Alison Ormsby

Ecotourism Benefits and the Role of Local Guides at Masoala National Park, Madagascar

An investigation of ecotourism at Masoala National Park, a forested coastal area in northeastern Madagascar and the country’s largest national park, focused on ecotourism benefits and the role of local guides in promoting conservation awareness. Interviews, participant observation, and archival research were used to investigate the park’s guide association, resident attitudes toward Masoala National Park, and ecotourism as a method of park and rural development. Many factors make Masoala National Park a prime ecotourist destination, including the possibility of viewing its endemic species, such as red-ruffed lemurs. The park has a strong local guides’ association and currently combines conservation and development through a programme that returns a portion of tourism revenue to local communities. Actual or potential benefits received from the park, including ecotourism revenues, were found to influence the positive and negative perceptions of Masoala National Park held by residents living in the park periphery. However, limitations on ecotourism development include poor infrastructure and difficult access, a challenging climate including a hurricane season, and past national political instability.

Sacred forests of India: a strong tradition of community-based natural resource management

Sacred forests represent an important long-held tradition of conserving specific land areas that have cultural, and often religious, significance. India, with its diversity of cultures and traditions, has over 100 000 sacred forests. Many of these groves are forest fragments in agricultural landscapes. In most cases, community members are at least aware of these fragments, if not actively involved in their protection and management. This review focuses on the Western Ghats in southern India and Meghalaya state in north-eastern India, both international biodiversity hotspots. In addition to the cultural significance of sacred forests, a number of studies have suggested that they are important refuges for conservation of biological diversity, including medicinal plants, within highly anthropogenic landscapes. Whilst sacred groves have been successful conservation areas, current threats to these forests are numerous, ranging from pressures for use of timber and other forest products to clearing for agriculture or general changes in cultural traditions. A variety of arrangements exist for ownership and management of sacred forests, making it necessary to identify solutions on a case-by-case basis. Support for the continued practice of the tradition of sacred forest protection is needed in order to provide a culturally sensitive model for community-based natural resource management.

A comparative study of local perceptions of ecotourism and conservation at Five Blues Lake National Park, Belize

Understanding factors that strengthen community support for ecotourism and conservation is key to a successful ecotourism project. This study of Five Blues Lake National Park in central Belize explored attitudes towards ecotourism and conservation of local people living adjacent to and co-managing a national park. The authors conducted attitudinal surveys of residents of Saint Margarets village in 1995 and in 2003. The data suggested high levels of support for ecotourism development and continued protection of the land and conservation efforts. Despite this support, by 2003, most ecotourism activities and park management had been curtailed. Although the inception of co-managed ecotourism was received well and some level of interest existed, over time, there was a decline in community participation and ecotourism activities. This is attributable to factors including resident apathy, low community participation, diminished financial resources, insufficient local and national management capacity, and perceptions of few personal benefits by residents. Furthermore, the often claimed theoretical benefits of ecotourism in developing communities were not fully realised in this case. As demonstrated by this study, local involvement of residents in development and implementation of ecotourism initiatives, including necessary capacity-building, may help ensure sustainable management and success of long-term ecotourism and conservation efforts.

Analysis of Local Attitudes Toward the Sacred Groves of Meghalaya and Karnataka, India

The sacred groves of India represent a long-held tradition of community management of forests for cultural reasons. This study used social science research methods in the states of Meghalaya and Karnataka to determine local attitudes toward the sacred groves, elements of sacred grove management including restrictions on resource use, as well as ceremonies associated with sacred groves. Over a seven-month period, 156 interviews were conducted in 17 communities. Residents identified existing taboos on use of natural resources in the sacred groves, consequences of breaking the taboos, and the frequency and types of rituals associated with the sacred groves. Results show that numerous factors contribute to pressures on sacred groves, including cultural change and natural resource demands. In Meghalaya, the frequency of rituals conducted in association with the sacred groves is declining. In both Meghalaya and Karnataka, there is economic pressure to extract resources from sacred groves or to reduce the sacred grove size, particularly for coffee production in Kodagu in Karnataka. Support for traditional ceremonies, existing local community resource management, and comprehensive education programs associated with the sacred groves is recommended.

Development of Environmental Education Programs for Protected Areas in Madagascar

Environmental education programs for schools in the peripheral zone of protected areas in Madagascar are still needed in numerous locations. My research investigated the status of environmental education and communication (EE&C) programs at Masoala National Park, Madagascar, as well as the attitudes of local residents toward the park and park staff. The multi-year qualitative research methods included individual and focus group interviews, participant observation, archival research, an EE&C workshop for park staff, and pilot testing of environmental education activities. Research identified that EE&C activities conducted by park agents had been minimal and that park staff were inadequately prepared to conduct these programs. Research results indicated that additional public awareness and education activities were needed. As an outcome of the research, a conservation education curriculum guide was developed for the schools on the periphery of Masoala National Park and distributed to all teachers in the area. The guide was linked to Madagascars national school curriculum and teachers were trained in its use. The methods of assessing and developing conservation education programs have since been expanded to two other protected areas in Madagascar: Sahamalaza-Iles Radama Biosphere Reserve and the Makira Conservation Site.

Assessment and Comparative Analysis of a Reusable Versus Disposable To-Go System

Disposable to-go containers, especially those made from polystyrene foam, are typically thought to have a negative impact on the environment compared to reusable containers. This study tested this assumption and provides new insight into the reusable versus disposable debate. GaBi 4 software was used to conduct the inventory and compara tive analysis. The software works by modeling product elements from a life-cycle perspective and provides access to a live database of the environmental impacts associated with sourcing and refining the raw materials and processed components of a product. For the inventory and analysis of the present study, the software provided a number of databases that reflect the materials (polypropylene and polystyrene) and processes (molded plastics) involved. The inventory’s scope included raw material extraction, production, transportation, cleaning, and disposal of the EcoClamshell to-go containers in order to compare it with disposable polystyrene containers. This study explored two impact categories: greenhouse gases and embodied energy. It was found that the Eco-Clamshell emits 12 times the greenhouse gases and 21 times the embodied energy when compared on a one-to-one basis with a disposable product. It was also determined that a reusable Eco-Clamshell must be used more than 29 times to be the environmentally preferable product in the category of embodied energy and approximately 15 times in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The number of reuses necessary will vary according to the environmental impact category and the type of dishwasher used. The results of this study show that reusable to-go containers minimize environmental impact if they are used a certain number of times, and manufactured using lighter materials as opposed to heavy duty plastic. A reliable system of accountability should be used to ensure the proper life span and cost effectiveness of the product.