Pro-Poor-Tourism_Sunderbans-India

M aster programme „S ustainable Tourism M anagement“

From Tiger Conflict to Tourism
Social Transformation, Poverty Alleviation
and Conservation Initiative in the
Sunderbans (India)

Presented at the Conference
Developments in Pro-Poor Tourism: Identifying Best Practice
Greenwich, UK, March 31, 02006

M arcus Bauer, MBA (FH ) trav el and tourism 31.03.2006 / 1

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Content
I. Location
II. Ecology
III. Economy
IV. Challenges and solutions
V. Initiation of the Camp
VI. Benefits from the Camp
VII. Spreading the benefits / creating acceptance for
tourism
VIII. Future plans
IX. Performance of tourist numbers
X. Comments and credits


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I. Location

East India
extreme South
of West Bengal
bordering
Bangladesh


The Sunderbans are located in Eastern India on the shore of the Bay of Bengal,
in the extreme south of the state of West Bengal. 40% of the Sunderban area
belong to India, the other 60% to Bangladesh. My presentation is concentrating
on the Indian part.

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II. Ecology (1)
• more than 100 islands
• unique and very fragile
ecosystem
• world´s biggest river delta
• mouth of the major rivers
Ganga, Brahmaputra,
Meghna and their tributaries
• world’s largest mangrove
forests
• 60 % of total mangrove
forest area of India
• 90 % of Indian mangrove
varieties
• important buffer function for
raising sea level


The Sunderbans, consisting of some 102 islands, are a unique and very fragile
ecosystem. They are the world´s biggest river delta formed by some of the major
rivers of South Asia. Moreover they are the largest mangrove forest of the world,
covering 60% of the total mangrove area of India. Roughly 90% of all Indian
mangrove varieties are located here. They play a very important role as buffer
zone, as they protect the wildlife, villages and the mudflats from the rising sea
level and the torrential rains and cyclones.

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II. Ecology (2)
• amphibian tiger with
distinct behavioural
pattern
• largest density of tiger
• crododile / turtle
• shark / dolphin
• deer
• wild boar
• monkeys
• birds
(180 species)

The Sunderbans are home to a broad variety of species, of which the Royal
Bengal tiger (panthera tigris) is considered as the most important flagship
species. Only in the Sunderbans it shows distinct amphibian behavioural
patterns. The tigers stray around the whole area, sometimes crossing distances
of several kilometres swimming. Other than the tiger there are many other
amphibian and reptile species, fish, mammals and over 180 different species of
birds here are registered.
All these have fetched many credentials and special recognitions to the
Sunderbans. They are not only a Wildlife Sanctuary and Nationalpark but also a
Tiger Reserve, Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.

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III. Economy - Infrastructure


The Sunderbans are a very remote and under-developed area. The people use
the natural resources like paddy straw, mud and wood to build their houses.
Electricity, sanitation and communication are hardly existing, but slowly the
situation is improving. For example the footpaths, which are very muddy during
the rainy season, have now been paved. But still important infrastructure is
lacking in many places, medical treatment for example still mostly is provided
only by herbal doctors.

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III. Economy - Traditional livelihood


The traditional livelihood of the local people is mainly fishing or prawn catching.
The Sunderbans are the main source of fishery products for Eastern India.
Agriculture yields only one crop per year due to saline conditions. Thus people
are depending directly on the forest or forest based resources, what means
severe threats for the fragile ecosystem.

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IV. Challenges and solutions (local level)
• man-animal • deep respect
conflicts of the forest
• tiger attacks • religion
in villages • superstition
• fear • tiger masks
• self-defending
(killing tiger)


To make it short: people were very open to find alternative livelihoods
generate additional income / alternative livelihoods

From this forest and water based livelihood several problems arise. The
Sunderbans are perhaps the last true wild frontier of the Indian Subcontinent and
conflict between man and animal is quite common, for example tiger or crocodile
attacks on honey collectors and prawn catchers. Tigers occasionally even come
to villages, sometimes attacking humans. It is quite understandable that for local
people this is a very difficult situation to cope with. Traditionally, the villagers try
to cope up with such challenges by many rituals, religious and superstitious
practices. Worshipping Bonobibi, the godess of forests, is obligatory before
leaving on a fishing or honey collection expedition. And when going into the
forests, sometimes people wore masks on the back of their heads, believing that
tigers never attack from the back. Until recent past, villagers used to believe that
killing a straying tiger was the safest way to save human life and also to earn
some easy extra money.

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IV. Challenges and solutions (supra level)
• rural development in • economic security
very remote area with • development of
difficult conditions education and crafts
• sustainable use of • habitat improvement
important food stock • popularisation of
• severe threats for energy alternatives
ecosystem
• forest management
• danger of extinction of
species
• safeguarding of
protected area status
Source: adapte d fro m Sunde rbans Biosphere Reserve website


India is developing rapidly but the challenge lies in the domain of the
development of very remote rural areas, especially if conditions are as difficult as
in the Sunderbans. The other issue which deserves immediate attention is the
sustainable use of the fishing grounds, a major food stock for the whole of East
India and an important breeding ground of the various fish species. To reduce
threats to the ecosystem due to human pressure, in the worst case even the
extinction of species, and to safeguard the regulations of the Nationalpark,
people have to find alternatives and economic security. Some proposals are
directly linked with the ecosystem and its conservation, for example forest
management, honey and wax culture, aquaculture or the popularisation of
alternative energy. Additionally education, crafts and agriculture have to be
developed.

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V. Initiation of the Camp
• idea of using tourism as an
alternative source of income
(BWNCS + WWF-WBSO +
WPSI)
• support demanded from Help
Tourism to implement touristic
infrastructure and to provide
adequate training for local staff
• in 2002 Help Tourism and ACT-
Association for Conservation
and Tourism came in
tour operator registered NGO
tourism consulting social development
- commercial - - non profit -


On the initiative both of the Field Director of the Tiger Reserve and WWF India
West Bengal State Office several local youth, who before mostly had been
poachers, were motivated to support the Forest Department in different
conservation initiatives. Most of the youth were unemployed and to ensure, that
they don´t fall back in their former profession, the idea of a tourism initiative was
born. Help Tourism, an Indian tour operator and consultant, which before had
already successfully implemented several community tourism initiatives, was
invited to develop a community tourism demonstration project involving the
transformed conservators of Bali. Thus in 2002 Help Tourism and the related
NGO ACT-Association for Conservation and Tourism came in.

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V. Initial touristic situation and conclusions
+ attractive natural
environment
+ high potential domestic
touristic demand

- mostly day trippers
- poorly connected
- NP only to be visited from
the water

exclusive resort as
incentive for overnights
own boat for transfer
and excursions

The prerequesites for a tourism project were quite good in the Sunderbans.
Additionally to the rich natural attractions, the proximity to Kolkata, the main
source market for tourism in India, was an advantage. Already many day trippers
come to the area, but to generate adequate income, it is necessary to attract
overnight guests. Help Tourism followed the strategy to offer exclusive
accomodation in ethnic style and good local food and service. Local staff was
trained accordingly and a concept for an eight bungalow resort was developed.
Initially the land for the demonstration project was given by Bali Nature and
Wildlife Conservation Society, who is also a partner of the project. The money for
the establishment of the ecotourism infrastructure was provided by Help Tourism.
The company invested more than 50,000 USD, a part of this amount was
support, soft loans or donations from patrons, friends and well-wishers. So far six
of the eight cottages have been finished, the camp started operating in 2002.
Additionally to the camp a boat had to be purchased to provide transfer and
excursions to the Nationalpark for the guests.

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VI. Benefits from the camp (1)
• > 3000 man days for
construction (so far)
roughly benefiting
2000 people
from 7 villages
• 70 % local materials
used
• direct employment
(service, gardening,
maintainance)
• local purchase of
goods (food etc.)

A tourism project is embedded in a social environment. In the Sunderbans
outsiders and especially foreigners are very seldom and earlier encounters with
them have not always been positive. Thus it was obligatory to raise maximum
acceptance of the local people for the camp. The benefits of the camp had not
only to be given to the employees but to a maximum number of people. Already
for the construction local staff was engaged to the largest possible extend. So far
more than 3,000 man days have been created for construction. Due to the family
structure roughly some 2,000 people from 7 villages have been benefiting. 70 %
of all materials used for the camp have been purchased locally. Regarding that
many furnishings like for example sanitation systems are not available in this
remote area, this number is equal to maximum extend. Direct beneficiaries of the
camp are the local staff, receiving regular payroll for their activity in service,
housekeeping, gardening or maintainance. Food is largely purchased locally.
However beverages mostly have to be bought from outside.

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• socio-cultural meeting
point
• platform for self-help
group meetings
• platform for sale of
local products
• communication (phone
connection, camp boat)
networking
emergency
supply management


The camp is a socio-cultural meeting point, unfortunately only in the absence of
guests. Discussions and community development procedures take place here as
well as spare time activities like card playing. The local goods produced by the
self-help groups are partly sold in the camp. The landphone and the boat ensure
safety in cases of emergency. Additionally they allow networking in conservation
initiatives and on time preparation for the arrival and transfer of new guests.

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• additional income (guiding, boat
rowing)
• tradition of Bonobibi Yatra
revitalized and thus preserved
• deep well


By engaging guides for village walks, wildlife and mangrove tours additional
income is given to local people after they have been trained accordingly. Young
fishermen are hired for rowing tourists on country boats into the mangrove
creeks. To create entertainment facilities for tourists the age old culture of Bono
Bibi Yatra has been brought back. A big number of local theater actors are
earning additional income with every booked performance. A tube well has been
erected to provide clean and sweet water to guests; this is also benefiting the
surrounding villagers as they need not to walk to the public well anymore.

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VII. Spreading the benefits (1)
‘Not that we alw ays can
follow this religiously.But
this is of course a
standard procedure we
have always tried to
follow and have followed
in most of the cases.’


To clarify the potential benefits of a touristic engagement and to create a strong
backing inside the local communities the benefits of the camp have to be spread
as wide as possible. The diagramme shows how the revenue of the camp after
the deduction of the costs is spent for community development activities. Here
the differing business economical understanding has to be regarded. For
example marketing and reserves for maintainance are included in this amount, in
Europe this would be considered costs. I don´t want to go in details about the
percentages but instead focus on concrete examples. The quotation is given by
one of the managing directors of Help Tourism.

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Medical camps
• general medical care
(fortnightly)
• local doctor
• free medicine
(worth >10T USD)
• special camps
(e.g. eye camp)
• income for medical
camp support staff
10.000 beneficiaries
in 15 villages supplied

Every fortnight a medical camp is held for the local people. A doctor, originating
from the Sunderbans, but now working in a Kolkata hospital is voluntarily
providing examinations against a very reasonable price of 10 Rupees per patient.
Medicine is distributed free, till now summing up to a volume of more than 10,000
US-Dollar. Additionally to the general medical camps, special camps are held to
ensure professional care for specific forms of diseases. These camps bring
benefits in two ways. The patients benefit from the medical supply, and
supporting staff by additional income for their work. So far more than 10,000
people from 15 local villages have been treated.

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Education project
‘adopt a poor student’
• 4 meritorious students
supported in continuing
education
(school fees and
lodging)
• currently supporting
6 students (3m, 3f)
• 60 students supported
by book bank and book
donation programme

An education project named ‘adopt a poor student’ is financing the higher
education of meritorious pupils, that otherwise could not participate in the higher
education system. As adequate schools do not exist on the island, the students
have to lodge in the place of their education. Four students already have passed
their exams, six more are now struggling for laurels. A book bank and donation
programme is supporting some 60 students with necessary literature, which for
many locals is unaffordable. A non-formal school is under construction where the
drop outs and poor village children will get free education. The school will have a
music and art section also.

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• garments project
approx. 400 beneficiaries
• nature protection and research
• diversification of touristic supply
first private guesthouse
under construction
• alternative energy for
community electricity


As not all the inhabitants of the Sunderbans can afford proper or sometimes any
clothes, a garment project has been established. So far some 400 people have
benefited from this. The initial idea of the Sunderbans camp was nature
protection and nowadays the former poachers are passionate conservationists.
Wounded animals are nursed and released to the forests, prawn seed catching
has decreased significantly. Additionally the locals are contributing to various
research and monitoring activities. One important step of tourism development is
on the way. The cook of the camp is just constructing a new guesthouse for
offering homestay facilities to tourists. With the installation of solar panels public
lighting is provided in the surroundings of the camp.

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VIII. Planned self-help groups
• for alternative • to develop health
livelihood development service enterprise
– organic farming models
– medical plant or – dispensaries
mushroom – X-ray kiosks
cultivation – oxy-bars
– local crafts – decease’s detection
– repairing shops for centers
small plants and
machineries


Sustainable development is a permanent process. Help Tourism and ACT are
working on the realisation of new projects and self-help groups. For an alternative
livelihood development the implementation of organic farming, medical plant or
mushroom cultivation, local crafts and repairing shops for small plants and
machineries are planned. Additionally various health service enterprise models
are suggested for self-help groups.

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VIII. Planned self-help groups
• for improved sanitation • initiate community
– implementation of health insurance
community scheme and extend
sanitation facilities insured health services
(in cooperation with by engaging trained
development volunteers or
agencies) • developing enterprise
– maintaining against models through self-
collection of help groups.
nominal fees


To improve the sanitation facilities of the community currently different
development agencies are requested for funding. The maintainance of these
facilities could be organised by self-help groups against the collection of nominal
fees.
Another challenge is the creation of a health insurance system. Here different
approaches are discussed with the community.

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VIII. Further initiatives planned
• develop a mobile • organize training and
hospital with workshops to help
– dedicated resident locals cope up with
doctors and nurses snakebite cases
– a modern mini
operation theatre
– oxy-zone
– snake anti-venom
cold stores etc.


A great contribution to an improved livelihood would be the existence of a mobile
swimming hospital. By enlarging the area of operation resident doctors and
nurses could be justified and attracted. The technical equipment would allow for
example the cold storage of anti-venom for snake bites.

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IX. Performance of tourist number
500
474
450
389
400
350
300 2003
250 235 2004
200 175 187
198 2005
150
100 65 73
96
50
0
Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec


Extrapolating the trends of the number of visitors since the opening of the camp
makes me confident, that all the plans and intentions can be realized and that the
complex ecosystem of the Sunderbans can be preserved for future generations,
who will lead a dignified life.

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X. Comments and credits
• All the statements in the presentation are resulting
from own observations and interviews during a
personal stay in the camp in Oct. 2005. They only
allow a small insight in the camp´s contribution to
poverty alleviation and do not necessarily represent
all important factors. The quantitative data given
was mostly provided by Help Tourism and ACT.
More information can be received from
www.helptourism.com or kalighat@vsnl.net.in
The project was awarded "The best innovative tourism
product of India" by TTF(Travel and Tourism Fair)-
Asia's biggest travel Mart, at New Delhi in 2004.
• Pictures: ACT, Help Tourism, Bauer

All the data was collected during a short stay in the Sunderbans in October 2005
and following e-mail.
In 2004 the demonstration project won the TTF-award for “The best innovative
tourism product of India” on India´s biggest tourism trade fair.
My thanks go to the people of the Sunderbans, to Help Tourism and ACT for their
friendly support and great hospitality.

For further information please contact:

Help Tourism helptourism@satyam.net.in
143 Hillcart Road helptourism@sancharnet.in
Siliguri 1 Tel. + 91 - 353 - 2535893
West Bengal,Tel. + 91 - 353 - 2433683
-India- Fax. + 91 - 353 – 2531121
www.helptourism.com

ACT-Association for Conservation and Tourism
67-A – Kali Temple Road kalighat@vsnl.net
Sadananda Kuthi (1st fl.) Tel.+91–33-24550917
Kalighat Tel.+91-33-24854584
Kolkata 700 026 Fax.+91-33-24853275
-India- cell+91–98310-31980
www.actnowornever.org

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Challenges (1)
• Jeaulosy and superior behaviour
• Self-regulating processes in staff employment
(not anyone is appropriate for working in
service)
• Local people become used to services provided
(e.g. medical camp) and each loss is hitting
back on the camp
• Provision of regular purchases of local goods
• Local staff does not always fulfil the high
standard criteria tourists demand for

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Challenges (2)
• Gender mainstreaming vs. Traditional society order
• International working standards vs. High work
appearance in season times
• Indepting due to unrealistic expectations of touristic
demand
• Lack of official support (the Camp is not mentioned in
the states official brochures)
• Too high demand for camp and the surrounding
ecosystem and society (tourism in India is boosting)
• Too high touristic pressure on Sunderbans (e.g.
Sahara Sunderban Project)
• Political disturbance

25

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