Guest guest Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Shub, thanks for that great info - as always - and my thoughts: on breeding centers: no on moving them all to protected lakes or rivers in India: yes Nepal should not be allowed to care for them until the government has proven itself with animal protection legislation. They are doing a horrible job with Rhinos and other species, and need to learn that with conservation comes with responsibility. At least in India, these animals may have a chance.... JIgs On Feb 4, 2009, at 4:47 PM, wrote: > Hi Jigme and Lucia, > Sorry to be late in responding but just wanted > to share whatever information I have at hand. Well, I have seen > Gangetic > Dolphins in the wild too and they are entrancing creatures. > Regarding ways > to save them, perhaps you would like to know that the Wildlife Trust > of > India has supported a project for developing alternatives to dolphin > oil in > Assam. One surefire method to help animals(or any cause for that > matter) is > to raise awareness in the media. There have been several articles in > the > Indian press regarding the Gangetic Dolphin. I have written one > myself. Link > here : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070903/asp/knowhow/story_8266680.asp > The Animal People archives have several articles too. Animal Planet > has also > produced a film on these animals(Shot in Orissa and Bihar).The > conservation > of the Gangetic River Dolphin raises several interesting questions, > some > practical and some moral. I interviewed Professor R K Sinha of Patna > University who is a specialist on these dolphins. (He is a well known > researcher who has won the Commander of the Golden Ark Prize from > Netherlands for his work on Gangetic Dolphin conservation.). I asked > him if > captive breeding was an option for this species. He replied in the > negative > since these animals do not do well in captivity and die quickly. In > Bihar, a > large stretch of the Ganges has been declared a sanctuary to > safeguard these > animals.(Vikramshila is it?) > That is one method I guess. Also, maybe holding them in OxBow lakes > if they > are large enough. Recently, a Gangetic River Dolphin was found in a > lake in > Orissa. WTI has been trying to release the animal to a more > expansive area > but the Forest Department has not agreed. But apparently, these > animals do > come into inland waters, so these lakes could be an option if the > rivers are > all polluted and uninhabitable. > I am currently reading a book by noted Indian journalist Sanjoy > Hazarika > called 'Writing on the Wall: Reflections on the North East " (He has > covered > the North East very extensively and I believe also the civil war in > Congo). > He devotes a chapter in his book called 'The Embattled Dolphin' that > deals > with the conservation of this animal. The Gangetic River Dolphin > Conservation project in Assam has the support of WTI as well and I > could put > you in touch with the groups who are working there. Hazarika tackles > the > dolphin issue within the framework of all the other issues that the > North > East is facing. That is a very sensible approach I reckon. > The only known case of a Gangetic River Dolphin in captivity was a > specimen > that was taken to Switzerland from Bangladesh(?) by Professor Georgio > Pilleri of the Brain Anatomy Institute in Berne. The animal did not > survive. > I was told this by Professor Sinha. > Now for the moral bits. I hope that Professor Pilleri did not conduct > invasive experiments on his live dolphin specimen like his American > counterpart John Lilly, whose work I am sure you are aware of. Lilly > implanted electrodes in the brains of his dolphins and conducted > many other > abusive experiments. Thankfully, he realised his mistake and > eventually > released the animals under his care. I am raising this point since > captive > breeding is so often seen as a viable option to save animal species. > But > sometimes a species may be better > dead than captive bred. I participated in a mock PHVA(Population > Habitat > Viability Analysis) for the Baiji River Dolphin many years ago. It was > conducted by Dr Michael Buford of the Institute of Zoology(London). > We did > discuss the captivity issue then for the Baiji. Dr Buford was > against the > concept since he thought, rightly so, that dolphins didn't do well in > captivity and were mainly held for commercial purposes rather than for > conservation goals. I clearly remember him saying that if there was > no way > to save the habitat of the Baiji then we should let it go. And that is > exactly what has happened. The Baiji is gone, maybe for good. And > the only > Baiji held in captivity only served photo opportunities. So this is > one > moral issue to consider before suggesting a serious captive breeding > programme for Gangetic Dolphins. > The second moral issue is the substitution of fish oil for dolphin > oil. We > have been discussing the moral worth of one creature over another with > regards to vegetarianism, haven't we? So I ask, how ethical is it to > kill > fish and save dolphins? What do you say? I know WTI supports it but > I do > have my concerns which I might raise in due time. Right now, all the > big > bosses are attending meetings. > I am attaching a paper on the conservation of the Indus River > Dolphin that > may be of some use to you. Hope this helps. And if you have > insurmountable > difficulties saving the remnants of this species in Nepal, maybe you > should > consider giving them to us or Bangladesh. We'll take a try:)) > I'll keep track of the WTI Gangetic River Dolphin project and keep you > updated. You could also contact the Whale and Dolphin Conservation > Society > in England and the Cetacean Society International in US for more > information. > I wish you well. > Cheers, > > > http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0p\ rompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=CL\ 3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1 > > *Saving the Indus Blind Dolphin : A Case Study of the Community Based > Ecotourism Project of The Adventure Foundation of Pakistan At Taunsa > Barrage > Final Report August 2002** > publication date: 1 August 2002 > no. of pages: 41 > Organization:_United Nations Development Programme - UNDP > source ref: DP_RP00005.htm* > [image: View the > document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.1 > > > *Table of Contents*** [image: View the > document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.2 > > > *List of Abbreviations*** [image: View the > document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.3 > > > *Executive Summary*** [image: View the > document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 > > > *1. The Indus River Dolphin, Ecotourism and Emerging Trends*** > [image: View > the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.5 > > > *2. The Project Partners, Approach and Plans*** [image: View the > document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.6 > > > *3. Implementation, Impact and Ideas for Future*** [image: View the > document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.7 > > > *Literature Reviewed*** [image: View the > document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.8 > > > *Annexes:*** > > 1. The Indus River Dolphin, Ecotourism and Emerging Trends > > * * > > 1.1 About the Dolphin ? A Unique Mammal on the Verge of Extinction > > 1.1.1 *The Indus River Dolphin* > > Of the four [1] > <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn1 > >freshwater > Dolphin species in the world, three are found only in Asia. All three > species are classified as critically endangered or endangered. > Listed in > order of the most threatened to the least, are the baiji (*Lipotes > vexillifer*) in the Yangtze River of China (population few tens), > the bhulan > (*Platanista minor) *in the Indus River of Pakistan (Population about > 1,100), and the susu (Platanista gangetica), with a population about > 2,500. > The fourth freshwater species, the boto (*Inia geoffrensis*), is > found in > the Amazon River system in South America and has an estimated > population of > 5,000. > > The Indus (*Platanista minor*) and Ganges (*Platanista gangetica*) > River > Dolphins were once thought to be the same species. The Ganges River > Dolphin > is also known as Ganges susu or Gangetic Dolphin, and both are also > known as > Blind River Dolphin or Side-swimming Dolphin. > > The Indus River Dolphin is one of the world?s rarest mammals and the > only > cetacean to inhabit the Indus River. It is classified as the > *Platanista > minor* (*P. indi m*) and the name minor is supposedly a reference to > its > small size. Until the 1970s, this species was thought to be the same > as the > Ganges River Dolphin. Other names for this include the Indus Susu > (in Urdu > for the sneeze like sound that it gives while breathing), Blind River > Dolphin; Side-Swimming Dolphin, Bhulan, Delfín del Indo, Indus > Dolphin, > Indus Susu, Plataniste de l?Indus. > > *Table 1. A detailed taxonomical classification of Indus Dolphin* > > ** > > *Characteristics (for both species)* > > Length [adult] > > 1.5-2.5 m > > Length [at birth] > > 0.7-0.9 m > > Weight [adult] > > 70-90 kg > > Weight [at birth] > > 7.5 kg > > Teeth > > 52-78/52-70 > > Group size > > 1-10 > > *Kingdom* > > Animalia > > *Phylum* > > Chordata > > *Subphylum* > > Vertebrata > > *Class* > > Mammalia > > *Subclass* > > *Order* > > Cetacea > > *Suborder* > > Odontoceti > > *Family* > > Platanistidae > > *Subfamily* > > *Tribe* > > *Genus* > > Platinista > > *Species* > > Minor and gangetica > > *Source: Ganges and Indus River Dolphins. Armando G. Amador, 14 > July, 1999* > > 1.2 A Brief Profile > > 1.2.1 *Physical Characteristics and Behaviour* > > The Indus River Dolphin is a unique mammal. Just like humans, they > breathe > air and give birth to live young, which feed on their mothers? milk. > The > Dolphin can weigh about 70 - 90 kg (170 - 200 lb) and has a length > of 2 - > 2.5 m (6.6 - 8.2'). They breathe through a blowhole located on the > top of > their head and appear at the surface every 30 or 120 seconds for this > purpose. The neck is narrow and very flexible which helps it in > manoeuvring > its way inside the water. They usually swim on one side. It has a long > beak that flattens toward the tip and sometimes while swimming the > beak > sticks out of the surface. The mouthline curves upwards and reveals > long > teeth. Adults have between 30 and 36 sharp teeth on each side of the > rostrum. The body is generally greyish-brown in colour, stocky and a > rounded pinkish belly, the flippers are broad and paddle-shaped and > assist > the Dolphin to swim in fast waters. There is a small, low hump in > place of > a 'true' dorsal. Breathing is through a slit, blowhole, located on > the left > of their head and they emit a sneeze like sound when they come on > the water > surface to breathe in air. The tail flukes are broad in relation to > the > body size. It sometimes carries its young on its back, above the > surface of > the water. Although they are generally found in the deep end, they are > known to survive in 1 to 2 metres of water (Pilleri 1980). > > The Dolphins breed during the months of April to June. A new-born baby > Dolphin is about 70 cm long. The mother helps the baby for the first > six > months in breathing and swimming. It feeds on the mother?s milk and is > weaned off after one year. The average life span has been counted up > to at > least 20 years. Its diet mainly consists of crustaceans such as > prawns, as > well as small fish such as gobies, carp and catfish. > > The Indus Dolphins are essentially blind and this is an evolutionary > phenomenon of staying in silty and turbid waters. Instead of a > crystalline > eye lens there are now only slits in the sockets where there were > once eyes. > However this is not really an impairment as it possess a very > sophisticated > system ? echolocation or sonar system ? in which sound pulses are > emitted in > the water through the bulge at the front of its head and reflected > back. It > navigates through sensing the direction and intensity of light and > sense of > sound is also very sharp. The snout also aids it in navigation and > during > swimming on one side, its flipper trails along and helps to ?see? > and feel > its environment and prey (Pilleri 1980). > > *Table 2. Some data on biology and ecology* > > Weight > > 80 ? 90 kg (180 ? 200 lb) > > Length > > Females: up to 2.5 m (8.2'); males: up to 2.0 m (6.6'). > > Age to maturity > > About 10 years > > Gestation period > > 10 - 11 months > > Birth season > > April and May > > Birth rate > > The calving interval is 2 years > > Early development > > Calves may be weaned by the time they are 1 year old > > Maximum age > > Probably at least 28 years (similar to the Ganges Dolphin, *Platanista > gangetica* > > Diet > > Eats crustaceans such as prawns, as well as fish such as gobies, > catfish and > carp > > Age and gender distribution > > A male : female ratio of 2:1 has been reported > > *Source: Paul Massicot; 6 April 2002; © 2002 Animal Info* > > 1.2.2 *Habitat* > > The Indus Dolphin is amongst the four specially adapted Dolphin > species that > has evolved to live only in freshwater river systems between 8°C and > 33°C > (46 - 91° F) and die in salt water (Cetacea 2000). The Indus Dolphin > is > supposed to have its origin in the ancient Tethys Sea, from where > after it > had dried up, the Dolphin was forced to adapt itself to rivers. > Historically, > the original habitat for the Indus Dolphin included the Indus River > from the > Himalayan foothills to the estuarine portion of the river leading > into the > Arabian Sea near Karachi. It now occurs only in the Indus river and > its > tributaries - Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, in Pakistan. Other > river > Dolphins occur in the Yangtze River in China, the Amazon in South > America > and the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna river systems in India, > Bangladesh > and Nepal (Pilleri 1980). > > 1.2.3 *The Reason for Decline in Dolphin Population* > > The Dolphin population declined drastically after the 1970s and the > specie > is now listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and > threatened with extinction. It is estimated [2] > <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn2 > >that > there are between 600 and 650 Indus Dolphins remaining in Pakistan. > The > largest population, of approximately 500, is in Sindh Province between > Sukkur and Guddu barrages. Smaller populations occur further upstream > between Guddu and Taunsa and Taunsa and Chasma Barrages. > > No effort was made to count Indus Dolphins before the early 1970s. > However, > in 1974 a team led by Professor Georgio Pilleri of the Brain Anatomy > Institute in Berne, Switzerland counted somewhat less than 150 > Dolphins in > the 170 km stretch between Sukkur and Guddu barrages in the Sindh > province. > This was the first time that the world was alerted to the sharp > decline in > the Indus River Population. This finding was later corroborated by > another > group of scientists from the University of Tokyo, Japan in 1974 who > estimated some 450 to 600 Dolphins in the entire Indus system > (Reeves 1991). > > It is estimated that there are less than 600 [3] > <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn3 > >Indus > Dolphins remaining in Pakistan. The largest population, of > approximately > 400, is in Sindh between the Sukkur and Guddu barrages and smaller > populations occur further upstream in Punjab, between Guddu-Taunsa and > Taunsa-Chasma barrages (Pilleri 1980). According to WWF-Pakistan?s > first > ever survey of the entire range of Dolphins, completed in April > 2001, the > Sukkur to Guddu section now has the highest density in the entire > Indus > River, with 602 of the total population of about 1,100 being found > here > (Shanton 2001). > > *Table 3. Status and Trends ? IUCN Categories*** > > Status > > Population estimates (Pakistan) > > 1960s: Status not determined > > 1974: 450 - 600 > > 1970s: Endangered > > Late 1970s: 400 > > 1980s: Endangered > > 1984: 600 > > 1994: Endangered > > 1986: 400 - 600 > > 1996: Endangered > > 1989: 500 > > 2000: Endangered > > 1998: Probably fewer than 1,000 > > ** > > *Source: Paul Massicot; 6 April 2002; © 2002 Animal Info*** > > Starting from the 1930s the construction of multiple dams and > barrages built > on the Indus to harness the water for irrigation and hydropower have > separated the Dolphins into smaller groups that now exist in small > populations. A barrage is a gated structure built across a waterway to > maintain the upstream water level higher than it would be naturally. > It is > designed so that the maximum expected peak flow can pass over its > crest. During > periods of low flow, the upstream water level is kept constant by > opening or > closing the gates. The steady upstream level allows some or all of the > water to be diverted into canals for irrigation or other purposes > (Reeves > 1991). This has been cited as the main reason for its decline as > they have > not only lead to loss of habitat for the Dolphin but also > fragmentation of > their population into small groups. Earlier the Dolphins could swim > freely > along the entire length of the Indus and travel afar for mating but > now > their movement has been restricted drastically and as a result the > Dolphins > remain trapped in small isolated sections. The consequent inbreeding > has > further exacerbated this situation by resulting in physical > deformities and > death. > > A further serious threat to the Dolphins is entrapment in irrigation > canals > - they tend to enter these canals during the flood season and, as > the water > supply dries up in the dry season, they become isolated from the > main river > and face almost certain death. In spring, during high flood, when the > barrage gates are opened to maintain the level of the water in the > river, > the Indus Dolphin routinely swims into the many connecting canals of > the > Indus that divert water from the Indus River and irrigate the > agricultural > land. When the canals are closed and the water level goes down, the > Dolphins are stranded. Often they die of starvation or are > inadvertently > caught by the local fishermen who fish heavily in the closed canals > (Campbell 2001). The marine Fisheries Department in Karachi has > reported > indiscriminate poaching of the Dolphins in the early and mid 1980s > near > Chashma and Taunsa barrages and at the boatbridge near Ghazi Ghat > (Reeves > 1991). > > Over fishing can also reduce the number of the small fish and lead to > starvation and death for the Dolphins. It is believed that some > Dolphins > also fall prey to hunting for their meat and oil or they become the > victims > of other deliberate or incidental events that lead to its death. > Sometimes > they are caught in the fishing nets either by design or by accident. > The > rate of population growth of the Dolphin is also slow because of > biological > phenomena like low birth rate, long gestation periods and calving. > Other > major threats to this specie include chemical pollution, > agricultural waste, > boat traffic, lack of fresh water, habitat degradation, excessive > human > activity, pollution resulting from oil and gas exploration and other > leakage > of toxic substances. Indirect effects of deforestation, > desertification and > global warming are also thought to be affecting the Dolphin mortality. > > *1.3 Some Positive Initiatives Taken for Dolphin Conservation* > * * > Pakistan?s federal government has ratified the international > Convention on > Biodiversity and has, therefore, entered into a treaty with the world > community of nations to protect species of special concern like Indus > Dolphins (WWF-P). > > In Pakistan, conservation is a provincial responsibility. In 1974 the > government of Sindh declared the 170 km stretch of Indus River between > Sukkur and Guddu barrages a Dolphin sanctuary. The Government of > Sind has > given the Indus River Dolphin Reserve full legal protection and has > widely > publicised this in an intensive campaign at all levels of government > and > society. The Reserve continues to harbour the majority of the > remaining > population. Plans were also underway to propose it as world heritage > site. > The total population is about 600 to 650 Dolphins (Campbell 2001). > > The first official ?Dolphin rescue operation? was carried out by > Richard > Garstang, a conservation advisor to the World Wildlife Fund in > Pakistan, at > the Kirhtar canal, Sukkur, Sindh in January 2000. Later on a permanent > Dolphin rescue unit was also set up under the supervision of the Sindh > Wildlife Department in July 2000 with funding provided by the Global > Environment Facility?s (GEF) Small Grants Program (SGP), United > Nations > Development Programme-UNDP (Campbell 2001).** > > The area immediately upstream of Taunsa barrage, including the pond > areas on > both the right and left bank is an officially designated wildlife > sanctuary > and all fishing and hunting activity has been banned. The government > has > also recently designated a 1 km upstream stretch for research > purposes and > strictly monitors all fishing activity around it. > > The population of the Indus Dolphin is less in the Punjab province > but still > significant. The case for building a Dolphin reserve or sanctuary > has been > well presented in the studies of various scientists and > conservationists. Randall > R. Reeves in his article, ?Conservation of the Bhulan (Blind River > Dolphin) > in the Punjab, The Case for a Punjab Dolphin Reserve? in *Natura,* > builds up > a convincing case for establishing a Punjab Dolphin reserve and the > need for > inter provincial co-ordination for the protection and conservation > of the > Indus Dolphin. The article states that, ?there are a number of good > arguments for establishing a Dolphin reserve in the Punjab. First, the > entire future of the species should not be invested in a single > stretch of > river under a single provincial jurisdiction ? any endangered > species gains > valuable security from having a number of discrete populations > living under > different sets of circumstances. A second reason for creating a Punjab > Dolphin reserve is to stimulate ecotourism ? A third argument for > maintaining the bhulan?s presence in as wide an area as possible > could be > that it acts as a bio indicator.? (Reeves 1991). > > *1.4 Some Useful Concepts, Guidelines and Emerging Trends* > > 1.4.1 *Sustainable Tourism* > * * > Tourism is the ninth largest earner of foreign exchange in Pakistan > according to the Tourism Division of the Ministry of Sports and > Tourism. The > interdependence between tourism and the environment is recognised > worldwide. > In Pakistan, the National Tourism Policy and the National Conservation > Strategy emphasise the crucial interdependence between tourism and the > environment. Tourism has a significant impact upon the physical and > social > environment, while, at the same time, tourism's success depends on the > continued well being of the environment. Because the physical and > social > environment constitutes the resource base for tourism, tourism has a > vested > interest in conserving and strengthening this resource base. Hence, > conserving and strengthening biodiversity can be said to hold the > key to > tourism's success. A recent survey by the Industry and Environment > Office > of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/IE) shows that the > resource most essential for the growth of tourism is the environment > (UNEP > 1995:7). Tourism is an environmentally sensitive industry whose > growth is > dependent upon the quality of the environment. Tourism growth will > cease > when negative environmental effects diminish the tourism experience > (Mock > and O? Neil 1996). > > The stakeholders in tourism include the tourists; the host > communities; and > the tourism industry, composed of private tour operators, hotel > operators, > airlines, and the public sector agencies of the Government of > Pakistan (GoP) > that regulate their operation. For ecotourism implementation, all > these > sectors must be taken into consideration. The resource base for > tourism is > the physical and social environment. Sustainable use of this > resource is > the only way to ensure that the local resources are enhanced in a > way that > can reap long term benefits without creating any permanent loss or > damage. For > the local communities this is often their main source of livelihood > and > sustainable use of this resource the only way to ensure continuity > of the > benefits to be accrued. Tangible economic benefits come from > employment as > porters, cooks, and guides; in hotels; and in transportation; small > business > ownership of transport, hotels, shops, and tour operators and travel > agencies. Increased tourist activity may well mean increased > revenues but > provided that it does not put increased pressure on the environment > and the > natural and cultural heritage. Instituting an environmental code of > conduct[4] > <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn4 > >can > ensure that the costs do not outweigh the benefits and that the > tourists > learn to behave appropriately and responsibly. The benefits of codes > include improvement of the natural environment and of the > sustainability of > the tourism industry; ability to attract tourists who seek > environmentally > responsible forms of tourism; support for local economy and > infrastructure > which catalyses further tourism development; and improved quality of > life > for host communities. > > IUCN defines sustainable tourism as ?tourism that is developed and > managed > in such a way that all tourism activity - which in some way focuses on > cultural or natural heritage resources - can continue to grow? > (Lascuráin > 1996). Sustainable development as defined by the 1987 World > Commission on > Environment and Development is ?economic growth that is socially and > environmentally sustainable, based on policies that both sustain and > expand > the environmental resource base.? The resource base for both > sustainable > development and sustainable tourism, then, is the social and natural > environment, and the goal of both tourism and development is to > sustain and > expand this resource base (Mock 1999) > > Thus sustainable tourism is that which aims to achieve both > development and > conservation; leads to tangible economic benefits for the people as > well as > lay down a basis for reinvesting in the protection and enhancement > of the > local resources. > > 1.4.2 *Ecotourism* > > The terminology ?ecotourism? is a relatively new one and can have > different > interpretations in varied settings. Generally speaking, ecotourism > is a > nature centred activity that is done is a sustainable way with an > aim of > achieving development and conservation objectives. Moreover it is > characterised by an educative and conservative element that it > carried and > is environmentally, economically and socially viable. Agha Iqrar > Haroon in > a report entitled ?Role of Communities in Ecotourism? states that > ?ecotourism is an approach that creates a variety of quality tourism > products and services that are environmentally, ecologically > sustainable, > economically viable, socially and psychologically acceptable?? and > that, > ?ecotourism must promote sustainable development by establishing a > durable > productive base that allows local inhabitants and ecotourist service > providers to enjoy rising standards of living.? > > Ecotourism has become increasingly a commodity that is packaged and > marketed > to a wide audience without necessarily keeping into account the > capacity or > consequences. Practitioners in the field observe that the increasing > inclination towards ecotourism seems to be affecting the lifestyles > and > behavioural patterns of indigenous communities. Also tourists who do > not > express any sensitivity towards local customs and traditions can > have an > adverse effect. John Mock explains this in his paper through what is > called > the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) Planning System [5] > <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn5 > > > . The LAC process recognises the complexity of planning for both > sustainability and development, and is a community-based approach. It > offers a way to identify desired conditions and a means to attain > them. Focusing > on the desired goals (that is, the social, economic and environmental > conditions) for each area, be it a village, a valley, a conservation > area or > a national park, helps to define what it is to that is to be > sustained. An > ecotourism orientation developed within a LAC framework offers a > systematic > process for exploring how to achieve the goal of sustainable > tourism. (Mock > 1999) > > However, ecotourism can be differentiated from traditional tourism > in that > ecotourism not only attempts to minimise the environmental impact of > tourism, but also has as a goal that local communities and the > physical > environment will actually benefit from tourism. In its ideal form, > ecotourism is a philosophy, an activity, a development policy and an > environmental policy, all at the same time. (Mock and O?Neil 1996). > > Ecotourism is a relatively new term, first used in the early 1980s > by Hector > Ceballos- Lascuráin, who is Special Advisor on Ecotourism to IUCN, > Director > of Programme of the International Consultancy on Ecotourism and widely > acknowledged as ?the father of ecotourism.? He defines ecotourism as > ?environmentally responsible travel to relatively undisturbed > natural areas, > in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural > features) that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and > provides > for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local > populations.? The > Ecotourism Society similarly defines ecotourism as ?responsible > travel to > natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well- > being of > local people.? Ecotourism requires a commitment to conservation on > the part > of all stakeholders in tourism. That is, it requires a partnership > between > tour operators, relevant government agencies, NGOs, protected area > managers, > local communities and tourists for the conservation of natural and > cultural > resources. Ecotourism is differentiated from other forms of tourism > in that > it attempts to incorporate experiencing and learning from and about > the > environment and the communities residing there. > > According to Lascurain, addressing the Australian Ecotourism > Conference in > 1999, ecotourism comprises of the following essential characteristics: > > 1. *Nature-Based Ecotourism* is based on the natural environment > with a > focus on its biological, physical and cultural features. The > conservation > of the natural resource is essential to the planning, development and > management of ecotourism. > * * > 2. *Ecologically Sustainable* all tourism should be sustainable - > economically, socially and environmentally. Ecotourism is ecologically > sustainable tourism undertaken in a natural setting. The challenge to > ecotourism in any country or region is to develop its tourism > capacity and > the quality of its products without adversely affecting the > environment that > maintains and nurtures it. This involves ensuring that the type, > location > and level of ecotourism use does not cause harm to natural areas. > * * > 3. *Environmentally Educative* Environmental education and > interpretation > are important tools in creating an enjoyable and meaningful ecotourism > experience. Ecotourism attracts people who wish to interact with the > environment in order to develop their knowledge, awareness and > appreciation > of it. By extension, ecotourism should ideally lead to positive > action for > the environment by fostering enhanced conservation awareness. > Ecotourism > education can influence tourist, community and industry behaviour > and assist > in the longer-term sustainability of tourist activity in natural > areas. > Education can also be useful as a management tool for natural areas. > > 4. *Locally Beneficial* The involvement of local communities not only > benefits the community and the environment but also improves the > quality of > the tourist experience. Local communities can become involved in > ecotourism > operations, and in the provision of knowledge, services, facilities > and > products. These benefits should outweigh the cost of ecotourism to > the host > community and environment. Ecotourism can also generate income for > resource > conservation management in addition to social and cultural benefits. > * * > 5. *Tourist Satisfaction* of visitors with the ecotourism experience > is > essential to long term viability of the ecotourism industry. > Included in > this concept is the importance of visitor safety in regard to > political > stability. The ecotourism experience should match or exceed the > realistic > expectations of the visitor. > > 1.4.3 *Community Based Ecotourism (CBE)* > > Community based tourism detonates that form of a tourism enterprise > that is > run and managed by the communities and successful CBE initiatives are > usually supported by reinforcing partnerships between the > communities and > external organisations in the pubic and private domain. The > community is > empowered to plan and run all activities and includes a mutually > beneficial > relationship between the community and the natural resource that > they manage > and market to the outsiders in return for a profit and consequently > raise > their quality of life. These benefits include employment > opportunities and > cash return, development of their area and improved local resource > conservation [6] > <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn6 > > > . The beneficiaries may be direct or indirect and participation may > also be > worked out on their own criteria. However it is important that the > entire > community (rich, poor, separate interest groups) benefits from the > enterprise in some way or another. > > Successful community-based ecotourism development, that is, ventures > that > satisfy both conservation and development objectives, are supported by > partnerships between local communities, government agencies, NGOs > and the > private sector. Partnerships are recognised to emerge from areas of > mutual > benefit to each of the sectors involved. Policies, then, are seen as > formal > mechanisms for achieving the goals of mutual benefit through > collaboration. > They are an overt manifestation of the need for collaboration and > co-operation to achieve conservation and development objectives. > Partnerships, > then, should be viewed as an integral part of the design and > development of > community-based ecotourism ventures. They are deemed indispensable for > achieving a positive policy and planning framework for the > development of > community-based ecotourism (Sproule 1996). > > According to Sproule the issues of participation are crucial and > should be > worked out keeping in mind that the disadvantaged do not get > excluded in the > ecotourism initiative and subsequently the benefits derived from it. > One > common definition of participation quoted by him is that it is ?giving > people more opportunities to participate effectively in development > activities...empowering people to mobilise their own capacities, be > social > actors rather than passive subjects, manage the resources, make > decisions > and control the activities that affect their lives? (Sproule 1996). > It is > important to ascertain that the participation has not been > determined on the > basis of caste or kinship, political affiliation or land ownership. > Even > level of education, age and language ability has been used to limit > the > number of participants. The introduction of such ventures can > reinforce > existing divisions in their communities and/or create new ones. > Issues of > fairness, jealousies and exclusion have confronted many community- > based > ecotourism ventures. Community strengths and weaknesses have to be > assessed > carefully and mechanisms for equitable distribution of benefits > worked out. > A community will stay motivated to carry on conservation efforts > only as > long as they perceive the benefits to be more as compared to the > opportunity > cost of foregoing resource use or changing a particular management > style. > > 1.4.4 *Pro-poor Tourism Versus Other Forms of Tourism [7] > <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn7 > > > * > > Another new trend or concept that has emerged within the context of > tourism > and ecotourism is pro-poor tourism (PPT). Like the name suggests > this is > not a specific product or sector of tourism, but an approach to the > industry. The difference is more one of perspective, in that a PPT > focus > prioritises and highlights impacts on the poor. Strategies for making > tourism pro-poor focus specifically on unlocking opportunities for > the poor > within tourism, rather than expanding the overall size of the > sector. Benefits > to the poor may be economic, social or environmental. While pro-poor > tourism overlaps with other approaches including sustainable, > responsible, > community-based or ecotourism, the key distinctive feature of pro-poor > tourism is that it puts poor people and poverty at the top of the > agenda. Many > sustainable tourism initiatives include a social component but this > is often > an addition to a core focus on environmental sustainability. PPT, in > contrast, puts the poor at the centre of analysis. > > PPT also overlaps with both ecotourism and community-based tourism > (CBT), > but it is not synonymous with either. Ecotourism initiatives may > provide > benefits to people, but they are mainly concerned with the > environment. > Conservation approaches emphasise the need for broadly distributed > local > benefits (often cash) as incentives for conservation, or they may > support > activities that provide an alternative to unsustainable actions.* *In > contrast, PPT aims to deliver net benefits to the poor as a goal in > itself. > Environmental concerns are just one part of the picture. Similarly, > community-based tourism initiatives aim to increase local people?s > involvement in tourism whereas PPT involves more than a community > focus - it > requires mechanisms to unlock opportunities for the poor at all > levels and > scales of operation. > > 1.5 *Conclusion* > > As described in this chapter there have been many approaches to > development > and conservation, promoting sustainable tourism and ecotourism > practices > geared towards conservation of wildlife and other natural resources. > Most > of these have been implemented successfully in different countries > and some > are as yet in an emerging stage. The arguments for the conservation > of the > Indus Dolphin have also been well established and are supported by > authentic > research findings made by leading conservationists and researchers. > In this > regard the Government of Pakistan has expressed recognition of the > vulnerability that the Dolphin faces and has also made certain > commitments > for its protection. Other positive trends and developments in wildlife > conservation, especially in Dolphin conservation, have also been > witnessed > in the work of some institutions and non-governmental organisations. > > On Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Herojig <herojig wrote: > > > As someone who has seen one of these creatures, having just moved to > > Nepal > > back in 2001 or so, I was in awe...a dolphin in the river! I > thought I was > > hallucinating. Considering they get hacked up for curry, it seems > there is > > little hope for these little intelligent guys, considering the > state of the > > state of Nepal. But it would be nice to at least try to save the > few that > > are left...but how? > > Jigs > > > > > > On 2/1/09 12:11 PM, " Lucia De Vries " > <luciadevries<luciadevries%40gmail.com>> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Save the dolphin! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Gaia Vince > > > > > > The mist merges with the murky river that slaps against the > sides of our > > > boat. At first, the brown hump that appears and disappears a > boat's > > length > > > ahead is not immediately identifiable. But as the mist burns off > in the > > weak > > > January sun, we witness the clear arch and leap of not one, but > two, rare > > > Gangetic dolphins. It's a mesmerizing sight and a privilege: > There are > > just 28 > > > dolphins left in Nepal, according to a survey carried out last > year, and > > only > > > four are here in the Karnali River, a tributary of the Ganges. > > > > > > " There used to be hundreds of them, " says Tej Kumar Shrestha, > professor > > of > > > zoology at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, who led the survey > and has > > > studied the dolphin extensively over the past 15 years. " Every > time I > > carry > > > out the river survey, I find there are fewer and fewer. In five > years' > > time, I > > > expect the dolphin will be extinct in Nepal. " > > > > > > The Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is predominantly > found in > > India > > > and Bangladesh, where there are estimated to be around 3,000 in > the > > Ganges and > > > Brahmaputra rivers. Its numbers have crashed by 50 percent over > the past > > > decade, and the aquatic mammal is rated as endangered on the > IUCN Red > > List. A > > > subspecies of the dolphin, Platanista gangetica minor, is found > in the > > Indus > > > River in Pakistan, where the creature has been separated from its > > brethren in > > > India by dams and dried-up rivers for so long -- hundreds of > years -- > > that > > > physical differences have emerged. > > > > > > Every June, during the monsoon rains, migratory dolphins of > breeding age > > > (three to 25 years old) journey to the cooler, fast-flowing > oxygenated > > waters > > > of Nepal. Here they breed and hunt in the rejuvenated streams > and oxbow > > lakes > > > before returning south in September. " If they can't migrate > over, they > > can't > > > breed -- it's as simple as that, " Shrestha says. > > > > > > Climate change is making the problem worse. The monsoon has been > arriving > > as > > > much as weeks later in recent years, and in more concentrated > bursts. The > > > floods are higher -- in 2007 as many as 45 dolphins migrated > across after > > the > > > waters completely washed away one major barrage. But the rains > are also > > > briefer, draining the streams and pools too soon for the > dolphins to > > return, > > > Shrestha says. > > > > > > As with other endangered animals, it is illegal to kill a > dolphin -- the > > > penalty is 70,000 rupees ($900) or 10 years' imprisonment, but > it has > > never > > > been enacted. Shrestha says the police are bribed. " And anyway, > there's > > no > > > room in the prisons, " he laughs, pointing to the overflow of > political > > > prisoners. > > > > > > Those living near Bardia National Park are hoping that the new > peace, > > brought > > > by last year's election of a Maoist government, will allow the > country > > and its > > > animals to recover. As my boat pulls in to the jetty, I realise > that the > > susus > > > I was lucky enough to see may turn out to be the last of Nepal's > resident > > > dolphins. > > > > > > (Seed Magazine) > > > > > > > > > Posted on: 2009-01-31 20:03:02 (Server Time) > > > http://ekantipur.com/kolnews.php? & nid=178159 > > > Lucia de Vries > > > Freelance Journalist > > > Bagdol, Patan, Nepal > > > Wijk 4-47, 8321 GE Urk, Holland > > > > > > > > > > -- Paul Reitman, CEO > > Phoenix Studios Nepal > > Mobile: 9841589797 > > > > www.phoenixstudios.com.np/corporate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Hi Jigme and Lucia, Sorry to be late in responding but just wanted to share whatever information I have at hand. Well, I have seen Gangetic Dolphins in the wild too and they are entrancing creatures. Regarding ways to save them, perhaps you would like to know that the Wildlife Trust of India has supported a project for developing alternatives to dolphin oil in Assam. One surefire method to help animals(or any cause for that matter) is to raise awareness in the media. There have been several articles in the Indian press regarding the Gangetic Dolphin. I have written one myself. Link here : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070903/asp/knowhow/story_8266680.asp The Animal People archives have several articles too. Animal Planet has also produced a film on these animals(Shot in Orissa and Bihar).The conservation of the Gangetic River Dolphin raises several interesting questions, some practical and some moral. I interviewed Professor R K Sinha of Patna University who is a specialist on these dolphins. (He is a well known researcher who has won the Commander of the Golden Ark Prize from Netherlands for his work on Gangetic Dolphin conservation.). I asked him if captive breeding was an option for this species. He replied in the negative since these animals do not do well in captivity and die quickly. In Bihar, a large stretch of the Ganges has been declared a sanctuary to safeguard these animals.(Vikramshila is it?) That is one method I guess. Also, maybe holding them in OxBow lakes if they are large enough. Recently, a Gangetic River Dolphin was found in a lake in Orissa. WTI has been trying to release the animal to a more expansive area but the Forest Department has not agreed. But apparently, these animals do come into inland waters, so these lakes could be an option if the rivers are all polluted and uninhabitable. I am currently reading a book by noted Indian journalist Sanjoy Hazarika called 'Writing on the Wall: Reflections on the North East " (He has covered the North East very extensively and I believe also the civil war in Congo). He devotes a chapter in his book called 'The Embattled Dolphin' that deals with the conservation of this animal. The Gangetic River Dolphin Conservation project in Assam has the support of WTI as well and I could put you in touch with the groups who are working there. Hazarika tackles the dolphin issue within the framework of all the other issues that the North East is facing. That is a very sensible approach I reckon. The only known case of a Gangetic River Dolphin in captivity was a specimen that was taken to Switzerland from Bangladesh(?) by Professor Georgio Pilleri of the Brain Anatomy Institute in Berne. The animal did not survive. I was told this by Professor Sinha. Now for the moral bits. I hope that Professor Pilleri did not conduct invasive experiments on his live dolphin specimen like his American counterpart John Lilly, whose work I am sure you are aware of. Lilly implanted electrodes in the brains of his dolphins and conducted many other abusive experiments. Thankfully, he realised his mistake and eventually released the animals under his care. I am raising this point since captive breeding is so often seen as a viable option to save animal species. But sometimes a species may be better dead than captive bred. I participated in a mock PHVA(Population Habitat Viability Analysis) for the Baiji River Dolphin many years ago. It was conducted by Dr Michael Buford of the Institute of Zoology(London). We did discuss the captivity issue then for the Baiji. Dr Buford was against the concept since he thought, rightly so, that dolphins didn't do well in captivity and were mainly held for commercial purposes rather than for conservation goals. I clearly remember him saying that if there was no way to save the habitat of the Baiji then we should let it go. And that is exactly what has happened. The Baiji is gone, maybe for good. And the only Baiji held in captivity only served photo opportunities. So this is one moral issue to consider before suggesting a serious captive breeding programme for Gangetic Dolphins. The second moral issue is the substitution of fish oil for dolphin oil. We have been discussing the moral worth of one creature over another with regards to vegetarianism, haven't we? So I ask, how ethical is it to kill fish and save dolphins? What do you say? I know WTI supports it but I do have my concerns which I might raise in due time. Right now, all the big bosses are attending meetings. I am attaching a paper on the conservation of the Indus River Dolphin that may be of some use to you. Hope this helps. And if you have insurmountable difficulties saving the remnants of this species in Nepal, maybe you should consider giving them to us or Bangladesh. We'll take a try:)) I'll keep track of the WTI Gangetic River Dolphin project and keep you updated. You could also contact the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society in England and the Cetacean Society International in US for more information. I wish you well. Cheers, http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0p\ rompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=CL\ 3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1 *Saving the Indus Blind Dolphin : A Case Study of the Community Based Ecotourism Project of The Adventure Foundation of Pakistan At Taunsa Barrage Final Report August 2002** publication date: 1 August 2002 no. of pages: 41 Organization:_United Nations Development Programme - UNDP source ref: DP_RP00005.htm* [image: View the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.1> *Table of Contents*** [image: View the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.2> *List of Abbreviations*** [image: View the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.3> *Executive Summary*** [image: View the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4> *1. The Indus River Dolphin, Ecotourism and Emerging Trends*** [image: View the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.5> *2. The Project Partners, Approach and Plans*** [image: View the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.6> *3. Implementation, Impact and Ideas for Future*** [image: View the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.7> *Literature Reviewed*** [image: View the document]<http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib-\ -00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz\ -1-1 & a=d & c=UNLib & cl=CL3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.8> *Annexes:*** 1. The Indus River Dolphin, Ecotourism and Emerging Trends * * 1.1 About the Dolphin ? A Unique Mammal on the Verge of Extinction 1.1.1 *The Indus River Dolphin* Of the four [1] <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn1>freshwater Dolphin species in the world, three are found only in Asia. All three species are classified as critically endangered or endangered. Listed in order of the most threatened to the least, are the baiji (*Lipotes vexillifer*) in the Yangtze River of China (population few tens), the bhulan (*Platanista minor) *in the Indus River of Pakistan (Population about 1,100), and the susu (Platanista gangetica), with a population about 2,500. The fourth freshwater species, the boto (*Inia geoffrensis*), is found in the Amazon River system in South America and has an estimated population of 5,000. The Indus (*Platanista minor*) and Ganges (*Platanista gangetica*) River Dolphins were once thought to be the same species. The Ganges River Dolphin is also known as Ganges susu or Gangetic Dolphin, and both are also known as Blind River Dolphin or Side-swimming Dolphin. The Indus River Dolphin is one of the world?s rarest mammals and the only cetacean to inhabit the Indus River. It is classified as the *Platanista minor* (*P. indi m*) and the name minor is supposedly a reference to its small size. Until the 1970s, this species was thought to be the same as the Ganges River Dolphin. Other names for this include the Indus Susu (in Urdu for the sneeze like sound that it gives while breathing), Blind River Dolphin; Side-Swimming Dolphin, Bhulan, Delfín del Indo, Indus Dolphin, Indus Susu, Plataniste de l?Indus. *Table 1. A detailed taxonomical classification of Indus Dolphin* ** *Characteristics (for both species)* Length [adult] 1.5-2.5 m Length [at birth] 0.7-0.9 m Weight [adult] 70-90 kg Weight [at birth] 7.5 kg Teeth 52-78/52-70 Group size 1-10 *Kingdom* Animalia *Phylum* Chordata *Subphylum* Vertebrata *Class* Mammalia *Subclass* *Order* Cetacea *Suborder* Odontoceti *Family* Platanistidae *Subfamily* *Tribe* *Genus* Platinista *Species* Minor and gangetica *Source: Ganges and Indus River Dolphins. Armando G. Amador, 14 July, 1999* 1.2 A Brief Profile 1.2.1 *Physical Characteristics and Behaviour* The Indus River Dolphin is a unique mammal. Just like humans, they breathe air and give birth to live young, which feed on their mothers? milk. The Dolphin can weigh about 70 - 90 kg (170 - 200 lb) and has a length of 2 - 2.5 m (6.6 - 8.2'). They breathe through a blowhole located on the top of their head and appear at the surface every 30 or 120 seconds for this purpose. The neck is narrow and very flexible which helps it in manoeuvring its way inside the water. They usually swim on one side. It has a long beak that flattens toward the tip and sometimes while swimming the beak sticks out of the surface. The mouthline curves upwards and reveals long teeth. Adults have between 30 and 36 sharp teeth on each side of the rostrum. The body is generally greyish-brown in colour, stocky and a rounded pinkish belly, the flippers are broad and paddle-shaped and assist the Dolphin to swim in fast waters. There is a small, low hump in place of a 'true' dorsal. Breathing is through a slit, blowhole, located on the left of their head and they emit a sneeze like sound when they come on the water surface to breathe in air. The tail flukes are broad in relation to the body size. It sometimes carries its young on its back, above the surface of the water. Although they are generally found in the deep end, they are known to survive in 1 to 2 metres of water (Pilleri 1980). The Dolphins breed during the months of April to June. A new-born baby Dolphin is about 70 cm long. The mother helps the baby for the first six months in breathing and swimming. It feeds on the mother?s milk and is weaned off after one year. The average life span has been counted up to at least 20 years. Its diet mainly consists of crustaceans such as prawns, as well as small fish such as gobies, carp and catfish. The Indus Dolphins are essentially blind and this is an evolutionary phenomenon of staying in silty and turbid waters. Instead of a crystalline eye lens there are now only slits in the sockets where there were once eyes. However this is not really an impairment as it possess a very sophisticated system ? echolocation or sonar system ? in which sound pulses are emitted in the water through the bulge at the front of its head and reflected back. It navigates through sensing the direction and intensity of light and sense of sound is also very sharp. The snout also aids it in navigation and during swimming on one side, its flipper trails along and helps to ?see? and feel its environment and prey (Pilleri 1980). *Table 2. Some data on biology and ecology* Weight 80 ? 90 kg (180 ? 200 lb) Length Females: up to 2.5 m (8.2'); males: up to 2.0 m (6.6'). Age to maturity About 10 years Gestation period 10 - 11 months Birth season April and May Birth rate The calving interval is 2 years Early development Calves may be weaned by the time they are 1 year old Maximum age Probably at least 28 years (similar to the Ganges Dolphin, *Platanista gangetica* Diet Eats crustaceans such as prawns, as well as fish such as gobies, catfish and carp Age and gender distribution A male : female ratio of 2:1 has been reported *Source: Paul Massicot; 6 April 2002; © 2002 Animal Info* 1.2.2 *Habitat* The Indus Dolphin is amongst the four specially adapted Dolphin species that has evolved to live only in freshwater river systems between 8°C and 33°C (46 - 91° F) and die in salt water (Cetacea 2000). The Indus Dolphin is supposed to have its origin in the ancient Tethys Sea, from where after it had dried up, the Dolphin was forced to adapt itself to rivers. Historically, the original habitat for the Indus Dolphin included the Indus River from the Himalayan foothills to the estuarine portion of the river leading into the Arabian Sea near Karachi. It now occurs only in the Indus river and its tributaries - Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, in Pakistan. Other river Dolphins occur in the Yangtze River in China, the Amazon in South America and the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna river systems in India, Bangladesh and Nepal (Pilleri 1980). 1.2.3 *The Reason for Decline in Dolphin Population* The Dolphin population declined drastically after the 1970s and the specie is now listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and threatened with extinction. It is estimated [2] <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn2>that there are between 600 and 650 Indus Dolphins remaining in Pakistan. The largest population, of approximately 500, is in Sindh Province between Sukkur and Guddu barrages. Smaller populations occur further upstream between Guddu and Taunsa and Taunsa and Chasma Barrages. No effort was made to count Indus Dolphins before the early 1970s. However, in 1974 a team led by Professor Georgio Pilleri of the Brain Anatomy Institute in Berne, Switzerland counted somewhat less than 150 Dolphins in the 170 km stretch between Sukkur and Guddu barrages in the Sindh province. This was the first time that the world was alerted to the sharp decline in the Indus River Population. This finding was later corroborated by another group of scientists from the University of Tokyo, Japan in 1974 who estimated some 450 to 600 Dolphins in the entire Indus system (Reeves 1991). It is estimated that there are less than 600 [3] <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn3>Indus Dolphins remaining in Pakistan. The largest population, of approximately 400, is in Sindh between the Sukkur and Guddu barrages and smaller populations occur further upstream in Punjab, between Guddu-Taunsa and Taunsa-Chasma barrages (Pilleri 1980). According to WWF-Pakistan?s first ever survey of the entire range of Dolphins, completed in April 2001, the Sukkur to Guddu section now has the highest density in the entire Indus River, with 602 of the total population of about 1,100 being found here (Shanton 2001). *Table 3. Status and Trends ? IUCN Categories*** Status Population estimates (Pakistan) 1960s: Status not determined 1974: 450 - 600 1970s: Endangered Late 1970s: 400 1980s: Endangered 1984: 600 1994: Endangered 1986: 400 - 600 1996: Endangered 1989: 500 2000: Endangered 1998: Probably fewer than 1,000 ** *Source: Paul Massicot; 6 April 2002; © 2002 Animal Info*** Starting from the 1930s the construction of multiple dams and barrages built on the Indus to harness the water for irrigation and hydropower have separated the Dolphins into smaller groups that now exist in small populations. A barrage is a gated structure built across a waterway to maintain the upstream water level higher than it would be naturally. It is designed so that the maximum expected peak flow can pass over its crest. During periods of low flow, the upstream water level is kept constant by opening or closing the gates. The steady upstream level allows some or all of the water to be diverted into canals for irrigation or other purposes (Reeves 1991). This has been cited as the main reason for its decline as they have not only lead to loss of habitat for the Dolphin but also fragmentation of their population into small groups. Earlier the Dolphins could swim freely along the entire length of the Indus and travel afar for mating but now their movement has been restricted drastically and as a result the Dolphins remain trapped in small isolated sections. The consequent inbreeding has further exacerbated this situation by resulting in physical deformities and death. A further serious threat to the Dolphins is entrapment in irrigation canals - they tend to enter these canals during the flood season and, as the water supply dries up in the dry season, they become isolated from the main river and face almost certain death. In spring, during high flood, when the barrage gates are opened to maintain the level of the water in the river, the Indus Dolphin routinely swims into the many connecting canals of the Indus that divert water from the Indus River and irrigate the agricultural land. When the canals are closed and the water level goes down, the Dolphins are stranded. Often they die of starvation or are inadvertently caught by the local fishermen who fish heavily in the closed canals (Campbell 2001). The marine Fisheries Department in Karachi has reported indiscriminate poaching of the Dolphins in the early and mid 1980s near Chashma and Taunsa barrages and at the boatbridge near Ghazi Ghat (Reeves 1991). Over fishing can also reduce the number of the small fish and lead to starvation and death for the Dolphins. It is believed that some Dolphins also fall prey to hunting for their meat and oil or they become the victims of other deliberate or incidental events that lead to its death. Sometimes they are caught in the fishing nets either by design or by accident. The rate of population growth of the Dolphin is also slow because of biological phenomena like low birth rate, long gestation periods and calving. Other major threats to this specie include chemical pollution, agricultural waste, boat traffic, lack of fresh water, habitat degradation, excessive human activity, pollution resulting from oil and gas exploration and other leakage of toxic substances. Indirect effects of deforestation, desertification and global warming are also thought to be affecting the Dolphin mortality. *1.3 Some Positive Initiatives Taken for Dolphin Conservation* * * Pakistan?s federal government has ratified the international Convention on Biodiversity and has, therefore, entered into a treaty with the world community of nations to protect species of special concern like Indus Dolphins (WWF-P). In Pakistan, conservation is a provincial responsibility. In 1974 the government of Sindh declared the 170 km stretch of Indus River between Sukkur and Guddu barrages a Dolphin sanctuary. The Government of Sind has given the Indus River Dolphin Reserve full legal protection and has widely publicised this in an intensive campaign at all levels of government and society. The Reserve continues to harbour the majority of the remaining population. Plans were also underway to propose it as world heritage site. The total population is about 600 to 650 Dolphins (Campbell 2001). The first official ?Dolphin rescue operation? was carried out by Richard Garstang, a conservation advisor to the World Wildlife Fund in Pakistan, at the Kirhtar canal, Sukkur, Sindh in January 2000. Later on a permanent Dolphin rescue unit was also set up under the supervision of the Sindh Wildlife Department in July 2000 with funding provided by the Global Environment Facility?s (GEF) Small Grants Program (SGP), United Nations Development Programme-UNDP (Campbell 2001).** The area immediately upstream of Taunsa barrage, including the pond areas on both the right and left bank is an officially designated wildlife sanctuary and all fishing and hunting activity has been banned. The government has also recently designated a 1 km upstream stretch for research purposes and strictly monitors all fishing activity around it. The population of the Indus Dolphin is less in the Punjab province but still significant. The case for building a Dolphin reserve or sanctuary has been well presented in the studies of various scientists and conservationists. Randall R. Reeves in his article, ?Conservation of the Bhulan (Blind River Dolphin) in the Punjab, The Case for a Punjab Dolphin Reserve? in *Natura,* builds up a convincing case for establishing a Punjab Dolphin reserve and the need for inter provincial co-ordination for the protection and conservation of the Indus Dolphin. The article states that, ?there are a number of good arguments for establishing a Dolphin reserve in the Punjab. First, the entire future of the species should not be invested in a single stretch of river under a single provincial jurisdiction ? any endangered species gains valuable security from having a number of discrete populations living under different sets of circumstances. A second reason for creating a Punjab Dolphin reserve is to stimulate ecotourism ? A third argument for maintaining the bhulan?s presence in as wide an area as possible could be that it acts as a bio indicator.? (Reeves 1991). *1.4 Some Useful Concepts, Guidelines and Emerging Trends* 1.4.1 *Sustainable Tourism* * * Tourism is the ninth largest earner of foreign exchange in Pakistan according to the Tourism Division of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism. The interdependence between tourism and the environment is recognised worldwide. In Pakistan, the National Tourism Policy and the National Conservation Strategy emphasise the crucial interdependence between tourism and the environment. Tourism has a significant impact upon the physical and social environment, while, at the same time, tourism's success depends on the continued well being of the environment. Because the physical and social environment constitutes the resource base for tourism, tourism has a vested interest in conserving and strengthening this resource base. Hence, conserving and strengthening biodiversity can be said to hold the key to tourism's success. A recent survey by the Industry and Environment Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/IE) shows that the resource most essential for the growth of tourism is the environment (UNEP 1995:7). Tourism is an environmentally sensitive industry whose growth is dependent upon the quality of the environment. Tourism growth will cease when negative environmental effects diminish the tourism experience (Mock and O? Neil 1996). The stakeholders in tourism include the tourists; the host communities; and the tourism industry, composed of private tour operators, hotel operators, airlines, and the public sector agencies of the Government of Pakistan (GoP) that regulate their operation. For ecotourism implementation, all these sectors must be taken into consideration. The resource base for tourism is the physical and social environment. Sustainable use of this resource is the only way to ensure that the local resources are enhanced in a way that can reap long term benefits without creating any permanent loss or damage. For the local communities this is often their main source of livelihood and sustainable use of this resource the only way to ensure continuity of the benefits to be accrued. Tangible economic benefits come from employment as porters, cooks, and guides; in hotels; and in transportation; small business ownership of transport, hotels, shops, and tour operators and travel agencies. Increased tourist activity may well mean increased revenues but provided that it does not put increased pressure on the environment and the natural and cultural heritage. Instituting an environmental code of conduct[4] <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn4>can ensure that the costs do not outweigh the benefits and that the tourists learn to behave appropriately and responsibly. The benefits of codes include improvement of the natural environment and of the sustainability of the tourism industry; ability to attract tourists who seek environmentally responsible forms of tourism; support for local economy and infrastructure which catalyses further tourism development; and improved quality of life for host communities. IUCN defines sustainable tourism as ?tourism that is developed and managed in such a way that all tourism activity - which in some way focuses on cultural or natural heritage resources - can continue to grow? (Lascuráin 1996). Sustainable development as defined by the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development is ?economic growth that is socially and environmentally sustainable, based on policies that both sustain and expand the environmental resource base.? The resource base for both sustainable development and sustainable tourism, then, is the social and natural environment, and the goal of both tourism and development is to sustain and expand this resource base (Mock 1999) Thus sustainable tourism is that which aims to achieve both development and conservation; leads to tangible economic benefits for the people as well as lay down a basis for reinvesting in the protection and enhancement of the local resources. 1.4.2 *Ecotourism* The terminology ?ecotourism? is a relatively new one and can have different interpretations in varied settings. Generally speaking, ecotourism is a nature centred activity that is done is a sustainable way with an aim of achieving development and conservation objectives. Moreover it is characterised by an educative and conservative element that it carried and is environmentally, economically and socially viable. Agha Iqrar Haroon in a report entitled ?Role of Communities in Ecotourism? states that ?ecotourism is an approach that creates a variety of quality tourism products and services that are environmentally, ecologically sustainable, economically viable, socially and psychologically acceptable?? and that, ?ecotourism must promote sustainable development by establishing a durable productive base that allows local inhabitants and ecotourist service providers to enjoy rising standards of living.? Ecotourism has become increasingly a commodity that is packaged and marketed to a wide audience without necessarily keeping into account the capacity or consequences. Practitioners in the field observe that the increasing inclination towards ecotourism seems to be affecting the lifestyles and behavioural patterns of indigenous communities. Also tourists who do not express any sensitivity towards local customs and traditions can have an adverse effect. John Mock explains this in his paper through what is called the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) Planning System [5] <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn5> .. The LAC process recognises the complexity of planning for both sustainability and development, and is a community-based approach. It offers a way to identify desired conditions and a means to attain them. Focusing on the desired goals (that is, the social, economic and environmental conditions) for each area, be it a village, a valley, a conservation area or a national park, helps to define what it is to that is to be sustained. An ecotourism orientation developed within a LAC framework offers a systematic process for exploring how to achieve the goal of sustainable tourism. (Mock 1999) However, ecotourism can be differentiated from traditional tourism in that ecotourism not only attempts to minimise the environmental impact of tourism, but also has as a goal that local communities and the physical environment will actually benefit from tourism. In its ideal form, ecotourism is a philosophy, an activity, a development policy and an environmental policy, all at the same time. (Mock and O?Neil 1996). Ecotourism is a relatively new term, first used in the early 1980s by Hector Ceballos- Lascuráin, who is Special Advisor on Ecotourism to IUCN, Director of Programme of the International Consultancy on Ecotourism and widely acknowledged as ?the father of ecotourism.? He defines ecotourism as ?environmentally responsible travel to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features) that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations.? The Ecotourism Society similarly defines ecotourism as ?responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people.? Ecotourism requires a commitment to conservation on the part of all stakeholders in tourism. That is, it requires a partnership between tour operators, relevant government agencies, NGOs, protected area managers, local communities and tourists for the conservation of natural and cultural resources. Ecotourism is differentiated from other forms of tourism in that it attempts to incorporate experiencing and learning from and about the environment and the communities residing there. According to Lascurain, addressing the Australian Ecotourism Conference in 1999, ecotourism comprises of the following essential characteristics: 1. *Nature-Based Ecotourism* is based on the natural environment with a focus on its biological, physical and cultural features. The conservation of the natural resource is essential to the planning, development and management of ecotourism. * * 2. *Ecologically Sustainable* all tourism should be sustainable - economically, socially and environmentally. Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism undertaken in a natural setting. The challenge to ecotourism in any country or region is to develop its tourism capacity and the quality of its products without adversely affecting the environment that maintains and nurtures it. This involves ensuring that the type, location and level of ecotourism use does not cause harm to natural areas. * * 3. *Environmentally Educative* Environmental education and interpretation are important tools in creating an enjoyable and meaningful ecotourism experience. Ecotourism attracts people who wish to interact with the environment in order to develop their knowledge, awareness and appreciation of it. By extension, ecotourism should ideally lead to positive action for the environment by fostering enhanced conservation awareness. Ecotourism education can influence tourist, community and industry behaviour and assist in the longer-term sustainability of tourist activity in natural areas. Education can also be useful as a management tool for natural areas. 4. *Locally Beneficial* The involvement of local communities not only benefits the community and the environment but also improves the quality of the tourist experience. Local communities can become involved in ecotourism operations, and in the provision of knowledge, services, facilities and products. These benefits should outweigh the cost of ecotourism to the host community and environment. Ecotourism can also generate income for resource conservation management in addition to social and cultural benefits. * * 5. *Tourist Satisfaction* of visitors with the ecotourism experience is essential to long term viability of the ecotourism industry. Included in this concept is the importance of visitor safety in regard to political stability. The ecotourism experience should match or exceed the realistic expectations of the visitor. 1.4.3 *Community Based Ecotourism (CBE)* Community based tourism detonates that form of a tourism enterprise that is run and managed by the communities and successful CBE initiatives are usually supported by reinforcing partnerships between the communities and external organisations in the pubic and private domain. The community is empowered to plan and run all activities and includes a mutually beneficial relationship between the community and the natural resource that they manage and market to the outsiders in return for a profit and consequently raise their quality of life. These benefits include employment opportunities and cash return, development of their area and improved local resource conservation [6] <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn6> .. The beneficiaries may be direct or indirect and participation may also be worked out on their own criteria. However it is important that the entire community (rich, poor, separate interest groups) benefits from the enterprise in some way or another. Successful community-based ecotourism development, that is, ventures that satisfy both conservation and development objectives, are supported by partnerships between local communities, government agencies, NGOs and the private sector. Partnerships are recognised to emerge from areas of mutual benefit to each of the sectors involved. Policies, then, are seen as formal mechanisms for achieving the goals of mutual benefit through collaboration. They are an overt manifestation of the need for collaboration and co-operation to achieve conservation and development objectives. Partnerships, then, should be viewed as an integral part of the design and development of community-based ecotourism ventures. They are deemed indispensable for achieving a positive policy and planning framework for the development of community-based ecotourism (Sproule 1996). According to Sproule the issues of participation are crucial and should be worked out keeping in mind that the disadvantaged do not get excluded in the ecotourism initiative and subsequently the benefits derived from it. One common definition of participation quoted by him is that it is ?giving people more opportunities to participate effectively in development activities...empowering people to mobilise their own capacities, be social actors rather than passive subjects, manage the resources, make decisions and control the activities that affect their lives? (Sproule 1996). It is important to ascertain that the participation has not been determined on the basis of caste or kinship, political affiliation or land ownership. Even level of education, age and language ability has been used to limit the number of participants. The introduction of such ventures can reinforce existing divisions in their communities and/or create new ones. Issues of fairness, jealousies and exclusion have confronted many community-based ecotourism ventures. Community strengths and weaknesses have to be assessed carefully and mechanisms for equitable distribution of benefits worked out. A community will stay motivated to carry on conservation efforts only as long as they perceive the benefits to be more as compared to the opportunity cost of foregoing resource use or changing a particular management style. 1.4.4 *Pro-poor Tourism Versus Other Forms of Tourism [7] <http://library.un.org.pk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?e=d-000-00---0UNLib--00-0-0-0\ prompt-14-Document---0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---001-001-1-0isoZz-8859Zz-1-1 & cl=C\ L3.6 & d=HASHc96bc17eb1ea4dea1b57d0.4 & x=1#_ftn7> * Another new trend or concept that has emerged within the context of tourism and ecotourism is pro-poor tourism (PPT). Like the name suggests this is not a specific product or sector of tourism, but an approach to the industry. The difference is more one of perspective, in that a PPT focus prioritises and highlights impacts on the poor. Strategies for making tourism pro-poor focus specifically on unlocking opportunities for the poor within tourism, rather than expanding the overall size of the sector. Benefits to the poor may be economic, social or environmental. While pro-poor tourism overlaps with other approaches including sustainable, responsible, community-based or ecotourism, the key distinctive feature of pro-poor tourism is that it puts poor people and poverty at the top of the agenda. Many sustainable tourism initiatives include a social component but this is often an addition to a core focus on environmental sustainability. PPT, in contrast, puts the poor at the centre of analysis. PPT also overlaps with both ecotourism and community-based tourism (CBT), but it is not synonymous with either. Ecotourism initiatives may provide benefits to people, but they are mainly concerned with the environment. Conservation approaches emphasise the need for broadly distributed local benefits (often cash) as incentives for conservation, or they may support activities that provide an alternative to unsustainable actions.* *In contrast, PPT aims to deliver net benefits to the poor as a goal in itself. Environmental concerns are just one part of the picture. Similarly, community-based tourism initiatives aim to increase local people?s involvement in tourism whereas PPT involves more than a community focus - it requires mechanisms to unlock opportunities for the poor at all levels and scales of operation. 1.5 *Conclusion* As described in this chapter there have been many approaches to development and conservation, promoting sustainable tourism and ecotourism practices geared towards conservation of wildlife and other natural resources. Most of these have been implemented successfully in different countries and some are as yet in an emerging stage. The arguments for the conservation of the Indus Dolphin have also been well established and are supported by authentic research findings made by leading conservationists and researchers. In this regard the Government of Pakistan has expressed recognition of the vulnerability that the Dolphin faces and has also made certain commitments for its protection. Other positive trends and developments in wildlife conservation, especially in Dolphin conservation, have also been witnessed in the work of some institutions and non-governmental organisations. On Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Herojig <herojig wrote: > As someone who has seen one of these creatures, having just moved to > Nepal > back in 2001 or so, I was in awe...a dolphin in the river! I thought I was > hallucinating. Considering they get hacked up for curry, it seems there is > little hope for these little intelligent guys, considering the state of the > state of Nepal. But it would be nice to at least try to save the few that > are left...but how? > Jigs > > > On 2/1/09 12:11 PM, " Lucia De Vries " <luciadevries<luciadevries%40gmail.com>> > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Save the dolphin! > > > > > > > > > > Gaia Vince > > > > The mist merges with the murky river that slaps against the sides of our > > boat. At first, the brown hump that appears and disappears a boat's > length > > ahead is not immediately identifiable. But as the mist burns off in the > weak > > January sun, we witness the clear arch and leap of not one, but two, rare > > Gangetic dolphins. It's a mesmerizing sight and a privilege: There are > just 28 > > dolphins left in Nepal, according to a survey carried out last year, and > only > > four are here in the Karnali River, a tributary of the Ganges. > > > > " There used to be hundreds of them, " says Tej Kumar Shrestha, professor > of > > zoology at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, who led the survey and has > > studied the dolphin extensively over the past 15 years. " Every time I > carry > > out the river survey, I find there are fewer and fewer. In five years' > time, I > > expect the dolphin will be extinct in Nepal. " > > > > The Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is predominantly found in > India > > and Bangladesh, where there are estimated to be around 3,000 in the > Ganges and > > Brahmaputra rivers. Its numbers have crashed by 50 percent over the past > > decade, and the aquatic mammal is rated as endangered on the IUCN Red > List. A > > subspecies of the dolphin, Platanista gangetica minor, is found in the > Indus > > River in Pakistan, where the creature has been separated from its > brethren in > > India by dams and dried-up rivers for so long -- hundreds of years -- > that > > physical differences have emerged. > > > > Every June, during the monsoon rains, migratory dolphins of breeding age > > (three to 25 years old) journey to the cooler, fast-flowing oxygenated > waters > > of Nepal. Here they breed and hunt in the rejuvenated streams and oxbow > lakes > > before returning south in September. " If they can't migrate over, they > can't > > breed -- it's as simple as that, " Shrestha says. > > > > Climate change is making the problem worse. The monsoon has been arriving > as > > much as weeks later in recent years, and in more concentrated bursts. The > > floods are higher -- in 2007 as many as 45 dolphins migrated across after > the > > waters completely washed away one major barrage. But the rains are also > > briefer, draining the streams and pools too soon for the dolphins to > return, > > Shrestha says. > > > > As with other endangered animals, it is illegal to kill a dolphin -- the > > penalty is 70,000 rupees ($900) or 10 years' imprisonment, but it has > never > > been enacted. Shrestha says the police are bribed. " And anyway, there's > no > > room in the prisons, " he laughs, pointing to the overflow of political > > prisoners. > > > > Those living near Bardia National Park are hoping that the new peace, > brought > > by last year's election of a Maoist government, will allow the country > and its > > animals to recover. As my boat pulls in to the jetty, I realise that the > susus > > I was lucky enough to see may turn out to be the last of Nepal's resident > > dolphins. > > > > (Seed Magazine) > > > > > > Posted on: 2009-01-31 20:03:02 (Server Time) > > http://ekantipur.com/kolnews.php? & nid=178159 > > Lucia de Vries > > Freelance Journalist > > Bagdol, Patan, Nepal > > Wijk 4-47, 8321 GE Urk, Holland > > > > > > -- Paul Reitman, CEO > Phoenix Studios Nepal > Mobile: 9841589797 > > www.phoenixstudios.com.np/corporate > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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