what do I have to offer? *

*Let’s hope that this brief, yet somehow crowded, chronological portfolio with extremely short descriptions demonstrates what I do and infers what is important to me. Here goes nothing.

This project was a proposal for a community garden in Elmwood, Providence developed along side the Elmwood Housing Association as a group project and the design was built eventually built on-site . 2009

i can envision change

Plywood side table and Walnut/Cherry Stools and Coffee Table . 2009

i can work with my hands

Okavango Delta: Ecotourism and Economic Diversification

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1

INTRODUCTION

PAGE 1PAGE 3PAGE 5PAGE 7PAGE 9PAGE 11PAGE 13PAGE 15PAGE 17PAGE 19PAGE 21PAGE 23PAGE 25PAGE 27PAGE 29PAGE 31PAGE 33

IntroductionGeographyResourcesDemographicsTransportationWaterEconomyTourismNational to Regional IssuesEco-/ Cultural Tourism Overview Existing Ecotourism RegionallyExisting Cultural Tourism RegionallyGlobal Case StudiesGlobal Case StudiesGlobal to Regionally IssuesReferencesReferences

Botswana has a population of approximately 2 million people (population is referred to as Batwana). Given the small size of the country this fi gure seems proportional however the fact that somewhere between 25-35% of the popu-lation is infected with HIV/AIDS is staggering. This is an important consideration in regards to the possibilities for local or rural involvement/development in the tourism industry. Other demographic factors include tribe culture, education and entrepreneurship opportunities. The largest tribe in the nation, after who the country was named, are the Tswana people who represent approximately 70-80% of the population. Other main tribes include the Kalanga, Basarwa or San people, although there are number of other small tribes. White or Caucasian people are considered a separate demographic, making up less than 3% of the overall population. 60% of the population live now live in urban areas, despite the history of the nation being rooted in the agricultural industry. Despite migration for work purpose, 50% of the population of Botswana remains below the subsistence level.

NATIONAL REGIONAL GLOBAL REGIONAL

Located in Southern Africa, Botswana is a land-locked nation bordering with South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Due to the generally fl at landscape and the pro dominantly semi-arid climate, the Okavango Delta appears as an anomaly due with its relative abundance of water, fl ora and wildlife. Although the indigenous popula-tion are known to be farmers, the predominance of desert in the region, means that arable land is scarce. However, due to the vast diamond, copper and nickel deposits, the government of Botswana has been able to ignore its ag-ricultural shortcomings. Unfortunately, the rampant desertifi cation and soil erosion occurring due to draught and livestock grazing is a signifi cant and a large concern in terms of environmental sustainability.

SUMMARY

GEOGRAPHY

QUESTIONSGiven that the delta is the main tourist attraction of Botswana, what are the long term eff ects on dams being built both in Botswana, and in neighboring countries? How will the dams eff ect the wildlife population and thus the tourism industry?

If dams are built what are the opportunities for power production? If the opportunity exists how does this energy source compare to the opportunities for solar power generation in the country?

What are measures being taken by other countries, worldwide, who are facing major draughts?

PAGE 3

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSBotswana maintains friendly relations with all of its neighbors with strong trade and economic ties. However, two issues are beginning to create tension: the agreement over the use of water or damming of the Cuando river in Angola, which feeds the Okavango Delta and the increase of refugees entering illegally from Zimbabwe.

SEASONSBotswana has two main seasons: dry and rainy. The rainy season starts in November and lasts through March. De-spite the name, this season rarely see rain for more than two consecutive days and can vary dramatically from one year to the next. The dry season, from April to October, is high tourist season as most of the wildlife becomes con-centrated around the major water sources.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESDraught is a major source of concern in Botswana. Due to the draught, two-thirds of the population rely on ground-water, which involves drilling large bore holes, that can lead to soil erosion. Additionally the semi-arid landscape has lead to the farming of livestock, rather that crops, which in turn has increase the rate of desertifi cation due to grazing.

MIGRATIONDue to the stigma of rural life and a lack of employment opportunities, there has been a recent increase in migra-tion to urban areas, which are largely location on the eastern border. Unfortunately, these cities are not located near water sources and more infrastructure will be required to meet the demands of these growing populations.

Natural resources available in Botswana can be categorized into the following sections: veld, agriculture, horticulture, livestock, tourism, water and energy. Each sector varies in strength however the lack of communication and resource sharing between these industries has resulted in a general lack of growth. Problems with profi ts, in all industries, tend not to come from lack of demand but rather a lack of “in-house” ability to process the goods correctly, store them until high-season or package and market them in a competitive way. Eff orts in areas such as energy are currently being addressed in small scale initiatives and are not being looks at for there potential nationally or globally.

SUMMARY

RESOURCES

AGRICULTUREAlthough Botswana has a limited potential for grain production, its likely that with proper cultivation meth-ods, groundnuts and sunfl ower could do well. Oppor-tunities for utilizing is the oil producing nature of these crops are currently being squandered due to the ab-sence of an oil processing industry. Government incen-tives to plant these cash crops and inter-planting with useful trees such as Morula has been recommended by agencies who have surveyed the region.

TOURISMThe dominance of the Okavango Delta and wildlife in Botswana’s tourism has led to skewed geographi-cal distribution of tourism, thus the benefi ts are not felt on a national scale. Two large problems with the industry are the loss of revenue to the counties where the tourists are booking their safaris and the lack of employment opportunities at managerial levels for lo-cals. Other than providing training for these positions, a sigma of “rural life” needs to be overcome in order to retain a local population in tourist regions and greater eff orts need to be made towards integration with local industries such as indigenous crafts .

INDIGENOUS CRAFTSThe two main types of crafts are the basket industry and animal by-product,such as skins and eggs. The quality and sizes of baskets manufactured in this area varies a lot, however sales show that baskets of higher quality sell better and thus make Botswana more competitive than other nearby nations who can-not produce crafts of the same quality. Currently the main exporter of these crafts is Botswana Crafts who buy crafts from a variety of local villages. In add ti on to baskets, there is a need to address the shortage of raw material and an eff ort should be made to import animal skins and eggs from wildlife rich communities to defi cit areas.

PAGE 5

POWERCurrently fuel accounts for a large portion of Botswa-na’s imports. This is seemingly unnecessary due to the vast deposits of coal found across the nations. In ad-dition to coal, it is widely agreed that Botswana is one of these most suitable countries in the world for solar energy harvesting due to the 3200 hours of sunshine per annum the country receives. Organization such as the National Photovoltaic Rural Electrifi cation Program are beginning to take advance of these resource how-ever the potential has yet to be exploited and the op-portunity for solar water heating has been completely overlooked.

WATERCurrently two-thirds of Botswana’s population rely on ground water for their consumption, the remaining third use surface water. Due to rapid population and economic growth, water has become an increasingly scarce commodity, especially in south-eastern Botswa-na. The government has taken steps to address water issues in the nation by issuing a policy called The Bo-tswana National Water Master Plan. The plan outlines water management eff orts, including the expansion of the water supply system through the construction of two dams and a North-South water carrier. The reuse of water seems to be an issue that has not yet been adequately addressed.

LIVESTOCKCurrently beef production in Botswana is monopo-lized by the Botswana Meat Commission. In addition to breaking up this monopoly and diversifying to small stock, this sector should take advantage of the lucra-tive beef market in Southern Africa. Botswana also has the benefi t of one of the best veterinary control systems in Africa and should capitalise on disease and draught outbreaks that often occur in other countries.

HORTICULTURECurrently this sector only produces 20 percent of the national demand. Water shortages, a lack of knowl-edge/research of fl oral suitable for arid environments and an inability to compete with established South African producers, who control the prices in this sector, need to be addressed.

QUESTIONSCan solar energy be harvested to a level that is could be sold to neighboring countries with less ability to de-velop the infrastructure?

What crops could be introduce to the region that are suitable for arid to semi-arid climates but will not aff ect the local environment?

Who are the cooperatives currently working on links between industries that could share processing, packaging, storage and marketing facilities/services?

VELDThe term veld refers to the wide open rural spaces of Southern Africa. Opportunities for industry in this sector include the cultivation of Mophane worms, Cochineal insects and Morula fruit. The inability to eff ectively store, transport, process and package the product locally severely decreases local profi ts. Stor-age is essential in allowing local producers to not sell the product during the low-priced season in all sectors.

Botswana has a population of approximately 2 million people. Given the small size of the country this fi gure seems proportional however the fact that somewhere between 25-35% of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS is stag-gering. This is an important consideration in regards to the possibilities for local or rural involvement/development in the tourism industry. Other demographic factors include tribe culture, education and entrepreneurship opportu-nities. The largest tribe in the nation, after who the country was named, are the Tswana people who represent ap-proximately 70-80% of the population. Other main tribes include the Kalanga, Basarwa or San people, although there are number of other small tribes. White or Caucasian people are considered a separate demographic, making up less than 3% of the overall population. 60% of the population live now live in urban areas, despite the history of the nation being rooted in the agricultural industry. Despite migration for work purpose, 50% of the population of Botswana remains below the subsistence level.

SUMMARY

DEMOGRAPHICS

TSWANAThe Twana tribe is made up of a 8 major clans found in both Botswana and South Africa and are believed to make up 80% of the population of Botswana. They migrated to the Botswana region in the 14th century pushing out the local bushmen. Although the tribe originally of hunters and herders, now a large popu-lation, especially male, have moved to urban areas where they work supporting other industries such as fi nancial services or mining. Traditionally this tribe in noted for a culture that focuses on the overall tribe wellbeing rather than the individual.

KALANGAThe Kalanga tribe is the largest minority in Botswana, making up 11% of the population. The tribe originat-ed from modern day Zimbabwe and are traditional known as iron mongers. Unlike the Tswana who herd cattle, the Kalangas primarily use cattle for social or re-ligious purpose and they tend to live in small farming communities.

BASWARA/SAN/BUSHMENSuff ering the fate of many of the world’s indigenous people, the bushmen of Botswana are often the sub-ject of discrimination and civil rights violations. Com-prising 3% of the national population the bushmen have been marginalized to the point where there are only small clustered who remain isolated from one an-other, although many live in the Kalahari region. Tra-ditionally the bushmen are nomadic and have no or-ganized system of governance, focusing on individual needs rather that tribe wellbeing.

5.1%Male (<15yrs)

15.3%Female(<15yrs)

15.3%Life Expectancy

QUESTIONSWhat eff orts are being made to stop the fl ow of migration to urban areas on the Eastern border?

How can the government be encouraged to see the value of maintaining a Bushmen population in the Central Kalahari Reserve?

How will the massive reduction of a local workforce, due to HIV deaths, aff ect the long term growth of the tourist industry?

If there is no presence of a local population, or at least one with history, will visitors be less likely to visit this area, over regions that have maintain a strong link to their demographic history?

PAGE 7

78%Patients Receiving ART Treatment

BUSHMEN: HUMAN RIGHTS

In 2002, following the discovery of vast quantities of diamond deposits in the Central Kalahari, approximately 2000-3000 Bushmen were forcibly removed from their lands and into resettlement camps.

Following a review of the constitution in 2006, which ruled that the forcible eviction of the Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Reserve was unlawful, the Bushmen were reluctantly allowed to return.

Although they have technically been allowed to return, the Bushmen continue to suff er from human rights vio-lations. Currently, the government is not allowing the Bushmen to reopen the bore hole in the region, which was the only reliable source of water in the region, and has discontinue service of water tankers to the area, thereby making the region essentially uninhabitable.

Meanwhile diamond mining corporations and tourist camps in the region have been granted the right to tap several bore holes in the region. Although there is little sign of desire, even if these industries were inclined to help the Bushmen access water, the companies have been explicitly banned from doing so.

As a result of moving the resettlement camps, the proximity of Bushmen to Western infl uences increased dra-matically. Increases in the prevalence of alcoholism, drug use, prostitution, sexual promiscuity and HIV/AIDS have been noticed.

The question that remains is whether this population has the desire to Westernize. In the event that groups do wish to modernized, which ultimately is likely to be inevitable, how can NGOs and the government aid in allow-ing the shift towards a modern culture while still maintaining the values and traditions embedded in the history of the tribe?

Population living with AIDS/HIV

37%Total population living with AIDS/HIV

2World ranking for AIDS/HIV prevalence

Due to the large number of “fl y-in” safari campsites there are a large number of airports and small airstrips in the coun-try, mainly located in the Okavango Delta region. There is a lack of development in the roadways and train systems, however in the master plan outlined for national development this is a focus and links between major tourist attrac-tions are in the process of being developed.

SUMMARY

TRANSPORTATION

FIGURES

Roads: 8,410 km paved, 17,388 km unpavedRailways: 888km

ISSUES

A limited rail line running north to South in the east accounts for only 7% of ground transportation. There is limited access to paved roads in rural com-munities making it diffi cult to get around.

The majority of road transportation is provided by buses, approximately 60%, which can cause sig-nifi cant damaged to the roads resulting in regular maintenance of the roadways.

QUESTIONSIf more roads ways or trains existed would there be a demand from tourist to use them?

Is there enough revenue potential to create a backpacker culture, who tend to rely on ground infrastructure, in Botswana similar to Australia? What would the benefi ts or the risks be of creating this type of develop-ment?

Could this sector be linked with volun-toursim with is becoming a popular option for high-school and col-lege students?

What are the opportunities to train locals to provide more involvement in the airline industry? What is being done currently?

PAGE 9

FIGURES

Airport/Landing Strips: 9 paved, 68 unpaved

ISSUES

There are very few trans-national fl ights in or out of Botswana.

The majority of air traffi c is private charter fl ights servicing the tourist industry, mainly in the north-west. Due to this, there has been less of a focus of developing road systems that could also be used by the local population.

The Okavango Delta, located in the North-West of Botswana is the world largest in-land delta. However, it’s location within the borders of Botswana seem arbitrary given that its basin begins in Angola and passes through Namibia before entering its fi nal destination. Due to the lack of water in the region, this water source is cause for conten-tion for all three nations. Other water sources in the region include: The Limpopo River Basin and the Chobe River, which eventually fl ows into the Zambezi river and provides a boundary between Botswana and Namibia. Due to the draughts being experiences on a national level in all three countries, concern over water is a high priority. A major concern is the use of groundwater as a main water source since in the long term it is unsustainable. Recently, issues of the government using water as a way of controlling local population of indigenous tribes has caught the attention of human rights groups.

SUMMARY

WATER

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSBOTSWANABotswana is suff ering from a draught and a booming urban population which is increasing demand for water is areas of the nation where water sources are scarce or non-existent. Be-sides these issues Botswana relies on its only major water body, the Okavango Delta, to at-tract tourists, an industry that the government is putting a large emphasis on since it is the second largest contributor to the national GDP. Due to its downstream position Botswana has very little power over the use of water in the Okavango (or Cuando) River however, in 1996 Botswana registered the delta as a Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance in an eff ort to protect its major attraction.

ANGOLARefugees, returning after years of civil war, will increase the populations in towns and vil-lages along the river, placing greater demand in the country for fresh water and potentially increase the pollution in the river over the long term. By virtue of its location Angola has control of the basin’s principal sub-catchment and is therefore the most powerful player in this discussion, controlling 94.5 % of the total water runoff in the catchment.

NAMIBIASuff ering from severe draught, Namibia is in the process of planning a diversion of the river into the capital to provide a more consistent source of water for the population. They are also hoping to build a dam near the Popa Falls which falls close to the Botswana border.

ISSUES

While the construction of hydroelectric dams in Angola, Namibia or Botswana may be benefi cial to local populations in terms of power, the potential disrup-tion of the river and the fl ow of sediment into low lying regions could cause signifi cant damage to the ecology of the delta. This will not only aff ect the wildlife and fl ora in the region but also the population in the surrounding re-gion that rely heavily on its natural resources.

According to the Commission’s fact page, in 2000 the population of the basin “was 1,113,000; of these, 76 % resided in Angola, 13 % in Namibia, and 11% in Botswana. Even taking into account mortality from HIV/AIDS and other dis-eases, the population is expected to increase to 1,686,000 by 2020.” This an enormous increase in demand on the river.

The continued cooperation between nations. With all three nations are facing large population growth and ever increasing demands for services and it may be diffi cult maintain committed to the partnered countries and the sustain-able use of the river.

95% 67% 33%Total Population With Access to Safe Drinking Water Consumption of Water: Ground Water Consumption of Water: Surface Water

QUESTIONSWho accounts for water use? Is there a move to create a national governing body to ensure water uses are re-corded and monitored?

How can a greater awareness be create for the unfair distribution of water between industries such as diamond mining or tourism and the local population?

How can this issue be made more clear to visitors and what are the risks for the tourism industry in exposing this inequality?

PAGE 11

21” 76%Inches of Rain Per Year Water supplied by the Okavango River to the Delta

5Number of Dams

Regarded as the success story of Africa, Botswana has achieved a high degree of economic stability and growth. Fol-lowing its independence in 1966 Botswana has benefi ted from one of the highest and steadiest economic growths in the world, averaging 5-8% each year. However, due to the fact that 30% of the GDP and as much as 80% of exports in the country are the result of diamond mining, this growth took a sharp decline in the recent global recession. Tour-ism is the nations second largest commodity, however, since a large portion of the industry is geared toward luxury or enclave safaris this industry has also suff ered a recent decline. Other contributors to GDP and export revenue are textiles, agriculture and other service industries. While the country is thriving in terms of export revenue, it is far for self-reliant due to the excessive quantities of imports bought into the country. Major contributors include fuel, ma-chinery and electric equipment, food and beverages, and chemical and rubber products. Another contributing factor to Botswana economic success is its liberal stance of foreign investment. While most of these investments come from the same counties and are primarily focused on the mining industry, the infl ux of foreign capital and western busi-ness strategies and systems have had a major impact on the local businesses.

SUMMARY

ECONOMY

TOURISM: 12% GDP

OKAVANGO DELTA

CHOBE GAME

RESERVE

CENTRAL KALAHARI

GAME RESERVE

COPPER, NICKEL, GOLD, COAL: 8% GDP

DIAMONDS: 30% GDP

AGRICULTURE: 1.2% GDP

GDP Distribution

Machinery + Electric Equipment

Fuel

Food + Beverage + Tobacco

Metals + Metal Products

Salt Ores + Related Products

Textiles

Vehicles + Transport Equipment

Wood + Paper Products

Other

Diamonds

Chemicals + Rubber Products

Copper + Nickel

Meat and Meat Products

Gold

Exported and Imported Goods

QUESTIONSHow can Botswana reduce its dependence on foreign imports?

What will happen to the economy of Botswana once the diamond deposits have decreased signifi cantly?

What are the industries that show the greatest potential for growth and what is being done to nurture and sup-port these sectors?

PAGE 13

Exports Imports FDI Investments

Botswana is internationally recognized as one of the world’s best safari locations. The Okavango Delta/ Moremi game reserve is the most well-known destination however there are several other centers of attraction for safari within the country. Along with these tourist attractions, there are two major cities, Gaborone and Francistown, that are fre-quently visited by tourists, business people and relatives or friends visiting local inhabitants.

SUMMARY

TOURISM

OKAVANGO DELTA

Recognized for its unique ecosystem and abundance of wildlife, the Okavango Delta has become a main hub of tourism in Botswana. The majority of camps in the area are considered high-end, fully packaged, fl y-in luxury destinations. This focus on a particular demographic is available in other countries with sa-fari tourism such as South Africa however it is not as predominant.

CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE

While not as popular are the Okavango Delta or the Chobe game reserve, the central Kalahari attracts tour-ists looking to get off -the-beaten-path. This region is home to the majority of the Bushmen population still living in Botswana.

THE PANS

The salt pans and the remote wildlife attract tourists to this region. Its proximity to mining sites also make it a destination for business people.

CHOBE GAME RESERVEWhile not as internationally famous as the Okavango Delta, Chobe receives a large numbers of visitors on sa-fari tours. Since many of the safaris are package deals, visitor stay in several diff erent locations in Botswana and occasionally carry on to neighboring countries such as Namibia or Zimbabwe (although Zimbabwe has recently been removed from many deals due to its political and economic instability).

FRANCISTOWN

As second largest city in the country, Francistown town receives a large portion of visitors due to its proximity to mining sites.

GABORONEAs the capital of Botswana, Gaborone is the most frequently visited part of the country. Many of these visitors, however are not tourist but rather relatives or friends visiting. Man tourist and business people pass through as Gaborone has the largest airport in the na-tion.

KEY: Contribution

High Medium Low

QUESTIONSIs there a demand for tourism that has a greater focus on local culture?

What are the other opportunities for diversifi cation within the industry in terms of destinations or the targeted demographics? Have any of these options been tested and if so were they successful, and if not, why?

Due to the stigma of rural life, many people are actively choosing to not work in tourist rich regions. How can organization change this view and allow locals to achieve managerial positions within the industry. Is it just training that is needed or does something else need to change?

How can the tourist industry become more actively involved in other industries, such as indigenous crafts?

Other than fi nancial incentives, how can you encourage camps to demand more local involvement, from both a people perspective but also in terms of power or agriculture?

PAGE 15

FIGURES

Europe: 50%North-America: 26%Asia/ Pacifi c: 20%Africa: 2.5%Middle-East: 2.5%

ISSUES

Due to the fact that the majority of bookings are made outside of Botswana and tours tend to be package deals, Botswana does not see most of the profi ts from its safari tourism. Therefore it must rely on goods and services provided in support of the industry for its share of the profi ts.

In 2000 the population of the Okavango Delta region was 124,000 and was expected to grow to 158,000 by 2011. There is very little current informa-tion available of this region specifi cally.

There are fi ve main ethnic groups of indigenous people living in the Okavango Delta region. While they can all go by diff erent names the fi ve include: Hambukushu (Batsu), Dceriku (Batsu), Wayeyi (Batsu), Bugakhwe (Bushmen), ||anikhwe (Bushmen).

NATIONAL TO REGIONAL ISSUES

GEOGRAPHY

RESOURCES

DEMOGRAPHICS

TRANSPORTATION

The North-West of Botswana is the center of tourism within the country, it is also a suitable location of veld product growth and general agriculture.

Conservation International : CI is working on a project to link the game reserves in the region by implementing cyber tracking. This aims to make use of the tracking traditions of the San people and to monitor ecosystem and land-use patterns.

Kuru Family of Organizations: Along with the Dqae Qare project, this foundation also supports the Gantsi Craft project in the Ghanzi district. Focusing on pooling craft production eff orts, this organization helps craft producers to organized themselves as well as sell their product. The people they sup-port are 75% San and 23 % Bakgalagadi, 80% of all the producers are women.

Permaculture of Botswana: Sponsored and aligned with the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) working on projects concen-trated on veld product utilization and management.

Community Based Natural Resource Management: CBNRM is a support program established to help relations between NGOs and the government and provide implementation,advisory and facilitation services to NGOs.

Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organizations : BOCONGO is a government umbrella organization for NGO’s nationally and in the region.

Kalahari Conservation Society: Working on a variety of projects in the region, focused primarily on environmental issues although they do work on HIV/AIDS community issues.

The Okavango Delta, located in the North-West district of Botswana, is a the world’s largest inland delta and each year approximately 11 cubic kilome-ters of water irrigate the 15,000 km² area, 76% of which comes from the Okavango (Cuando) River that begins in Northern Angola.

Of the 68 unpaved airstrips in the country, over 70% can be found in the Okavango Delta Region.

Although many tourists arrive by air, the rest travel by road up from South Africa to the Okavango Delta before continuing to Namibia. A major paved road has been developed however it is diffi cult to navigate due to poor conditions, lack of roadside amenities and the wildlife that tends to congregate along the route.

SUMMARYDue to the fact that the indigenous population of Botswana is centered primarily in the Central Kalahari and that the rural population is scattered throughout the country is it diffi cult to select an area for community development in general however in the focus is in tourism, be it either eco-tourism or cultural tourism, the most obvious location is the region surrounding the Okavango Delta due to its existing popularity amongst tourist already visiting the country. Un-fortunately due to the lack of specifi c information in the area, to identify specifi c issues to the area topics on a national scale must be observed and reconsidered on a regional basis. The signifi cance of the triple bottom line in ecotourism

PAGE 17

RAMSAR: The Batswana and the Namibian governments fi led for the Okavango Delta to be considered a RAMSAR site which according to the organization involves “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achiev-ing sustainable development throughout the world”. This is mainly seen as a political move by Botswana to prevent Angola from developing along the feeder river. Angola has yet to agree to the petition however has signed another agreement for the protection of the water body.

Waste water: 80% of the safari lodges use septic tanks that have begun to pollute the Okavango Delta, which is already low in nutrients due to the distance from its source. Constructed wetlands are a solution being encouraged since they have been shown to fi lter and treat the water.

Okavango Delta: Consisting of 9000 square miles of fl oodplains, the delta is the largest inland delta. The river that feeds this delta starts in Angola, passes through Namibia before ending in Botswana where the majority of the water evaporates and therefore there is no outlet.

Maun: The largest city near to the delta and the center for the majority of safari and tourism organizations.

Tsodilo Hills: A group of four quartite cliff s, this land formation has a special signifi cance to the Sans people who believe that the site is the resting place for spirits. The paintings on the hills suggest that there has been occupied by humans for over 100,000 years.Moremi Game Reserve: This reserve is a protected wildlife habitat and also contains approximately 20% of the Okavango Delta.Gchwihaba (Drotsky’s) Caves: A series of caves with signifi cant stalactite formations.Aha Hills: This range forms part of the border between Botswana and Namibia and it one of the most remote regions in the country. Nmabe Museum: A cultural museum recording the history of the Okavango Delta and its people. It is located 2.5 hours away from Maun.

Fixed lodge: 45% of the tourist population in Moremi Game Reserve. Usually luxury accommodation and the duration of stay is typically 2-3 days in 2-3 dif-ferent campsites .

Mobile : 22% of the tourist population in Moremi Game Reserve. Usually part of an organized group and the duration of stay is typically 5-42 days.

Self-drive: 33% of the tourist population in Moremi Game Reserve. Low-budget, typically independent with a duration of stay between 8-10 days.

Hunting: Found in all groups however tend to spend extended periods of time and are the highest spending group.

ECONOMY

TOURISM

WATER

Of the 11% of the GDP generate through tourism at least 80% is earned in the Okavango Delta/Moremi Game Reserve and the Chobe Game Reserve.

It is 600% more profi table to work in the safari tourism industry than it is to work in cattle farming however research has shown that local communities receive 1000% less for selling an elephant to a tour operator than an expatriot does.

How can modernization be provided to the villages in a way benefi ts the inhabitants, allows for their growth but still allows for the traditions of the culture to thrive?

Botswana is often visited as part of a “circuit” of safaris, how could this be taken advantage of?

In other countries Trusts and fees, in addition to traveler’s philanthropy initiatives, are in place to create profi t, what does Botswana have that compares to this and how are they being used to local develop communities?

Why is the Batwana government reluctant to aid the indigenous population and could it not simply demand that diamond miners absorb the costs?

What are sectors that NGOs are currently not addressing or to their full extents?

QUESTIONS

ECO-/CULTURAL TOURISM OVERVIEW

The lack of a concise, universally recognized defi nition of ecotourism is one of the issues that makes this sector of industry so elusive it terms of true success. True success being defi ned in this case as meeting the triple-bottom-line (people, planet, profi t). In many cases economic success is not that diffi cult to achieve since, due to lack of regulations or certifi cation programs, ecotourism can simply mean tourism focused on nature or any-thing unrelated to conventional tourism. In this capacity ecotourism is thriving in Botswana due to the vast array and abundance of wildlife found in several of the national parks, especially the Moremi Game Reserve located around the Okavango Delta. The government attempted to address some of these issues through the introduc-tion of a program entitled CBNRM. The organization started several projects including training local villagers for jobs for higher-paying positions in the safari lodges and establishing cultural villages for tourist to visit and “experience” indigenous life. These types of programs highlight a lack of understanding in regards to cultural heritage tourism, which is itself a sector of the tourism market, separate from ecotourism.

SUMMARY

ECOTOURISM6 PRINCIPLESMinimize impact.Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.

PROSDue to the nature-centered tourism industry eco-tourism would be a natural evolution for camps in Botswana, especially in the Moremi game reserve.Net income and job generation from wildlife tourism is signifi cantly greater than income from cattle ranching.

Tourists interested in eco-tourism tend to be from upper class, dual income families or single professional women. Consequently they are able and willing to pay for quality services.

Due to the diversifi cation of ecotourist ventures (ie. many camps in other parts of the globe have working farms or fi sheries or scientifi c research opportunities) these camps tend to be less eff ected by economic fl uctuations.

CONS

There are few international or national regulatory bodies defi ning, monitoring or policing the quality of ecotourism ventures, which makes it diffi cult for tourists ,interested in this sector, to know if the camp is in fact adhering to the 6 principles outlined above.

Ecotourism is a term that lacks defi nition and has become increasingly confused due to a proliferation of other defi nitions such as sustainable, green, low-impact, geo- or pro-poor tourism. The result of this confusion is a lack of understand from many tourists and developers in how to adequately address the issue.

A mainstreaming of “green” or sustainable issues has resulted in ecotourism being understood as anything involving nature or tours unrelated to conventional tourism, rather than tours focusing on the principles of ecotoursim.

Ecotourism only received 3-4 percent of IFC’s (International Finance Cooperation) funding budget since many project fall below its investment threshold and therefore developers have to rely of other, smaller capital sources.

Like any business, a demand is needed for investors to be willing contribute time and money, however many tourists, while interested or appreciative of ecotourist ventures, do not actively demand such off erings.

Provide direct fi nancial benefi ts for conservation.Provide fi nancial benefi ts and empowerment for local people.Raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climate.

PAGE 19

QUESTIONSHow can cultural village possibly serve as the genuine or authentic experience that tourist seem to demand and preserve the culture?

What examples are there for cultural villages that do not mimic folk-life? And is there a diff erence between this and a living museum?

Why are there not eff ective regulatory bodies for either of these two tourism sectors, when tourism is consid-ered to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world and in Botswana?

It seems that marketing is often blamed for the lack of success in both sectors. How can this eff ectively be addressed on a local scale?

CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM5 PRINCIPLESCollaborate with local communities.Provide engaging and educational services.Develop facilities and packages that are site specifi c.

PROS

Ecotourism and cultural tourism are linked due to ecotourism’s focus of the triple-bottom-line, which demands economic, environmental and social factors be consid-ered individually and in combination. The slogan of the triple-bottom-line is people, planet, profi t.Cultural tourism is a niche market however, similar to ecotourism it attracts clients that tend to be willing to pay a premium of quality services.

This type of tourism generally involves local populations and therefore not only provides an avenue for job generation but encourages active participation and self-mobilization rather than a passive interest (which in currently the case in many of the eco-safaris).

CONS

Since marketing and fi nancing play such a large role in these ventures, small projects seem to be unsuccessful without the backing of a “big-brother” organization provid-ing signifi cant amounts of support.

Authenticity plays a large role in the success of a project however this authenticity is not often supplied or even demanded, however it not only benefi ts the service but plays a larger role in adequately preserving the culture and practices being displayed.

Museumifi cation can often be the result of many of these ventures, where camps or villages become folk-life museums centered more on nostalgia, creating a market-able identity or generating a fi nancial profi ts.

Many of these ventures try to show a broad spectrum of national cultures which can result in simplifi cation and lack of authenticity.There are no international or national bodies adequately governing the practices of these projects. This lack of governmental support makes it diffi cult for indigenous people to start entrepreneurial businesses. Culture becomes a commodity rather than a fact.

Preserve and protect natural and local resources.

Authentically represent stories, civilizations and people in terms of culture, history and local resources.

EXISTING ECOTOURISM REGIONALLY

SUMMARY

MODUMO/MAPULA LODGEStarted by Modumo Sehitheng and a non-citizen part-ner this lodge was a response to the drop in wildlife in the region. Mr. Sehitheng was specifi cally concerned with the population decrease of wild dogs (an ex-tremely endangered species), cheetah and leopard. While the government provided a loan for the project, they did little to help the marketing or training of staff for the facility. The lodge itself however was made by local workers with local materials. More recently this lodge was bought by a Batwana woman and her Swed-ish husband. While the lodge continues to technically be partially Batwana owned, and a portion of the pro-ceeds still go to the village, it seems to have made a shift towards a more luxury clientele. This is not sur-prising given that this is the type of resort that is in demand in the region. The camp web site however of-fers very little information on community involvement although tourist accounts state that staff have a stake in the company.

OKAVANGO COMMUNITY TRUST/WILDERNESS SAFARIComprising of 5 villages, with a combined population of approximately 5000 people, this trust’s goal is to foster a continued relationship with local communi-ties and provide employment and training for occupa-tions in all areas of lodge management. As part of this organization, Wilderness Safari provides fi nancial and management guidance along with help coordinating projects such as vegetable gardens, shops and basket making, which will further enhance the self-realiza-tion prospects of the communities. Wilderness Safari which has active part in eco-tourism promotion and a well designed brand, off ers a wide range of camps in the Delta with a strong focus of sustainable practices.

JACK’S CAMP/SAN CAMP Run by the same operator these two camps off er luxury safari and accommodation however there is a focus of sustainable practices. Employment of local Bushmen for walking tours is a feature at both camps off er and both try to promote water waste reduction (even though Jack’s camp which is a permanent facil-ity uses fl ushing toilets etc.). This facility may fall into the category of “soft” eco-tourism where there is not a true investment in the 6 principles of eco-tourism. This camp is extremely well publicized and is considered one of the top resorts in the region.

Due to the fact that ecotourism is in its infancy in Botswana, or perhaps even globally when compared to the timeline of general tourism, it is may be unfair to look at existing projects and be all that critical. However this being said ecotourism is quickly growing as a niche sector of tourism internationally and therefore it is crucial to observe Botswana attempt to address these needs thus far. In analyzing the projects issues such the preva-lence of “soft” ecotourism, the lack of adequate funding and marketing and the issues of competing with the existing enclave tourism industry are important considerations. If and how the facility actually responds to all the principles of ecotourism is also consistently an issue.

PAGE 21

QUESTIONS

DQAE QARE GAME RESERVE/ KURU DEVELOP-MENT TRUSTThis game reserve is entirely owned by the Dqae Qare Bushmen tribe and is supported by a local NGO called the Kuru Development Trust, which is an organization dedicated to the protection and preservation on the indigenous Bushmen tribes across Southern Africa. This camp off ers simple accommodation with the op-tion to live in the Bush with the tribesmen and learn their local customs and skills. This organization seems to view eco-tourism solely in terms of involvement with the indigenous population and not in terms of sustainable or environmentally friendly practices. De-spite its involvement with the Kuru Development Trust this organization is not well publicized.

HUNTING SAFARISWhile organizations such as Wilderness Safari are ac-tively against game hunting, many feel that these types of safaris are the most sustainable. Economi-cally they provide the most revenue and allow for local employment in the form of trackers and guides. Since most hunting safaris involve moving around, there is no need to build facilities in the region in which to house tourists or employees. Additionally, the culling of certain parts of the wildlife system is often required for conservation and therefore it can result in a win-win situation for the government and the tourists. Or-ganizations like the Dqae Qare off er hunting of trophy animals but using bows instead of riffl es to preserve the local hunting customs.

KEY:

Towns Camps Villages

How can facilities such as Jack’s Camp, which clearly cater to the enclave tourists further be convinced to have a greater investment in local communities?

What are the costs associated with community involvement?

In other countries the national tourism board has started national eco-tourism certifi cations to help promote the sector , can the CBNRM be modifi ed to take on this project?

Given the apparent need for “big brother” support for smaller community-run ecotourism initiative, what other organization existing in the region that could be convinced to participate in these types of projects.?

Is CBNRM providing this service already or is there a need for an outside NGO to provide these services?

EXISTING CULTURAL TOURISM REGIONALLY

Currently these villages serve as tourist attractions rather than environments for the learning or the preserva-tion of culture. In the case of the Sankuyo camp and the Gudigwa camp the venture appears to be successful due to the safari and accommodation facilities on off er rather than the “cultural” off erings. In the Sexaxa village the participants seem to not have a complete understanding of the purpose for the village other than it being a market location.

In general when asked why they would visit these types of facilities, tourist site the desire to witness genuine village life and activities. However, this is not what is being off ered as all of the locations are manufactured loca-tions and villagers simply mimic a life that they once had or enhance the lifestyles they currently lead. Despite these facts there appears to be no other alternative where these desires can be fulfi lled. This being said tourist also have expressed a desire to be entertained which tends to lead the dramatization of these villages.

SUMMARY

SANKUYOFounded by the Tshwaragano Management Trust, Sankuyo was developed in an eff ort to allow tour-ists to visit an “authentic” village. The project started as a small village where native Sankuyo villagers could work while maintaining a separate living environment. The project has since developed into a safari camp facility. Additional off erings include activities such as dancing, tracking and trapping wildlife, basket weav-ing etc.

GUDIGWADesigned as a camp specifi cally to introduce tourist to the Bushmen of the region, tourists stay in small grass huts but with modern luxuries such as fl ushing toilets and hot showers. Guest have the opportunity to learn from Bukakhwe San people by participating in activi-ties such as animal tracking, locating water sources and plant identifi cation.

SEXAXAStarted by a guide, this cultural village does not have accommodations and is run entirely by local villagers, who for the most part volunteer their time. This vil-lage primarily serves as a market where villagers can sell locally produced baskets. While other activities are off ered most of the villagers do not consider them to be worthwhile as they do not produce revenue. Unfor-tunately this venture has not achieve fi nancial success and profi ts only cover overhead costs and do not allow for volunteers to receive an income.

PAGE 23

QUESTIONS

KEY:

Towns Camps Villages

Do these cultural villages provide any value, other than being a market venue, for the local population? If not, why would they not simply just be markets rather than places that mimic local life?

How can the local lives of the indigenous communities be dissected for their inherent values (such as their amazing capacity to track animals without technology etc) and used in a contemporary industry other than cultural village sites?

Could any of these villages become homestays for volunteers looking to work in local communities and participate in safari tourism? What are the disadvantages of homestays and do they outweigh the oppor-tunities?

GLOBAL CASE STUDIES

WHALE WATCH KAIKOURA - NEW ZEALAND (http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/)Considered one of the best examples of wildlife eco-tourism, Whale Watch Kaikoura is run entirely by the indigenous Kati-Kori tribe, which is a sub-tribe to the Maori people of New Zealand. The company uses cata-marans in order to avoid noise and water pollution in the area. It is also a pioneer in the use of digital anima-tions to enhance the tourists experience and under-standing of ocean and the whales by allowing them to “see” parts of the site that are otherwise inaccessible. The engaging web site and the quality of the graphics support the impression of this company’s knowledge and legitimacy and create a strong sense of appeal for prospective visitors.The Maori, the indigenous Polynesian culture in New Zealand, is example of a native population and tradi-tion that have been embraced by their government rather than ostracized. The Maori language is taught in all schools and the Maori hold seven designated seats in parliament, although a number of other elected seats are held by Maoris. There is a substantial level of intermarriage between Maoris and New Zealanders of European descent however, it is still typical for Maoris to maintain a strong cultural identity. This being said, Maoris still typical hold less assets than the rest of the population and make up 50% of the national prison population despite only making up 14% of the total population. A continued eff ort by the government of New Zealand is crucial in ultimately eliminating the

racial discrimination and social/economic diff erences between both cultures. Eff orts such as Whale Watch Kaikoura are a testament to the value for allowing modernization to take hold in indigenous communities. It is not necessary to merely represent a fantastical view of their culture for visitors to experience Maori life. The ability to market them-selves competitively and make use of modern tech-nology are evidently two of the strongest reasons that Whale Watch Kaikoura has gained such international praise.

AL MAHA RESORT AND SPA - DUBAI (http://www.emirateshotelsresorts.com/al-maha/en/)Despite being part of a larger organization that does not specialize in ecotourism, Al Maha is an example of a branch of luxury ecotourism that is developing with-in existing tour operator businesses. This resort has a conservation program that aims to protect the local trees, shrubs and grasses and re-introduce a herd of free-range Oryx (considered to be at extremely high-risk for extinction). The resort uses a portion of its prof-its to support the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The company has also put in place systems to monitor the human impact on the environment and the scarce water resources in the region.The value of this operation is in its ability to demon-strate how large multinational companies can quickly and eff ectively develop a movement for sustainable changes in an industry. They adhere to the prinicple

that these types of ventures can only be maintained through a reinvestment in the environment that they are marketing. This issue is one of the largest appar-ent struggles of small rural initiatives. Participants not reinvest a portion of the profi ts into the maintenance of their assets or into other projects for future develop-ment growth, thereby leading to the eventual decay of the initial initiative.

CESiak - MEXICO (http://www.cesiak.org)Located near Tulum, Mexico, CESiak is a NGO whose aim is to preserve the environment of the region. Two main goals of the organization are to provide educa-tion for the local population on sustainable practices and to off er tours to educate foreign visitors. Other sustainable initiatives include using existing buildings to prevent deforestation, construction of a nursery to grow local plants on the verge of extinction and use of solar and wind power as the sole source of energy.This centers ability to couple research eff orts, such as dune restoration and native plant propagation, allow the center to be occupied and in use during the low-tourist season or periods of recession when tourism drops signifi cantly.

BINA BURA - AUSTRALIA (http://www.binnaburralodge.com.au)This lodge prides itself on being sustainable and has attracted a lot of attention from “green” tourism

SUMMARYEach of these case studies are diff erent examples of eco-tourism, cultural tour-ism, conservations or entrepreneurship initiative and other comparable ventures. Whilst none seem to address all of the principles outlined in the defi nition of eco-tourism, triple bottom line or cultural heritage tourism each was selected for their ability to address specifi c aspects of these defi nitions or to highlight an examples of how not to respond to the issues.

PAGE 25

organizations. The lodge has taken initiatives such as restoring local lands to their original conditions, recy-cling, composting, Installing low-fl ow water fi xtures and energy-effi cient appliances etc... The lodge also contributes a portion of its profi ts to national park preservation and other environmental organizations. Despite its claim on being a center for ecotourism this resort does not seem to adhere to the principles that require the involvement of the local communities. This lack of concern or consideration for hiring indige-nous staff is also lacking in the certifi cation systems for “ecotourism” designed by Aboriginal Tourism Australia (ATA). While this certifi cation requires that participants make an eff ort not to negatively aff ect the aboriginal community, there is no demand for their integration into the work force. If Bina Bura took a step towards these types of programs perhaps in would encour-age other participants and the regulatory board to consider its value and add it to the requirements for certifi cation.

CHALALAN ECOLODGE - BOLIVIA (http://www.chalalan.com/)Founded and owned by members of the indigenous community of Chalalan, this ecolodge is focused on sustainable practices and aims to be a benchmark for ecolodges around the world. The resort uses a water waste and solid waste management system, solar power to light the whole lodge, and has built water recycling and purifi cation systems. Activities off ered

include hikes with tribesmen, local festival demonstra-tion and craft classes. The signifi cance of this project is the formation of an organization that reprsents the community as a whole called Base Territorial Organization. This group has 50% of the shares in the company, while the other 50% are privately held by 75 families from the commu-nity. This lack recognition of communities as a whole is problematic in many current examples in Botswana. Very often projects are run by a few high-ranking com-munity leaders and little eff ort in made to involve, edu-cate or fi nancially compensate the other inhabitants.

AROS: THE SKYE STORY - SCOTLAND (http://www.aros.co.uk)Located on the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Hebrides, Aros is an artifi cially developed heritage center fo-cusing on the culture and history of the region. While there are many other “living museums” in the area the diff erence seems to be the unbending desire for au-thenticity which includes a critical and revealing view on the negative aspects of the regions history. Other goals of the facility include the preservation of Gaelic language and customs, the protection of local wildlife such as Sea Eagles and the sale of locally produced drafts and music. Despite this desire for authenticity, this museum still struggles with a confl ict between real life and entertainment value that is demanded by the tourist population. Another goal of this venture wasto attract locals to visit and use the museum as a tool

for awareness of their own history however, the local population remains unconvinced and the site is still considered a tourist destination. Another reason list by locals for not visiting was the high cost of admission.This is an example of an iniative with good intentions but failed due to their lack of consideration for the de-sires of the local community in which they were estab-lish. Greater eff orts should be made by the organiza-tion to provide programs to promote the facilities as a learning environment for local inhabitants.

SKANSEN - SWEDEN (http://www.skansen.se/)One of the world’s fi rst “living museums” Skansen is a park with a large collection of historical houses and buildings from all over Sweden. Workers dress in tradi-tional costume and perform craft demonstrations and performances of local dances etc. The site also includes attractions such as a zoo and sweet and pastry vendors and is consistently visited by locals as well as tourists. While this attraction perhaps suff ers from “disneyfi ca-tion”, it has been successful in attracting locals to the site. This is an aspect of tourism that is undeveloped in Botswana, there is very little internal tourism. Using these sites as an educational tool in local communities to teach descendents their indigenous ancestry could be a way to mitigate between the inevitable modern-ization of these communities and eff orts to preserve traditional skills and practices. This organization was successful in appealling to the local population.

QUESTIONSHow is the lack of a globally accepted defi nition of ecotourism aff ecting the abil-ity of these sites to address the issues correctly?

Why have organizations in Botswana been unsuccessful at marketing themselves in the way that these companies have?

What role is the government playing in these organizations and conversely how much infl uence do these groups have on government attention on the issues of ecotourism?

All of these location were found through a series of exhaustive searches and none were found in the same search? Why is this and how can it be made possible in the future?

GLOBAL CASE STUDIES

SOGA MIAO - CHINA Heralded as China’s fi rst eco-museum, Soga Miao is a museum that connected 12 rural mountain villages in the region with a center with exhibits depicting the oral history of the region which does not have a writ-ten language. This museum is seamlessly integrated with local villages that previously existed and visitors are free to roam around, unguided and visit locals and purchase crafts produced in the area. Given its size it is not surprising that China has one of the largest collections of cultural heritage tourism sites. However, what is driving this obsession? For the most part these tourism sites seem to be for the local Chinese population and not for outside tourists. This seems to stem for the national culture of respecting the ancestry of the country. How does this nation, that is modernizing at such a rapid pace, intend to keep this appreciation of heritage and tradition?

SHEN ZHEN CULTURAL VILLAGES - CHINA (http://www.cn5000.com.cn/english/)Located in Guandong province this center exhibits 24 diff erent villages and represents 21 minority nationali-ties. This site is more like a theme-park than an exhibit and off ers tourists activities such as large-scale folk festivals, dance performances and workers dressed in local costumes.Shen Zhen is yet another example of cultural heritage tourism in China however is diff ers immensely from the Soga Miao site. The austerity of the Soga Miao site

starkly contrasts with the fl amboyance of this project. While the Soga Maio appears to be more fact based and a historical accounting of life in the region, this particular type of project seems to cater to a type of entertainment that is popular in China. How does this aff ect the authenticity of the exhibitions? Is there any desire for authentic sites within the culture or is it more important to have a narrative accounting?

!KHWA TTU - SOUTH AFRICA (http://www.khwattu.org/)This center was developed as a place for the preserva-tion of the San people. The center off ers tourists the opportunity to learn and interact with the San people but also provides educational and training facilities for the San on topics such as entrepreneurship, tourism, health, craft production, etc... The site has a replica San village for tourists to visit. While the authenticity of this experience is questionable the organization promotes itself well with a nice web site and good accommoda-tions and therefore appeals to the range of tourist gen-erally visiting the region. This organization focuses on the specifi c plight of a specifi c demographic within an larger population. What are the advantages and disad-vantages of the focus, are there other indigenous pop-ulations in the region that are being exclude? If so, why and how can this be addressed? Due to the fact that the San population extended into Botswana, as well as other parts of Southern Africa, could this organization be expanded or linked with those in Botswana?

SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART MARKET - UNITED STATES(http://www.folkartmarket.org/)This market brings together over 120 folk artists from more than 45 countries and provides a venue for the artist to display and demonstrate their work. The prin-ciples behind the project are economic and cultural sustainability. In addition to art sales, the event has live performances and international food stalls for visitors. In 2008 just under 25000 people attended the market and the average profi t made by a vendor was $15000, 90% of which went directly to the artists. It was esti-mated that the economic benefi t to the host city was $14.5 million dollars. Although currently this particular folk arts market occurs in the same location once an-nually, it has the potential, due to its infrequency, to occur in multiple cities. Given the size of the United States and its collection of immigrants from around the world the variety of folk arts is perhaps more equa-ble to gathering the folk arts from around the entire portion of Southern Africa rather than one country in particular. Is there an opportunity to have this type of event in Botswana?

DILLI HAAT DELHI OUTDOOR MARKET - INDIAStarted as a joint venture between the Delhi Transpor-tation & Tourism Development Corporation and the New Delhi Municipal Committee this market aims to provide a place for crafts people from across the coun-try to gather and sell goods. In addition to crafts there

QUESTIONSWhat is the desire on the part of tourist for authenticity? Are these attraction not as popular as generic tourism due to the lack of authenticity?

What are the preconceived notions surrounding ecotourism? California has been successful in changing the brand identity of “green” or sustainable living from hippy and grungy to sleek and sophisticated. How have ecotourism ven-tures tried to do the same?

How much does the importance of tradition a culture play a role in that societ-ies desire to have cultural heritage sites?

What is the diff erence between a market and a cultural heritage site?

PAGE 27

QUESTIONSHow can Botswana establish itself as an volun-tourism destination without the degradation of culture that has occurred in places like Costa Rica.

Due to Botswana’s economic success it seems that it has fallen off the radar in terms of countries that need a lot of outside help. How is the government re-sponding to this? How can the issues that are present within the country be made more noticeable without negatively aff ecting the tourism industry that currently exists?

Since initiatives in the prevention and treatment of AIDS are clearly a need in the area how can organization piggy-back these initiatives to help in other areas?

are food stalls and performances off ered. For the most part the market is made up of temporary structures, in what use to be an old drain, however there are a few permanent structures used for administrative purpos-es. While some of the market vendors are permanent, most vendors work on a rotation of 15 days. There is very little informations on the average profi ts of the vendors however there is a suggestion that more Dilli Haats will be opening in Delhi soon which leads to the assumption that it is at least providing an economic benefi t to the surrounding neighborhood and the city in general. The market charges about 30 cents as an entrance fees for all visitors. What is successful about this initiative is that it allows for vendors to demonstrate their culture without a performance. Tourists fl ock to attractions such as these because they feel authentic and provide a service (sou-venir sales) that they are looking for. The concern in this project however, is how much revenue the vendors keep and how much they have to pay to participate. Additionally, other than the revenue, there is no men-tion of how money generated could be reinvested in the community. Are there any attempts to preserve the culture of the vendors and to train the next generation in the tradition and crafts skills of their elders? Another concern with markets in the origin of the product on sale? Who makes the products and what are the work-ing conditions? Products made entirely in sweatshop factories defeat the potential of these project. Would it be possible to monitor these types of issues and have

a market that focuses of the welfare of the vendors and the welfare of those producing the wares? Establishing a section within the market that addresses these issues could be a productive test. Would tourist be attracted to this section over others and would they be willing to pay the premium for the goods?

ALASKAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CENTER - UNITED STATES(http://www.alaskawildlife.org/)This centers was started by a nonprofi t organization in an attempt to promote the conservation of Alaska’s wildlife while providing a center for the education of visitors to the region. For the most part the animals in the center are orphaned or injured and are brought into the center for rehabilitation and eventual release. This center receives approximately a quarter of a mil-lion visitors annually and the operating costs are fund-ed by guest admissions, the gift center revenue, grants and donations. The number of visitors to this site is a tribute to its success. The center has made signifi cant eff orts to at-tract locals and student groups to the site during the low-tourism season. The culture of environmental and wildlife preservation in Alaska is growing and the center has taken advantage of this opportunity. What types of educational service could be off ered in the Okavango Delta region to teach its inhabitants about the innate value of the location? How could they be encouraged to become more actively involved in

pursuing that education and putting it to use? Further-more, how could the education be reciprocal, in that the locals infl uence the teaching given at the center so that it evolves to become about the preservation of wildlife and local cultures?

SAM VEASA CENTER FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVA-TION - CAMBODIA(http://www.samveasna.org/)The headquarters of this organization in Siem Reap. The center provides tours of endangered bird habits across the country. The organization works with villag-ers by paying them for nests found or by employing them in the organization. They use this involvement as incentives for wildlife conservation. The center has a training programs where local villagers can become professional bird guides. What is valuable about this venture is the skills taught to locals by the organization. By teaching them a vo-cation that they could use in or outside of the orga-nization they are making a signifi cant impact of the livelihood of the villagers. Unfortunately the site lacks information about whether any employees have gone on to start there own companies and if the organiza-tion did anything to help.

GLOBAL CASE STUDIES

ASSESSMENT

NAPO WILDLIFE CENTER - ECUADOR(http://www.napowildlifecenter.com/)This wildlife center and eco-lodge is located in the largest reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon and is 100% owned by the Añangu Kichwa community. The center off ers tourist luxury accommodation in the jungle. One primary goal of the center is the protection and the conservation of 82 square miles of the Yasuni Na-tional Park and its 565 bird species and other wildlife. The center is equipped with solar power and rainwater treatment plant. Overall this organization has a decent image howev-er, Its website design could fall into the trap of being classifi ed as “hippy”. Perhaps if the site were updated to provide a sleeker image the center would be even more successful. The fact that is it 100% community owned is commendable however, when reading fur-ther into the description of the social and environmen-tal aspects of the center, is states that it uses certifi ed bilingual guides who work alongside the local villag-ers. Why, after the length of time that the center has been open, are these guides not members of the com-munity? What is being done to train locals to work in these positions within the organization?

DLR FESTIVAL OF WORLD CULTURES - IRELANDThis festivals was heralded as one of the top 25 inter-national music festivals in the world in 2010. Although this event started as a way for Ireland to recognize its population’s diverse cultural background, it has grown

for diff erent projects before their arrival. Home-stays can be invasive however, volun-tourism is an niche market that can be both lucrative and ben-efi cial to the local communities. It is important for the organization not to be so much a “spring break” alternative destination but rather a location that off ers an opportunity to teach vounteers the value of com-munity service work. By allowing volunteers to feel like they are actively making a diff erence could lead to their development as stewards of community service, volunteering and environmental protection in their own countries and communities. Homestays need to be careful to not allow the introduction of western visitors to infl uence their way of life, as ultimately this would lead to the degradation of the product they are marketing.

CONSERVATION & AGROFORESTRY PROJECT/TEACH A MAN TO FISH - KENYA(http://www.teachamantofi sh.org.uk/)Sponsored by Teach A Man To Fish, an organization that promotes community entrepreneurship around the globe, this project operates out of the Lwanda Dudi Secondary School in Siay. The school and its sustainable initiatives are funded through the sales of produce at a “green food kiosk” in the local market. The produces in collected in a poultry unit built to produce eggs and fertilizer for horticultural plots and a fruit tree nursery.This project does indeed teach the local population

in popularity to become an internationally recognized event. Besides musical performances from all over the world, the festival has food vendors. The event has be-come so large that is has spread across multiple ven-ues throughout the costal town of Dún Laoghaire. In 2008 the festival hosted over 800 musicians and per-formers and had an attendance of over 25000 people. Again there is little information of the profi tability of this venture for the host or for the host town. This venture is similar to the Santa Fe Folk Art market except that it displays musical performances. The val-ue of this case is that it demonstrates how a group can market itself as a destination for tourists and visitors without having anything specifi cally to do with the product they are marketing.

UGANDA RURAL FUND - UGANDA (http://www.ugandaruralfund.org/)This organization was started in 2005 and works with orphans and helps the rural communities of Uganda with programs focused on education and sustainable development. The center has numerous projects and facilities including an entrepreneurship and leadership center. This center hosts an annual youth camps and community development conference which was attended by 600 people in 2009. The center invites volunteers from all over the world, from a range of pro-fessions to work in the center and stay in home-stays which cost approximately $300 a month. In addition to these fees, volunteers are also asked to do fund rasing

Local appreciation of cultural is already making its inevitable decline in the re-gion. Initiatives that attract locals and provide education on both the past of the indigenous population and topics that allow for growth and development would be desirable in this region. Due to the dispersed nature of the popula-tion, and the fact that safari tourist move frequently to diff erent resorts, an or-ganization with multiple outposts would be logical. If these outposts could be linked with those in neighboring countries it could enhance the experience and education. This would ties back into the traditions and history of the Sans and the Twanas who migrated across Southern Africa. Ideally these outposts would be varied in their off erings. Some may simply be market venues that promote locally made goods from raw materials that are collected from across the

PAGE 29

REGIONAL ISSUES

40, 000 tourists in Moremi with a profi t of approximately P7 million (USD 1 million) in park fees but little informa-tion is given on how this revenue gets put back in the local community.

Due to the luxury and quality demanded by tourists who typically visit this region it is diffi cult for Batwana to open and own their own lodges because they require such signifi cant capital and knowledge.

The majority of the profi ts in this industry are incurred in the tourists home-country not in the region.

There are practically no facilities that train Batwana to have higher-paying jobs in the tourism industry.

Most of the government tax laws benefi t large foreign investors and companies, especially the diamond min-ing industry. In some cases the government prohibits these companies from actively helping the indigenous population. The prevalence of HIV in the region makes local employees not viable economically. There is also a general population migration to large cities such as Maun ,Gaborone and Francistown but not the job growth or infrastructure to sustain them.

Since most neighboring countries have signifi cant safari tourism, Botswana must remain on the cutting-edge of the industry to remain competitive.

Reinvestment is a crucial tool in ensuring the success of ecotourism and cultural tourism ventures however currently this is not prevalent in the organization that exist in the region. Is it just because of a lack of educa-tion or it a broader problem linked with profi ts? Without adequate profi ts it will be diffi cult to convince local communities to take money from their revenue and reinvest it. Are the organization charging fees that are take advantage of the generally affl uent social class of visitors that are touring the region?

Small-scale projects seem to be a better solution for Botswana’s local communities given their lack of concentra-tion. This is problematic due to the large number of tourists in the area since for a project to be successful the small organizations need to be large enough to provide a service for a large lodge or group of lodges.

How can larger organizations that Botswana relies of for issues related to conservation make an eff ort to de-mand local community involvement in tourism projects or at least demand a greater fi nancial investment in community facilities?

REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION

skills that it can use, once the organization has gone. It enriches the lives of the village and generate a lo-cal economy and provides an introduction for the next generation of inhabitant to career paths and options they may not previously have known about or consid-ered. The danger is that this type of initiative may not last in the long run however, if initiative such as these were started in other local villages there could be a larger local economy that develops, allowing these villages to self-sustain without the need for expensive and unsustainable imports.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE SAHARA - TUNISIAHeld in Douz, this festival is said to attract between 50000 and 70000 people annually. The point of the festival is to demonstrate the culture of the Sahara through 4 days of musical and dance performances, animal races and demonstrations of Berber traditions such as a wedding or a souk. Food vendors and craft vendors have the opportunity to sell their goods at the event. This event, similar to the Sheng Zhen in China, is an example of how cultural tourism can be diluted into an attraction and authenticity can be completely ignored. This danger comes from the marketability of the prod-uct. Tourist do seem to want to experience local cul-tures and organizations such as these respond but not in a way that benefi ts the locals.

country. If a living museum is desired, this site should include educational facilities for the locals. Programs should respond to skills and tradition that already exist within the culture and provide for the opportunity of entrepreneurship initiatives (ie. they must teach skills that can be applied to specifi c industry needs). The living museum should allow for researchers or volunteers to stay and work in the area. It should not try to mimic exist-ing cultures through the recreation of fake villages but rather present the display in a factual ways so that it can become an accurate record of the population and its culture, rather than a entertainment attraction. The scale of the project should be large enough to link itself with serveal nearby lodges, accomadating a large group of tourists. Finally, there is a need for the Batswana government to change its stance with foreign companies, spe-cifi cally in the diamond mining sector, and demand that they invest in areas of development that can be sus-tain once the diamonds resources have been depleted. This would mitigate the country’s burden of this loss.

REFERENCES

BOOKSHoney,Martha. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who owns paradise . Washington D.C, USA: Island Press, 2008McIntyr, Chris. Botswana: Okavango Delta, Chobe, Northern Kalahari. Buucks, United Kingdom: Bradt Travel Guides, 2007Buckley, Ralf. Case Studies in Ecotourism. Massetussetts, USA: CABI International, 2003Corsane, Gerard. Heritage, Museums and Galleries: An Introductory Reader - New York, USA: Routledge, 2005Anico, Marta & Peralta, Elsa. Heritage and Identity in the Twenty-First Century. New York, USA: Routledge, 2009

Gujadhur, Tara & CBNRM Support Programme (Botswana) . Organisations and Their Approaches in Community Based natural Resources. Gaborone, Bo-tswana: IUCN Botswana/ SNV Botswana, 2000Aicken, Michelle & Ryan, Chris. Indigenous Tourism: The Commodifi cation and Management of Culture. Missouri, USA: Elsevier Science, 2005Butler, Richard & Hinch, Thomas. Tourism and Indigenous Peoples: Issues and Implications. Massetussets, USA: Elsevier Science, 2007Notzke, Claudia. The stranger, the Native and the Land : Perspectives on Indigenous Tourism. Ontario, Canada. Captus University Publications, 2006Johnson, Alsion. Is the Sacred for Sale?: Tourism and Indigenous Peoples. Bath, United Kingdom: Earthscan, 2006Taylor, Beard-Moose, Christina. Public Indians, Private Cherokees: Tourism and Tradition on Tribal Ground. Alabama, USA: Univeristy of Alabama, 2009

ARTICLES/ PAPERS/ CASESTUDIES

Weiser SD, Leiter K, Heisler M, McFarland W, Percy-de Korte F, et al. “A population-based study on alcohol and high-risk sexual behaviors in Botswana”. PLoS Medecine, October 2006, Volume 3, Issues 10Mary C. Kalikawe. “Botswana Integrating Biodiversity into Tourism Sector” . Department of Tourism, March 2001Stevens, PW & Jansen. “Botswana National Ecotourism Strategy”. IUCN (Botswana) and Symbiosis Consulting (Pty) Ltd, March 2002Republic of Botswana. “Botswana Demogrpahic Survey 2006”. Central Statistics Offi ce, January 2009Republic of Botswana. “Botswana External Trade Survey 2006”. Central Statistics Offi ce, March 2010Jones, Brian T. B. “Chobe Enclave, Botswana: Lessons learnt from a CBNRM Project 1993-2002”. IUCN/SNV CBNRM Support Programme, 2002Twyman, Chasca. “Participatory Conservation? Community-Based Natural Resource Management in Botswana”. Blackwell Publishing, December, 2000

Arntzen J, Buzwani B, Setlhogile T, D. Kgathi L, Motsholapheko M.R. “Community-based Resource Mangement, Rural Livelihoods, and Environmental Sustainability” USAID, March 2007

PAGE 31

Hough, John L. & Newark, William D. “Conserving Wildlife in Africa:Integrated Conservation and Development Projects and Beyond” , Bioscience, July 2000, Vol 5, No.7 Jones, Rachel. “Cultural tourism in Botswana and the Sexaxa cultural village: A case study”. SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad, 2009World Bank. “Developing Tourism In Botswana : Progress and Challenges “ World Bank, Discussion Draft Edition.Arntzen, Jaap & Fidzani , Happy. “Incentives for Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Economic Diversifi cation in Botswana”. University of Botswana, January 1998

Ed. Robinson K, Christy R, Baharanyi N. “Empowering Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurship: Experiences From the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions”. Tuskegee University, December 2004United Nations. “FDI in Tourism: The Development Dimension”. United Nations, 2007Wiles, Craig & Vander Stoep, Gail. “Consideration of Historical Authenticity in Heritage Tourism Planning and Development”. Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium, 2007UN, ACHAP, UNDP . “Botswana AIDS Impact Survey II: Popular Report”. UN, ACHAP, UNDP, March 2005Johane, Kebonyethebe. “Stats Brief: Preliminary Results. Botswana AIDS Impact Survey III”. Central Statistics Offi ce, May 2009Haug, Margrethe. “Indigenous People and Toruism Development: The San People’s Involvement in Community-Based Tourism”. University of Tromsø, 2007

Keitumetse, Susan. “Cultural Tourism in Botswana: Community Participation in the Okavango Delta Tourism”. Year Unknown.

Mbwaiwa, Joseph. “The socio-economic and environmental impacts of tourism development on the Okavango Delta, north-western Botswana”. University of Botswana. July 2002

“Calabash Case Studies: Integrated report: Proposed Popa Falls HydroPower Project, Okavango River, Namibia”. Unknown Publisher, October 2008, Section 8

“Report on the tourism Impact on SADC Countries”. Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana, February 2006Osborne, Allan. “Rural Development in Botswana: A Qualitative View”. Journal of Southern African Studies, 1976“Botswana, Rural Roads II Project: Project Performance Evaluation Report”. African Development Bank Group, November 1999“Community Owned and Run: A Case Study of Santawani Lodge, Ngamiland, Botswana”. African Wildlife Foundation, August 2005Economic and Social Aff aris. “State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples”. United Nations, 2009Endresen. Kris. “Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage: A Review of Development Assistance and Its Potential to Promote Sustainability”. NWHO, November 1999

Diamantis, Dimitrios & Ladkin, Adele. “The Links Between Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism: A defi nitional and operational perspective”. The Journal of Tourism Studies, December 19999

REFERENCES

ARTICLES/ PAPERS/ CASE STUDIES CONTINUED...

Mbaiwa, Joseph.“The Realities of Ecotourism Development in Botswana”. June 2007Kulawczuk, Przemyslaw. “The Development of Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas”. August 2005UNCSD NGO Steering Committee . “Sustainable Tourism: A Non-governmental Orgainzation Perspective”. UNCSD NGO Steering Committee, April 1999FAO, ILO and UNESCO . “Training and Employment Opportunities to Address Poverty Among Rural Youth: A Synthesis Report”. UNESCO Bangkok, 2009

African Development Bank. “Botswana: 2000-2002 Country Strategy Paper”. Country Department Southern Region, October 2000

INTERNET WEBSITEShttp://www.africa.upenn.edu/Country_Specifi c/Botswana.htmlhttp://www.propoortourism.org.uk/http://www.wolfheart.org/indigenoustourism/touristafrica.htmlhttp://www.nicesafaris.com/http://www.riostropicales.com/tourism.php?page_id=79’http://okavangodeltadesignfordevelopment.blogspot.com/http://www.orc.ub.bw/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html#tophttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ao.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okavango_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechuanaland_Protectorate http://www.botsoc.org.bw/ctour/maps01.htmhttp://www.ub.bw/learning_faculties.cfm?pid=593http://www.atlas.gov.bw/html/chapA.htmlhttp://www.plants-of-the-kalahari.net.ms/

http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/botswa-na/#/social_context_human_resource_devhttp://www.tradeinvestsa.co.za/investment_opportunities/219947.htmhttp://stat.wto.org/CountryProfi le/WSDBCountryPFViewaspx?Country=BW&Language=Ehttp://www.indexmundi.com/botswana/gdp_real_growth_rate.htmlhttp://www.cbnrm.bw/cbnrmbotswana/communitytourism.htmlhttp://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator_detail.cfm?Country=BW&IndicatorID=46#rowhttp://0-www.oxfordreference.com.librarycat.risd.edu/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t42.e27&srn=1&ssid=948488994#FIRSTHIThttp://www.kalahariresources.co.za/history.htmhttp://www.earthfoot.org/places/bw001.htmhttp://www.ifad.org/evaluation/public_html/eksyst/doc/prj/r076btbe.htmlhttp://www.botswanacraft.bw/information/index.htmlhttp://www.san.org.za/kuru/home.htm

http://www.sovereign-publications.com/botswana.htm

PAGE 33

http://www.fdi.net/country/sub_index.cfm?countrynum=29http://www.botswana-travel-guide.com/bradt_guide.asp?bradt=911http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rhodesprp/01_02/divide/cbo.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourismhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/Limited+government+and+economic+growth+in+Botswana-a0172636591http://www.avert.org/aids-botswana.htmhttp://www.iiasa.ac.at/Research/POP/pde/Maps/index.htmlhttp://www.aidsinafrica.net/map.phphttp://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/IES/botswana.html#10http://www.achap.org/ngamiland_district.htmlhttp://www.naca.gov.bw/node/64http://www.plusnews.org/profi letreatment.aspx?Country=BW&Region=SAF#http://www.bonepwa.botsnet.co.bw/http://www.waterforpeace.org/index.htmhttp://www.okacom.org/okacom.htmhttp://www.hiv.gov.bw/statistics.phphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_Botswanahttp://www.migrationinformation.org/Profi les/display.cfm?id=246http://esa.un.org/techcoop/fl agship.asp?Code=RAF96G42http://www.cso.gov.bw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=56http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Botswanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moremi_Game_Reservehttp://www.savannas.net/botswana/ruhydro.htm

http://www.galdu.org/web/index.php?odas=2701&giella1=enghttp://www.globaleye.org.uk/archive/summer2k/focuson/mars_pt1.htmlhttp://www.international-relations.com/wbcm5-1/WbPaulette.htmhttp://www.uyaphi.com/Acc/bots/BOTSgudigwacamp.htmhttp://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a911783420&db=allhttp://www.capetown.at/letters/bushmen.htmhttp://allafrica.com/stories/200809150336.htmlhttp://www.preservationnation.org/issues/heritage-tourism/http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/fl ash.htmlhttp://afrikatourism.blogspot.com/http://www.earthcheck.org/en-us/certifi cation/default.aspxhttp://www.conservation.org/fmg/articles/Pages/in_botswana_merg-ing_tradition_and_technology.aspxhttp://www.khwattu.org/10/san-guided-experience#33http://www.kuru.co.bw/gantsicraftorg.htmlhttp://www.okavango-delta.net/info.htmhttp://www.folkartmarket.org/index.php/about/C9/http://www.aboriginal-ecotourism.org/?lang=en

Independent study on the opportunities for ecotourism and economic diversification of the Okavango Delta region in Botswana . 2009

i can get decked out

SEE IT THROUGH THEIR EYES

See It Through Their Eyes was one a series of different interactive pieces I made using Processing. This particular piece works with the Situationist move-ments’ concept of detournement and challenges the viewer to question the idea of motive . 2009

i can go digital

Campus (Pier Aggregation Location)

Pier Location

Central Axis of University or College

Student Population

30000+

160+

HarvardLesley U.

Episcopal Divinity School

BG School of Psycho-analysis

Boston College

CAMPUS

Tufts U.

Boston U.NE Institute of Art

MIT

Emerson College

Bay State CollegeNE School of Law

Fisher College

Benjamin Franklin IT

Roxbury CCThe BAC

Mass College of ArtBerklee College of Music

Suffolk U.

Urban College of Boston

School of the MFAEmmanuel College

Simmons CollegeBoston Conservatory

Northeastern U.NE Conservatory

U. Of Mass. BostonWentworth IT

Pine Manor College

School Mission/Philosophy

Example:

Helping break down barriers to learning

Self-reliance

Discovery

Critical Thinking

Desire to aggregate25% classroom

75% climbing ground

Gardner

Jackson Mann

Brighton HS

Baldwin Elc

Garfield

Mary Lyon ACC

Winship

Edison

Hamilton

McKinley Prep HSArts Academy Fenway HS

Snowden Int HS

Quincey Upper MSQuincy

Quincy Upper HS

Elliot

Blackstone

HurleyBoston Latin Carter Center HS

McKinley Middle

McKinley S. End Academy

Warren-Prescott

Harvard-Kent

EdwardsCharlestown

Morse

The King SchoolThe Amigos School

Kennedy-Longfellow

King Open

CRLS

Baldwin

Graham & Parks

Tobin

Peabody

Haggerty

Boston Children’s School Annex

Advent

Park

Learning Center ES

Commonwealth

Newman

Kingsley Montessori

Kids Are People ES

BU Academy

Winsor

Manville

Olph Mission

Paige Academy

St. Mary

Eliot Education Center

German Int.

St. Joseph

St. John

Cathedral Grammar/ HS

Community Charter of Cambridge

James F Farr Academy

Henry Buckner

Castle

Boston Archdiosesan Choir School

Shady Hill

Buckingham Browne & Nichols

St. Peter ES

Cambridge Montessori

Cambridge Friends

Benjamin Banneker Charter

North Cambridge Catholic HS

Matignon HS

International School of Boston

Fayerweather Street

Outdoor Classroom Location

Private School within Walking Distance

Public School within Walking Distance

Private School

Public School

Walkable Distance by Average Child

Regions with a 5% or Greater Decrease in College Educated Citizens within Comparable Distance to Solar Decathlon

Regions with a 5% or Greater Decrease in College Educated Citizens

Comparable Distance to Solar Decathlon

of Students Fall Below the Poverty Line

21%

of Students Fall Below the Poverty Line

16%

City of Boston

City of Cambridge

reed

The Charles River has no tide, locked the river is still, the individuals who frequent its edge provide it with its flow. Capitalizing on the density of educational institutions in the immediate area, elementary and collegiate, each project aims to activate the rivers’ edge and make it a public forum for education . 2010

i can play with scale

5

Bike Hub/Boat Dock

Community Center/Digital Library

Outdoor Classroom

Connection to Pedestrian Bridge

Playing Fields

Bike Paths

Marked Pedestrian Paths

classrooms

digital displaysview

fresh air

interactiongroupquiet

multifunctional

digital library

bike hub

comm

unity

specialcomputerscafe

fluidinteraction

digital displaysseatingperformance

rental

interactionquicklinked

repair center

learningcommunity

bike paths

group meeting areaweavinglearningdiscoverylink

dispersed

info center

rentalsservice

misc. bldg. services

restroomscirculation

reading rooms

digital displaysview

fresh air

diffused light

individualgroup

quietbackground noise

outsideinside

stacks

massisolationchance

wanderingdiscovery

circulation desk

navigationorientation

helpcentral

reference specialhelpexpertise

searchingworkstations

temporaryorganized

800sf

200sf 1000sf

1500sf

700sf

2000sf

500sf

200sf

500sf

2000sf +

400sf

0

4

1

2

3

4 5

In a world where the printed book is fast becoming obsolete, the role of the library comes into question. This projects asks if these centers of knowledge and community be re-envisioned to become digital yet still retain their place as anchors for a neighborhood . 2010

i can question

w

s

f

c

P

f

b

w

e

s

g

l

c

P

f

b

w

e

s

g

l

COMMUNAL FOOD

SPORT

URBAN GARDENER

LAND BANKING

PLAY

URBAN FARMER

SMALL BUSINESS

WATER FILTRATION

EDUCATION

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

ff

f

f

s

P

s

cfbc

c

c

s

l

l

c l

g

f

f

l

l

g

ff

Ps

cg c

c

c

f

s

e b

f

g

f f

s

P

f

f

g

f

f

c

c

e

w P f

bc

CA

SU

AL

SH

OP

PE

R (

PIC

K-U

R-O

WN

)M

AR

KE

T V

EN

DO

RLU

NC

H C

RO

WD

ST

EW

AR

DS

MA

LL

BU

SIN

ES

S/

ST

UD

EN

TS

BU

SY

SH

OP

PE

R

Large portions of South Providence are currently categorized as food deserts. This proposal for a pick-your-own supermarket and park questions the how food is incorporated into daily life. Extending out from the central site, the project suggests that small urban interventions could help unify isolated and dis-jointed communities . 2011

i can challenge norms

Dashi is the essence of me Dashi is something I don’t

want anymore

Are you sick of dashi?

YES

NO

FOODFOODOBJECTS

Who are you and/or what are you looking at?

CHRISTINA

BONITO

SARAH

OTHER

JERRY

NOODLEDashi is not simply a food. It can

also be used to describe character. It

can be interpreted as the essence of

anything.

Dashi is the basis of many

Japanese dishes, the flavor of the dish

is ultimately determined by the quality

of the bonito and konbu.

Dashi is an ancient art. It takes a life time of

practice and is the mark of a great chef. Its

graceful and humble appearance can only be

achieve through rigorous study of its science

and respect for the natural qualities of the

ingredients.

Instant Dashi

Is this your first day?

YES

YES

NO

NO

Is it the first day?

This book is a journey through the various perceptions of dashi, a broth central to Japanese cuisine, and some would say culture . 2010

i can observe

Series of photographs taken in various locations . 2010-2011

i can just have fun