Conservation and generation of alternative livelihoods through Ecotourism in Xiang Shujia, China
Case Study C0046
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| Date | 2005 |
| Agency | Government of China |
| Donor/support agency | World Wild Life Fund for Nature (WWF) |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | China |
| Locality | Sichuan province/ Xiang Shujia village |
| Biodiversity focus | Habitat |
| Development focus | Baima people of Xiang Shujia village |
| Conservation goals | Conservation of Panda habitat |
| Poverty reduction goals | To generate alternative livelihoods for the people |
Summary
Xiang Shujia is a small tribal village in Sichuan province of China. Tribals or Baima people depend mainly on the forests for the livelihoods. This village lies close to the Wanglang reserve, which covers an area of 320 sq. km in Minshan mountains. It has endangered species of pandas, black bear, musk deer and golden monkey. It is one of the few remaining virgin forests of China. In the late 1990s, there was a logging ban in the upper basin of Yangtze river to check recurrent floods. Wanglang reserve was part of the basin. It made the relationship between Baima people and the reserve tense as people had to leave their traditional profession of bamboo and timber harvesting. Villagers adopted new livelihoods and started collecting wild mushrooms and herbs from the reserve. It didn't meet their livelihoods requirements. But soon the World Wild Life Fund for Nature (WWF) started training programme in ecotourism and related businesses. A small ecotourism lodge with 12 room accommodation was built on the site of a logging camp. It was promoted as low volume, high value ecotourism destination. Now around 20000 visitors come every year to the reserve. All the money from the reserve goes back to community and other conservation related projects. Women make additional incomes through sale of handicrafts. Now pressure on panda reserve is much reduced and people have adopted alternative livelihoods.
Conservation impact
Pressure on panda reserves is much reduced.
Poverty reduction impact
People are earning through ecotourism and related buisnesses. Income from reserves is invested in community development projects.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Local conservation enterprise opportunities
Provision of alternative livelihoods
Reference 1
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests/news/news.cfm?uNewsID=21813
More information
WWF International, Avenue du Mont Blanc, CH 1196 Gland , Switzerland, Phone: +41 22 364 9111
Related records above this one:
- Government of China (Organisation O0027)
- WWF International (Organisation O0115)