Community-Based Eco-Tourism for the Indigenous Semelai Community in a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, Tasek Bera, Pahang
Case Study C0233
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| Date | 2002 |
| Agency | Wetlands International - Malaysia Programme |
| Donor/support agency | GEF SGP |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area indigenous territory |
| Geographic coverage | Malaysia |
| Locality | Tasek Bera, Pahang |
| Biodiversity focus | Wetlands ecosystem |
| Development focus | Local communty |
| Conservation goals | Conserve the Tasek Bera wetlands |
| Poverty reduction goals | Promote ecotourism as an economic alternative for the Semelai |
Summary
Indigenous Semelai farmers living around the Tasek Bera wetlands have exploited their natural resources for centuries, sometimes with disastrous results. Wetlands International (Malaysia Programme), with the financial support of GEF SGP, launched in 2001 the project 'Community-Based Eco-tourism for the Indigenous Semelai Community in a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, Tasek Bera, Pahang'. The goal of this project is to conserve the Tasek Bera wetlands through the development of participatory mechanisms to empower the local indigenous Semelai community to manage their natural resources sustainably and adopt alternative livelihoods to reduce their impact on natural resources and reduce further encroachment of limited forest habitats in and around the wetlands. To achieve its objective, the project aims to set up a new ecotourism enterprise. More specifically, the following activities were planned: 1) involve the Semalai community throughout the planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of the project; 2) provide training for the Semelai people to improve their nature guiding skills, environmental consciousness, computing skills, and handicraft production, with the idea that the Semelai will eventually manage eco-tourism activities at Tasek Bera; 3) encourage the Semelai to adopt alternative sustainable livelihoods that will also improve their economic situation (at the time the project began 50% of Semelai population residing around the Tasek Bera wetlands were living under the national poverty level); 4) promote the importance of conserving Tasek Bera among the local Semelai community as well as among the general public.
Conservation impact
Though the Semelai continue to hunt and fish for food, they are exploiting Tasek Bera's wildlife less since the ecotourism project began. Moreover, the Semelai have been sensitized to the conservation of the RAMSAR site, and have achieved a better understanding of a clean and healthy environment, so they minimized littering and keep Tasek Bera in its near pristine state.
Poverty reduction impact
The project has helped the Semelai community develop a basic tourism infrastructure, has trained them in guiding and other skills, and helped them form a community-based organisation, called the Semelai Association for Boats and Tourism (SABOT), to manage tourism. SABOT's members have to pay annual dues and give the association 10% of everything they earn from guiding, transporting, and accommodating tourists, which provides it with an operating budget and ensures its sustainability.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Provision of alternative livelihoods
Reference 1
http://sgp.undp.org/index.cfm?Module=Projects&Page=ShowProject&ProjectID=4467
Reference 2
http://www.mtc.com.my/coverage15.htm
Related records above this one:
- Wetlands International (Organisation O0114)
- Global Environment Facility (GEF) (Organisation O0026)