Whither Community Based-Ecotourism as a Sustainable Development Driver: the case of Surama, Guyana Paper presented by Paulette Bynoe, PhD Director, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Guyana

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Whither Community Based-Ecotourism as a
Sustainable Development Driver the case of
Surama, GuyanaPaper presented byPaulette
Bynoe, PhDDirector, School of Earth and
Environmental SciencesUniversity of Guyana

• International ConferenceTurtle Conservation,
  Ecotourism and Sustainable Community
  DevelopmentUWI-SALISES
• Learning Resource Centre
• July 29, 2009

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Outline of Presentation

• Definition of concepts
• Background
• Discussion of sustainable development impacts of
  CBE project
• Conclusion addressing the question can
  ecotourism be a sustainable development driver?

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Definition of Concepts

•  Ecotourism lacks consensus in its definition and
  origins, in view of the very diverse forms in
  which ecotourism activities are offered by
  different stakeholders (Weaver, 1998 Campbell
  1999 Fennell, 1999 Ross and Wall, 1999
  Stronza, 2001 WTO-UNEP, 2002).
• The term allows actors to speak the same
  language while pursuing different objectives
  (Gray, 2003, p. 113) and may therefore be defined
  both in terms of the product and as operating
  principles (Cater, 1994).
• It is envisioned as a tool for both conservation
  and sustainable development, especially in areas
  where local people are asked to forego the
  consumptive use of resources for others.
  (Weaver and Pierce, 1996, p. 848)

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Definition of Concepts

• Ecotourism provides an opportunity for community
  development, while they participate in the
  preservation of fragile and threatened areas or
  endangered species (Enriquez, 1998, p.129).
• The role assumed for ecotourism in conservation
  and development is based on its ability to
  provide economic incentives through employment
  and income (Hasler, 1996), though the extent of
  such provision is far from being uniform around
  the world.
• Sustainable development integrates environment
  with development and is based on the following
  pillars of sustainability ecological, economic.
  social and institutional.
• CBE implies that the community cares for its own
  natural resources in order to promote
  socio-economic development provides local people
  with income through tourism uses ecotourism
  income to better the lives of its people and fits
  the needs and aspirations of host communities in
  a manner that is acceptable to them (Fitton,
  1996 Wood, 2002)).

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Background

• Amerindians are the fourth largest ethnic group
  in Guyana in Guyana, accounting for 9.2 per cent
  of the 751,223 persons in Guyana (Guyana Census
  Report, 2002).
• The 1999 Guyana Survey of Living Conditions
  (GSLC) Survey records 78.4 per cent absolute
  poverty in the rural interior, where most
  Amerindians reside.
• Amerindians have lived from subsistence economies
  such as slash and burn agriculture, hunting,
  fishing, gathering, and seasonal herding (CIDA,
  1997).
• Traditionally, Amerindians livelihood systems are
  tied to the forests and savannah ecosystems and
  are largely dependent on natural resources (land,
  forests, and wildlife).

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Background

• Surama, a predominantly Makushi community
  comprising 38 households and a total population
  of 224 (in 2003) was established in 1973.
• Surama is located on five square miles of leased
  land on flat savannah, and bordered by the
  forested Pakaraima Mountain, described as the
  transition between the savannahs and the
  mountains in the North Rupununi, adjacent to the
  Iwokrama Forest (a PA).
• Suramas ecotourism potential in based on its
  wealth- the culture of the community and the
  beauty of the space they occupy.

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Background

• Tourists can
• take tours of the village during the day,
  grasping the opportunity to visit the local
  primary and nursery schools, the medical centre,
  church, and the cassava project.
• interact with community members who often
  organise cultural performances depicting their
  traditional mode of dress, dance, songs and
  poems.
• talk about their countries of origin as a means
  of enlightening Amerindian children about the
  outside world.
• be involved in other activities including hiking
  across the savannah or up the Surama Mountain
  Trail, or canoeing along the Burro Burro River,
  which provides a common border for Surama and
  the Iwokrama Forest.

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• The Director of Surama Ecotourism Business
  revealed that the implied policy of community was
  as follows
• Ecotourism will not replace anything, but will
  support ventures in our areas. We have a product
  that could make some money without having to
  destroy anything or anyone. Instead of trapping a
  hundred macaws or one hundred wild hogs or
  cutting down thousands of trees for sale, we
  could learn scientific or common or indigenous
  names of these things, build trails, have rivers
  cleared, see where these Harpy Eagles are, get
  hooked up to tour operators and sell these
  products.
• (pers. comm.)

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Discussion of Sustainable Development Impacts

• Conservation
• Public environmental awareness outreach
  programmes to foster conservation awareness by
  Macushi researchers.
• Households have made a conscious effort to reduce
  their exploitation of the forests for fuel wood
  and the building materials, for example the use
  of zinc sheets instead of palm leaves used as
  roofing materials, and solar power rather than
  fossil fuels for electricity generation.
• The collection of building materials from the
  forest was a concern for the community, as more
  trees had to be felled in response to need of the
  growing local population, and this was perceived
  as an unsustainable practice.

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Conservation Contd

• Prohibition of hunting of wildlife along the
  Burro Burro River this was described by one
  household as not good for men. However,
  households preferred to observe the rules of
  the community, rather than create internal
  conflicts.
• In 1994, a ban was placed on wildlife trapping
  and has since been upheld. The wildlife is being
  protected to promote the ecotourism venture.
• Hunting in other areas is done in a controlled
  manner and is monitored by the Surama Community
  Wildlife Club.

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Discussion of Sustainable Development Impacts
Job Category Average Monthly earnings
   G200 US1.00
Tour guide US 12.93
Cook US 98.31
Maid US 20.70
Guest House Manager US 98.30
Caretaker US 299.06

• Direct job opportunities for 10 persons ten
  individuals as tour guide (4), cook (2) caretaker
  (1) maid (1) guest house manager (1) and porter
  (1).
• Jobs are best described as casual, since
  employees are rotated monthly, providing that the
  business is profitable.
• Indirect jobs 15 comprising craft making,
  sewing, embroidery, and selling agricultural
  produce or products

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Discussion of Sustainable Development Impacts

• Only 4 households identified ecotourism as the
  most important income source.
• Diversification of Suramas local economy has
  created opportunities for maximum local
  involvement in the monetized economy.
• Surama Ecotourism Business has managed to
  establish linkages between sectors in the local
  economy

• Households spent ecotourism related incomes on
  consumables not produced locally, building
  materials for housing, schoolbooks and uniforms
  for the children, clothing for the entire family
  and labour.
• Each visitor paid a head tax of US2.59 also
  every ecotourism employee contributed the same
  amount on a monthly basis to the community fund
  used for emergencies.

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Discussion of Sustainable Development Impacts

• Social and Institutional
• Greater interaction among households and
  formation of Special Committees (ecotourism,
  sewing and embroidery, cassava project, craft, )
  to ensure diversification of local economy.
• Enhancement of human capital through education
  and skills training transferrable to other
  economic ventures.
• General improvement in communication networks and
  enhancement of social capital (establishment of
  internet facility, direct contact with outside
  world), direct bargaining power.
• Over 80 percent of households perceived that
  ecotourism had led to the revival and
  preservation of their culture
• One community elder noted that people were once
  ashamed to talk about their way of life, however,
  currently, they are thrilled to share their
  culture and still do not fully understand why
  people from across the world would travel great
  distances and at great expense to visit a
  community that was so ordinary. Mascushi
  language is taught in the schools.

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Conclusion Can ecotourism be a Sustainable
Development Driver?

• Yes, but its contextual hence issue of
  replication.
• Certain conditions should exist community
  awareness and support, community cohesion,
  maximum local participation, a diversified local
  economy with linkages with ecotourism, leadership
  skills, training in accounting etc.

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• MANY THANKS FOR LISTENING