprises that would be made possible. Here linking microenterprise funds to a project is so easy, as it is the home of Grameen Bank the famous microenterprise bank that founded small scale loans to villagers. So the concept of providing microloans is generally already in the plan. Here they have assisted the village with microloans already via UNDP and can immediately link the tourism project to a wide variety of other small scale businesses, such as weaving, handicrafts, and small shops - all community run. A picture of the Bora Chora viewpoint is above.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRT9_GCeyz9uiQTs30WS8IEhlEqbhCHlUgUen0fBglOUIKI_HulptGQQR-NtwzyAN2rZ3bmoGx8lXObAfPDvE6JIGGOdXsEonn_BL8PZmLEjBSxmcWBUFU7MwrhzZua6DM3IB9CJ2ARdI/s1600-h/IMG_1690.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRT9_GCeyz9uiQTs30WS8IEhlEqbhCHlUgUen0fBglOUIKI_HulptGQQR-NtwzyAN2rZ3bmoGx8lXObAfPDvE6JIGGOdXsEonn_BL8PZmLEjBSxmcWBUFU7MwrhzZua6DM3IB9CJ2ARdI/s320/IMG_1690.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298374354343403058" /></a> I stayed at the lovely Mermaid Eco-resort where the owners have a wonderful feel for local architecture and the arts. We discussed how local entrepreneurs can help build a more sustainable and profitable set of enterprises all the way down the peninsula, before I had to run. We will meet again later this week.<br /><br />Yesterday, the whole team including senior leadership visited the Teknaf Game Reserve. First stop Kudum Cave, where unfortunately there are growing security issues raised by armed local gangs, who coordinate by cell phone, and stop minibuses on the road, shaking folks down for cameras, cell phones, and money. Local police were on the scene, but this is the first sign I have seen of security risks being brought about by tourism, probably because the road is quite remote, and the number of tourists few, and the ease of escape into the forests. However, this did not bode well for the cave as a tourism site for the time being.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesiu8bLJsXUKJp3Ep_W0yxm0WbRcRyA4DZyalWLV2wqE-qtakrz2A-ii3ySaoqWypn2RPPlGhPuOyNWqdLNh8zPWgD1n3fZCO8cq6OCz6poY-Trlv89Jt_b7oY94ncoS5IK7wEzrgwdFk/s1600-h/IMG_1731.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesiu8bLJsXUKJp3Ep_W0yxm0WbRcRyA4DZyalWLV2wqE-qtakrz2A-ii3ySaoqWypn2RPPlGhPuOyNWqdLNh8zPWgD1n3fZCO8cq6OCz6poY-Trlv89Jt_b7oY94ncoS5IK7wEzrgwdFk/s320/IMG_1731.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298370632580469602" /></a> After lunch in a government guest house, which overlooks the Teknaf River facing East to the hills of Burma, we visiting the Teknaf Game park and traveled the shortest trail with their eco-guides. Here only 10,000 visitors a year are coming, and the guides are not getting enough work or experience. They were charming, motivated, and like sponges wanting to learn so badly. We had a wonderful time, with translation, talking about the spirit of guiding, how to manage different types of groups, and what to do if the group does not see elephants.<br /><br />Elephants are the main attraction, but the average group will only see them once a week or so, so I advised the guides to sit their groups down in the rest stop and tell them stories about the times they have seen the elephants, describe the behavior of elephant families, talk about the elephant babies for the children to be involved, and create a wonderful story about the elephants' lives in the parks.<br /><br />Overall, there is much to be considered here, as the deforestation is severe. The once mighty forests, and the diversity of wildlife is largely gone. I am advised the tigers have been gone for more than 20 years. It is difficult to sell the beauty of nature in a park that is so heavily impacted. Our meeting with the community reinforced this.<br /><br />The terrible deforestation is partly caused by the refugees coming from Burma. The Rohinga, who have been in international news of late as they have sought to travel via Thailand to Malaysia, are a Muslim minority without rights in Myanmar, who travel across the Naf river to live here on the Peninsula. There are 50,000 in camps, and about 200,000 living in villages. There are some 1 million people living here on the Teknaf, most of whom do not have any other fuel besides wood. Efforts by the UN agencies have been effective here, to help the refugees find decent living standards, and to help provide more efficient wood stoves, and more. But the reality of population pressures on the reserve are real. Tourism can help local people achieve alternative income, and there is no question a market for tourism could be attracted down the coast. But the right balance of natural attraction with sufficient activity, security, and appeal to local tourists has to be struck! <br /><br />We are still studying and today travel to St. Martin's island, a small spit of sand and coral that is under increasing tourism pressure.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-552075217985016666.post-13667237090482071762009-01-30T10:49:00.003-05:002009-01-30T11:22:11.270-05:00Translations<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpXXQ5C5Yblox5HCWcm3s66KcsunUFoaihWhcilpq0n2kjngYb0ti7pcmLTCMoTC0bwxEXObOX6V1XWik2ew' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Translations are usually done informally with team members while in the field. Ecotourism consultants don't travel with official translators. That would be too formal and stiff. But someone in our project generally speaks both languages well enough to provide the necessary translation.<br /><br />In the attached video, I am gathering information about the Baika Beel, or hoar, where the local community is managing a preserved wetland and offering boat rides on the hoar.<br /><br />Every field circumstance offers the opportunity to gather information, that might never come out in more formal meetings. As a result, it is a good idea to perform interviews even out in boats or hikes, or other active situations.Ecotravel Consultanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374889001746573719noreply@blogger.com1