1. TOURISM a tool for
CONSERVATION

2. Singapore 17-19 Oct
Raj Basu at RT Clinic
October 18 (Thursday), 2012

3. It is important to understand the developments of past trade routes in Asia
to understand the present status of conservation of natural resources

4. The river basins which guided the trade routes of the past are forgotten
today. The loss of navigation on the rivers and their tributaries are a nail in
the coffin for conservation. The value of riverine forests are neglected.

5. The conservation initiatives through tourism have been
undertaken in East & Northeast India along with cross-border
activities in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar

6. Conservation Challenges in India and the subcontinent
– Our Protected Areas are to live with a increasing Human
Population and we have to find out a way to accommodate
these people within our PAs.
– The wilderness habitat and forest cover beyond the PAs are
almost lost and hence the PAs have turned into natural zoos.
– The tendency of the forest administration across the
country is to declare increase of certain celebrity animal in a
shrinking habitat is a major sign of imbalance in the
ecosystem.
Most of the challenges today, are the only frontiers of
continuous biodiversity across countries to be protected for
this world to depend on as the last green civilization

7. Help Tourism works in an area that contributes
the most to the Global Climate
• The largest mangrove forests in the world, Sunderbans.
• The most fertile biodiversity hotspot, East Himalaya.
• The least explored biodiversity hotspot, Indo-Burma region.
Contributions from the action area
•This area has been the mother of most of our traditional food, starting
from rice, maize and oranges to chicken.
•This area is the ‘Mother of Monsoons’, the rains that give life a better
chance in this Indian subcontinent.
•The mangroves soak up to five times more carbon than tropical forests.
•Every 10 sq km unit in this area is an independent micro-climate in its own.

8. The only way to protect this
landscape is by using tourism as a
tool for meaningful livelihood,
sustainable development,
responsible visitor involvement,
extending the PAs beyond the
boundaries and reviving
conservation traditions of the
local communities

9. To achieve this, the journey began in 1991 from
India’s Northeast & West Bengal and I would
repeat the same to tourism stakeholders here

10. The existing initiatives include
• In 1993, the work to create a road map for implementation of KRIEP
(Khangchendzonga Region International Ecotourism Park) had started in
a very soft way. The main aim was to bring in tourism to the region with
authentic local natural & cultural encounters for visitors.
• Tourist Centres were developed as models for the villagers to get hands
on experience and replicate the models. These centres brought in
awareness about tourism and created local stakeholders. Prior to this
tourism was controlled by big travel houses, private hotel establishments
and Government Tourism Departments.
• Later these actions came to be recognized as the first ecotourism
initiatives in India and in IYE2002, Help Tourism products were the only
ones to be highlighted in the TIES website from India.
• During this period, the WBFDC (West Bengal Forest Development
Corporation), Kalimpong Forest Division came forward for cooperation
from Help Tourism and some ecotourism units were launched in this
division, again to be the 1st Government initiative in India.

11. Jungle Camps, an initiative to slow
the process of ‘climate change’
• The thought process had started in mid 90s, but the
implementation was planned only in 2000. The first
‘Sunderbans Jungle Camp’ was established in 2002 at Bali in
Sunderbans Tiger Reserve and a World Heritage Site to
reduce the tiger-human conflict.
• This was followed by Manas Tiger Reserve, a National Park
in peril and a ‘World Heritage Site in Danger’ as declared by
UNESCO, holding the local people responsible.
• With time 08 Jungle Camps were established across the East
Himalaya & Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspots.
• Unlike conventional conservation organizations, Protected
Areas with maximum human pressure were the target.

12. The concept of the Jungle Camps
• The idea of the ‘tourist centre’ was included and additionally this was
used to create ‘local communities as stakeholders in conservation, thus
creating green human buffer around the PAs’.
• In the first phase the habitat or PAs with critically endangered species
were selected in consultation with the local people and the Forest
Departments.
• The Jungle Camps have been established with the help and partnership
of local people to confirm their empowerment and participation in
protection of the nature and traditions that helps to keep the micro-
climate of the area intact to a large extend and change their roles, which
reduces the tendency of the villagers to consume/exploit forest
produce.
• Accordingly, with time adjoining villages have been included in the
tourism and conservation network to confirm the continuity of regional
biodiversity conservation by the people.

13. ROLE OF THE JUNGLE CAMPS IN
THE VILLAGES ADJOINING TO PA
• The Jungle Camps are always in the fringe villages adjoining to
important Protected Areas (PAs).
• They help the area to act as an extension of the PA and facilitate easy
passage and migration of wildlife.
• The camps act as hub for alternative livelihoods, social and cultural
activities for the local people and a window to the world.
• Facilities like water, approach roads and electricity often follows to
destinations after establishment of the Jungle Camps.
• The camps often enhance the basic facilities like medical, education,
waste management and livelihood training through volunteer visitors.
• The process has helped not only to retain youths in villages but has
helped to bring back several of them to their villages.
• This has helped to bring back a lot of local cultural traditions.

14. Role of Jungle Camps for Visitors
• To ‘deurbanize’ them and to help them appreciate & adopt
‘BIODIVINITY’, the oldest religion of mankind in this world.
• To help them to undertake activities which is in tune with
the local people’s life & livelihood, like undertaking walks,
bicycles & other forms of local transport. Visiting the carbon
free & fair trade practicing ‘traditional local weekly markets’
called Haat. Participating in local cultures & events. Etc.
• Contributing in creating RT destinations by participating in
developing community support institutions and community
capacities for meaningful livelihoods.
• Helping in rediscovering the real ‘I’ through authentic
engagement with rich local resources.

15. To enhance the
process…
The Jungle Camps and other HT initiatives have created several
destinations across the region of East and Northeast India with Nepal,
Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar for the travelers and alternative
travelers in general. And there was this special category of tourists or
travelers who could contribute by not only visiting the destinations but
participating in the process of life & livelihood of the host
communities.
WE CALLED THEM VOLUNTOURISTS
OR VOLUNTEERING VISITORS

16. Visitor Volunteer programs which would not only bring
economical and social benefits, but also help in
conservation of the important species based (Red Panda,
Himalayan Newt, elephant and tiger) HABITAT
EXTENDED VOLUNTOURISM VISION
IS THE CHALLENGE OF THE MISSION

17. Case Study: As Responsible move from visitors, a Foundation
has been launched in Australia (to be extended to Asia) being
supported by the visitor members & various service providers.

18. It started with the ‘Singapore - East
Himalaya Program’ by Jet Airways
• Jet Airways, Singapore office, after a long research, along
with Help Tourism set up a program to support the Jungle
Camp Initiatives in East Himalaya since 2009. The target was
to involve the visitors to create Responsible Tourism
Destinations, ‘better places to live in and visit’.
• In a short period, Jet Airways collaborated with several
prestigious & versatile organizations like Singapore Scouts &
Guides Association, Singapore Management University,
Camp Vision Agape, Temasek Poly etc to support the
program.

19. The ‘Singapore – East Himalaya Program’ was mainly started with the target
for protection of the Red Panda (Fire Fox) habitat initiated at Hee for Barsey
Rhododendron Sanctuary in West Sikkim (Extending into Nepal & Singalila
National Park in Darjeeling Hills) & Kolakham for Neora Valley National Park
in Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling Hills (Extending into Pangalakha
Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim & into Bhutan through the Chumbi Valley
inTibet)

20. Involvement of Australian Teachers makes the way to the
formation of the ‘Growing through Education Foundation’
• As a part of the ‘Singapore East Himalaya Program’,
teachers involved with ‘open end education’,
‘Education through Art, Music, Games etc’ in
Australia were involved by Focal Promotions, an old
associate with Jet Airways.
• The immediate realization to create quality
education hubs for local children and youth was
identified to achieve Responsible Tourism
Destinations: ‘Better places to live in & visit’, and in
the process support the growing youth capacities in
conservation of the rich BIODIVERSITY.

21. This month, this year, the East Himalaya villages had
27 members from the Foundation, both old & new,
who have worked towards adopting a new
destination & continuing work with 02 others

22. CHUIKHIM, building infrastructure
Tourism training, trail identification, homestay management, IT education etc…

23. NEORA (Kolakham), Regional
Teachers’ Training & First Aid
workshops
Jam making,
Strawberry
plantation.
Baking,
Etc…

24. Hee (Barsey), Regional Teachers’
Training & First Aid workshops

25. To know in details as individuals or as institutions on voluntourism, please
enquire with Jayne Low at the Jet Airways office at Singapore 98309536
Or to visit the destinations you can book online

26. What have we gained as Help Tourism
• We are respected in the region by the State & National Governments,
and the communities to an extend that any Responsible Tourism activity
in the region is termed as Help Tourism.
• We have been consulted by UNESCO, UNDP, Royal Government of
Bhutan, Government of India, WWF-India etc for rural tourism.
• We act as the extension office for most of the production houses of
National Geographic & BBC Wildlife from Europe & Hongkong.
• We are respected in the industry as the most authentic special interest
tour operator for East & Northeast East India with the capability to
combine with the neighbouring countries of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh
and Myanmar.
• We have been responsible for launching products like Tea Tourism,
Birding, Butterfly Watching, Sky Watching, Tourism Festivals etc for the
said region.

27. There are several International organizations
who have recognized the Help Tourism way
2012