TOURISM DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING IN PROTECTED AREAS, … · Sabz kouh protected area covering the...

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INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS

COPY RIGHT © 2011 Institute of Interdisciplinary Business Research

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DECEMBER 2011 VOL 3, NO 8

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING IN PROTECTED AREAS, IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER

(Case study; SABZ KOUH protected area in IRAN`S Chahar Mahal VA Bakhtiari province)

HAMID AMINI

M.A in tourism planning Officer in Iran cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization,

Address: Tourism section, Haj-o Ziarat Building, Azadi Street, Tehran,Iran MOHSEN MOSLEHI

M.A in tourism planning, Officer in Iran cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization,

Address: Tourism section, Haj-o Ziarat Building, Azadi Street, Tehran,Iran

Abstract Indigenous and local peoples are a valuable source of knowledge and could greatly contribute to the effective management of protected areas. Seeking that contribution should be a priority for protected area authorities and managers. Under this pilot project it is proposed to develop alternative livelihoods for villages adjoining the protected area through involvement of the community in providing rustic eco lodges for tourists. Whilst this will encourage increased visitation of the area it will also help generate other tourism related small industries and thereby uplift the economy of the community and reduce their dependence on the area. Keywords: Tourism Development & Planning ; Protected areas; Sustainable manner INTRODUCTIONToday, the development of tourism industry as a result of ever-increasing development in social life of man, the growth of urbanization and technology has been awsome.Man`s desire to spend his free time has made tourism and sightseeing one of the main needs of human beings. Tourism in addition to engendering income and job opportunities, and increasing economical development and economical variation of a country can have long lasting effect on its social, cultural and environmental variables. Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) are a globally significant type of managed areas governed by local or indigenous communities for conservation and cultural purposes. Their contributions to biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and climate change adaptation are significantly under-studied and documented. Iran as a geographically wide-ranging country enjoys climate variation and a rich civilization with various cultures. From the sand point of abundance and variety of tourist resorts, Iran is situated among 10 countries of the world. However, as a result of many problems and limitations, Iran has not been able to obtain income and revenues in proportion to its full potential. SUSTAINABILITY IN TOURISM Sustainability, for tourism as for other industries, has three interconnected aspects: environmental, socio-cultural, and economic. Sustainability implies permanence, so sustainable tourism includes optimum use of resources, including biological diversity; minimization of ecological, cultural and social; and maximization of benefits to conservation and local communities. It also refers to the management structures that are needed to achieve this. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS IUCN (International union for conservation of Nature) defines a protected area as: “An area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means Emphasis added](IUCN,1994)” There is 98 protected areas in Iran To help improve understanding and promote awareness of protected area purposes, IUCN has developed a six category system of protected areas identified by their primary management objective (IUCN 1994), as shown in Table 2.1 The IUCN protected area management categories system is based upon the primary objectives of management. Table 2.2 shows how an analyze of management objectives can be used to identify the most appropriate category. IUCN (International union for conservation of Nature) defines a protected area as:

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“An area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means Emphasis added](IUCN,1994)” To help improve understanding and promote awareness of protected area purposes, IUCN has developed a six category system of protected areas identified by their primary management objective (IUCN 1994).The IUCN protected area management categories system is based upon the primary objectives of management. Table 2.2 shows how an analyze of management objectives can be used to identify the most appropriate category. There are 98 protected areas in Iran. Sabz kouh protected area covering the total area of 56308 ha is located in the south west of Iran in Chahar Mahal VA Bakhtiari province. It was declared in 1990 as a protected area (which belongs to the V category of IUCN management categories of protected areas). The area is well known as a habitat of different plants and animal species. Although the area does not attract many tourists at present, it has the potential to increase visitation due to the many bird species, wildlife and sceneries that could be spotted. Due to lack of promotion and marketing this area has not gained much popularity as compared to the protected areas around Tehran. Furthermore, one of the biggest challenges faced by the Department of Environment Conservation, managing the reserve is the threat by adjoining communities who depend on it for their livelihood. There are over 20 villages along the boundary of the area. These villagers who depend on contract labor and agriculture for existence are considered as the poorest of the poor. Due to lack of employment opportunities, many young generation prefer to move to big cities finding a job. During a participatory rural appraisal exercise conducted with a few villages, the community requested assistance to get involved in tourism related activities. Resources. Sabz kouh protected area covering the total area of 56308 ha is located in the south west of Iran in Chahar Mahal VA Bakhtiari province. It was declared in 1990 as a protected area (which belongs to the V category of IUCN management categories of protected areas).

Source: Adapted from CREDOC, 2008; and Stolton, 2009.

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Table 2.1 IUCN management categories of protected areas (IUCN 1994)

Categories Description

I Strict Nature Reserve /Wilderness Area: Protected area managed mainly for science or wilderness protection

Ia Strict Nature Reserve :Protected area managed mainly for science

Ib Wilderness Area: Protected area managed mainly for wilderness protection

II National park: Protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation

III National Monument: Protected area managed for conservation of specific natural features

IV Habitat/Species Management Area: protected area managed mainly for conservation through management recreation

V Protected Landscape / seascape :Protected area managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation

VI Managed Resource Protected Area :Protected area managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems

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Table 2.2: Matrix of management objectives and IUCN protected area management categories (IUCN 1994)

Management objectives Ia Ib II III IV V VI

Scientific research 1 3 2 2 2 2 3

Wilderness protection 2 1 2 3 3 - 2

Preservation of species and genetic diversity 1 2 1 1 1 2 1

Maintenance of environment services 2 1 1 - 1 2 1

Protection of specific natural/cultural features - - 2 1 3 1 3

Tourism and recreation - 2 1 1 3 1 3

Education - - 2 2 2 2 3

Sustainable use of resources from natural ecosystems - 3 3 - 2 2 1

Maintenance of cultural/traditional attributes - - - - - 1 2

Key : 1=Primary objective 2=Secondary objective 3= Potentially objective - = not applicable

Iran's protected areas Map

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Defining the problem The area is well known as a habitat of different plants and animal species. Although the area does not attract many tourists at present, it has the potential to increase visitation due to the many bird species, wildlife and sceneries that could be spotted. Due to lack of promotion and marketing this area has not gained much popularity as compared to the protected areas around Tehran. Furthermore, one of the biggest challenges faced by the Department of Environment Conservation, managing the reserve is the threat by adjoining communities who depend on it for their livelihood. There are over 20 villages along the boundary of the area. These villagers who depend on contract labor and agriculture for existence are considered as the poorest of the poor. Due to lack of employment opportunities, many young generation prefer to move to big cities finding a job. During a participatory rural appraisal exercise conducted with a few villages, the community requested assistance to get involved in tourism related activities. Therefore, under this pilot project it is proposed to develop alternative livelihoods for one village adjoining the area through involvement of the community in providing rustic eco lodges for tourists. Whilst this will encourage increased visitation of the area it will also help generate other tourism related small industries and thereby uplift the economy of the community and reduce their dependence on the area. -Involve local communities and tourists in Conserving nvironment, - Bring economic benefits to the communities living inThe protected area (MASHAYEKH tribes) and people Living in the villages adjacent to the protected area and Thereupon poverty alleviation - Giving education to young generations - To provide tourists with a unique natural and cultural Experience - Contribute to the socio-economic development of area Residents and local in habitats through sustainable use of protected area natural

SABZ KOUH SATELITE PLAN

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Sabzkouh Ecotourism potentials Sabz kouh is unique thanks to:

Mountain scenesIts Flora(scarce species)Its fauna(wildlife)

Cultural Heritages: Existence of Rural and Nomadic lifestyles side by side

Karun riverside scenes

One of the highest fall of IranPastoral LivelihoodAgricultural livelihood

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And due to:

Herbal medicineAnd Nature friendly herbs(Biodegradable Detergent)

Wild and intact Nature with Wonderful sceneries and landscapes

Crafts,ceremonies,traditions,cloths,…

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Objective: Sustainable tourism development and conservation of protected area instead of preserving merely Goals:-Involve local communities and tourists in Conserving Environment, - Bring economic benefits to the communities living in the protected area (MASHAYEKH tribes) and people living in the villages adjacent to the protected area and thereupon poverty alleviation - Giving education to young generations - To provide tourists with a unique natural and cultural experience - Contribute to the socio-economic development of area residents and local in habitats through sustainable use of protected area natural resources.Benefit

• Increase biodiversity of important habitats and protected plants and animal species. • Increase the number of visitors to the protected area. • Increase the employment local people. • Communities benefits from eco-tourism. • An effort to prevent young migrations toward big cities • Steps toward sustainable development

Activities Table/Matrix

Activities Indicators of success Resources Needed

1.Land use planning for the area

• Revise the province development master plan,

• Technical support by JICA,Tourism department and Environment department

2.Study of background of cultural, historical site to develop tourist access

• Generate the Govt. And local community revenue from protected area entry fee

• Establishing a data base

3. Research on ecological distribution of species

• Protect plant and animal species

Census of fauna and flora

4.Capacity building of protected area staff to receive tourist groups

• Tourist satisfactions • Training in young of host communities

5.Institutional support of rural and nomadic residents

• Collaboration with local Islamic council

• MoU with local authorities and the chef of tribes,

• Persuading Environmental authorities

6. Inadequate of basic equipment (eclogues

• Tourist satisfactions

• Long-term loan voluntary tourist hosts

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,meals, handicrafts)

7. Improve socio-economic status

• Social Sanity, employment, reduction of migration,

• Fund for reviewing experiences of developing countries

Key Stakeholders:

• Iran cultural Heritage, handicrafts and tourism organization, • Environment department • Local communities in villages and nomadic people) • Local authorities

Positively Impacted

Groups Positively impacted How impacted

Staff of protected area Protected area staff will get more time to do their job and build capacity

Visitors/Tourists Visitors will enjoy the beauty of PA ecosystems

local Tourism intermediaries (Travel agents, hotels etc.)

Receiving more tourists

Conservation goals Conservations goals will be developed

Communities Communities will get job, revenue and training opportunities.

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Negatively Impacted

Groups Negatively impacted How impacted

Poachers

Deter poachers from carrying out illegal activities

Morphology of land Over uses of resources,

Scarce species Uproot, game,

Local communities Tourist behavior maybe clashes with local cultural values,

CONCLUSION:

MonitoringContinual monitoring is necessary to check whether the applied forms of management having desired effects or not. Evaluation The progress of management will evaluate by the NGOs and local leaders, tourism department, environment department

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References:1-Soleimanpour, Hadi (2006), Nature-based tourism, Tehran,Iran 2-Eagles, F.J Paul,Stephen F. Macool and Christopher D.Haynes(2002),Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas,IUCN,United Kingdom 3-Philips Adrian (1998), Economic values of protected areas,IUCN,UNWTO,Spain 4-Zahedi, Shamsosadat (2006).Sustainable Tourism &Ecotourism,Allame tabatabai university ,Tehran,Iran 5--Michael Hughes, TodJones, Margaret Deery, David Wood Liz Fredline, Zachary Whitely and Michael Lockwood (2009), ESTIMATING THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE OF TOURISM TO PROTECTED AREAS, Australia 6-Wade L Hadwen, Angela H Arthington, Paul I Boonington(2008), DETECTING VISITOR IMPACTS IN AND AROUND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS WITHIN PROTECTED AREAS, Australia 7-Sally Driml and Char-lee McLennan (2010), HANDBOOK ON MEASURING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF TOURISM TO NATIONAL PARKS,Australia 8-By David Beyer, Martin Anda, Bernhard Elber, Grant Revell and Fred Spring (2005), BEST PRACTICE MODEL FOR LOW-IMPACT NATURE-BASED SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FACILITIES IN REMOTE AREAS 9-Pamela M. Godde, Martin F. Price, Friedrich M. Zimmermann (2000), Tourism and Development in Mountain Regions 10- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas. 2000. Foreword by A Phillips &K Miller. Protected areas: Benefits beyond boundaries – WCPA in action . International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland . www.iucn.org/themes/WCPA/pubs/pdfs/WCPAInAction.pdf 11-Cho, B.H. 2000, 'Destination', in Encyclopaedia of Tourism. Jafari. J. (ed.). Routledge, New York. pp. 144 -145 12-Adrian Phillip & Javier Beltrán(2000), Indigenous and Traditional Peoples and Protected Areas Principles, Guidelines and Case Studies, World Commission on Protected AreasBest Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 4 13- Paul F. J. Eagles, Stephen F. McCool and Christopher D. Haynes(2002), Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas Guidelines for Planning and Management 14-Lisa Janishevski, Kieran Noonan-Mooney, Sarat Babu Gidda and Kalemani Jo Mulongoy(2008)Protected Areas in Today’s World: Teir Values and Benefts for the Welfare of the Planet, CBD Technical Series No. 36 15-Lee Thomas and Julie Middleton (2003), Guidelines for Management Planning of Protected Areas, World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) 16-Amini Hamid(2004),In the neiborhood of the sky,tourism attractions of chahar mahal va bakhtiari province,ichto org. 17- Darvish sefat Ali Asqar (2007), Atlas of Iranian protected areas, Tehran University 18- Henrick Majnounian(2000),National parks &protected areas, Department of environment of Iran 19-Eskandar firuz(1972),Environment Iran, Department of environment of Iran

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