Our Approach to Engaging Communities in Sustainable Tourism

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1 Our Approach to Engaging Communities in Sustainable Tourism Michael Brown Environment and Natural Resources Director November 29, 2017

2 Chemonics Global Experience in Tourism Tourism work since 1980s BIOREDD+ Colombia MAREA Central America BNRMP Botswana Investment opportunities focused on tourism enterprises, serviced to tourism camps/lodges, product harvesting and sales, and microcredit services.

3 BIOREDD+ and MAREA BIOREDD+: Ecotourism in the Pacific region of Colombia Preserving natural resources and generate alternative incomes. Focus: improving quality of ecotourism services, building local capacity for managing community tourism enterprises, and implementing a marketing strategy to attract more visitors. Small grants strengthened nascent community tourism organizations. MAREA: We partnered with National Geographic in Go Blue Central American Geotourism MapGuide- an online marketing platform designed to promote local businesses using sustainable practices and increase their access to markets. Created local geotourism stewardship councils, led by NGOs, private sector, and local residents - to ensure that participating business owners adhered to sustainability guidelines.

4 CBNRM in Botswana NRMP Chobe Enclave 1993 led to mushrooming of Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) projects Botswana during the 1990s. These blended environmental, economic, and social objectives. Even with MUCH technical support, the question of sustainability was a major concern at the end of ten years. Questions posed: What will it take to reach maturity? Financial and organizational sustainability are key. Concerns grew about both communities ability and suitability to manage the substantial resource revenues and productive activities. Questions on capacity of CBNRM support organizations - NGOs, government institutions, and donors. Most donors withdrew from Botswana in the early 1990s and left gaps in the support network. Rural development and conservation principles and impacts were being questioned. The biggest question: Does Community-Based Natural Resource Management really contribute to development and resource conservation?

5 Types of CBNRM tourist ventures (early PPPs) Area and date of registration CBO Natural resources Villages Purpose Rights NG th of November 1995 Lodge in NG 33 Sankuyo Tshwaragano Management Trust (STMT) Wildlife, scenery Sankuyo Hunting and photo safaris in WMA Exclusive rights through 15 year headlease from Land Board NG 18 (and two lodges in NG 19) 2 nd of March 2000 Khwai Development Trust (KDT) Wildlife, scenery Khwai settlement Hunting and photo safaris in WMA Exclusive rights through 15 year headlease from Land Board Tswapong Hills 1 st of February 1999 KD1 10 th of June 1998 Kgetsi ya Tsie (KyT) Veld products 2 villages Collection and processing of veld products Nqwaa Khobee Xeya Trust (NKXT) Wildlife Ukhwi, Ncaang and Ngwatle Hunting and photo safaris in WMA None Exclusive rights through 15 year headlease from Land Board

6 A framework for community aspects of sustainability Do we have a consensus definition including communities on what constitutes tourism sector sustainability among stakeholders? When it comes to sustainability, how do we define limits to growth? (think biodiversity and environmental impact!) If stakeholder views differ on the above, can sustainability be achieved? What needs doing to get there? Can tourism be sustainable without CBNRM and integrated conservation and development? In most cases - NO! Is current approach to tourism equitable enough for communities? Chemonics is committed to working with stakeholders to figure out the answers to these tough questions.

7 Royal Caribbean, WWF, and GIZ Public Private Partnerships Some potential issues to consider: Community engagement The handling of social and environmental impact Is it possible to negotiate covenants or social contracts with communities to reach common definitions of sustainability?

8 Thank you!