Birds Mean Business

BIRDS MEAN BUSINESS Using economic development to promote conservation in the Caribbean and Latin America BIRDS MEAN BUSINESS Creating economic opportunity to support conservation Contents 2 Introduction 6 Project Model e 10 Beliz 16 Guatemala 62 The Bahamas 32 Paraguay 38 Endorsements 40 Acknowlegments 42 Conclusion BIRDS MEAN BUSINESS Creating economic opportunity to support conservation Piping Plovers, Sanderlings, and Western Sandpipers An Economic Incentive for Conservation n developing countries bird tourism sector in Belize, “Every week at least communities in and around around the world, a lack of Paraguay, the Bahamas, and one of us is out in the protected areas. Ieconomic opportunities of- two regions of Guatemala. schools, getting children A total of 175 men and 101 ten drives people to engage in Focusing on areas where a large and their teachers women attended the basic guide activities that degrade natural percentage of the populace interested in birds and training, while 63 men and 12 resources. Unsustainable tim- lives below the poverty line, the the natural world. If we women completed advanced ber extraction, poaching, and project intends to build niche can get them out there training. Many reported that land clearing for agriculture di- markets that will support eco- and show them, they’ll the program was among the minish the long-term value of nomic development, empower have the motivation to most significant experiences of these ecosystems for biodiver- communities, and improve local save it.” their professional and personal sity—and for the local people lives—while preserving and cre- —Pablo Chumil lives. The project also boosted who rely on them for resources ating value for natural habitats. the capacity of citizen-science and ecosystem services. Project designers chose sites initiatives such as bird counts Ecotourism is an econom- by layering poverty maps over and ethical guiding practices and censuses, and added some ic alternative that can raise maps of Important Bird and once in the field. This com- 120 participants to eBird, an incomes in communities living Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) that prehensive approach to guide online database of bird observa- close to biodiversity-rich areas, have the potential to attract training has been adopted by tions that provides researchers while helping to conserve bird-based tourism. The target the governments of Belize, and amateur naturalists with natural capital and support areas include some of the most Guatemala, and The Bahamas real-time data about bird distri- commitment to the Paris threatened ecosystems in the as the official curricula and bution and abundance. Finally, climate agreement. Among region, many of which host guidelines for bird guides oper- more than 5,000 children and the fastest-growing segments migrating species that breed in ating in those countries. nearly 1,800 adults participated of ecotourists are bird watch- the U.S. and Canada. The program also provided in bird-related environmental ers, who tend to have a light Working with local tourism English-language training education programs—many footprint on ecosystems and authorities and other experts, (where appropriate), and of which were led by newly biodiversity, and are willing to Audubon developed a two-tier equipment for bird guiding trained guides. step outside the tourism main- bird-guide training curricu- and trail development. The The pilot initiative rep- stream to see exotic birds. lum that was tailored to local objective was to create a resents the beginning of a more In 2014 the National Audu- cultures, languages, and other network of community-based robust niche bird-tourism bon Society’s International circumstances. The training birding destinations that offer sector that can help build and Alliances Program partnered didn’t just focus on bird skilled local birding guides, sustain conservation efforts, “The project fits well within the IDB’s Multilateral Investment Fund’s strategy to leverage the value of natural capital with the Inter-American De- identification. It also focused high-quality park interpreta- and align those efforts with in ways that generate income and thus drive local populations to both use and preserve their natural assets. velopment Bank’s Multilateral on important regional con- tion and lodging, food services, socioeconomic development to As one of the MIF’s first projects approved in this area, its lessons have been particularly useful in the development Investment Fund to develop servation issues, biology, and and related goods and services support and build more resilient of knowledge in this area, and in the design of new projects. Past experiences have shown that some natural assets, a pilot project designed to bird migration patterns and tailored to the birding market. local economies. such as timber and agricultural products, are easy to value. This project demonstrated that in the case of more promote bird-based tourism habitat needs. Additionally, the Finally, Audubon reached abstract assets, like the biodiversity that birds represent, it is vital that we explain the interlinkages between natural in Latin America and the training covered basic instruc- out to its members, urging bird- * All dollar amounts throughout assets, ancillary businesses, conservation, and markets.” Caribbean. tion on setting up and running watchers to consider visiting this booklet are in U.S. dollars. The project’s goal was to a business, marketing that destinations where a birding — Gregory Watson, Lead Specialist, Climate Smart Agriculture at Multilateral Investment Fund at Inter-American support entrepreneurs in the business to potential clients, vacation can help to improve Development Bank 2 AUDUBON: BIRD-BASED TOURISM PROJECT AUDUBON: BIRD-BASED TOURISM PROJECT 3 BIRDS MEAN BUSINESS Creating economic opportunity to support conservation Audubon worked with partners in four countries to build an ecotourism program that creates an economic incentive to protect Great Lizard-Cuckoo birds and wildlife. Guide training and, where applicable, English- language instruction provided the foundation for this goal. But the guides themselves weren’t the only beneficiaries. Supply-side development We have improved infrastructure and capacity of bird-based tourism for communities. 124 285 445 guides improved English guides trained at the local business owners skills through training basic level; 73 at the participated in trainings advanced level Demand-side development We have helped create marketing and stakeholder partnerships to drive ecotourism. 30 17 6 local businesses now events to promote in-country birding promote bird tourism bird-based tourism festivals Conservation & community engagement We have improved outreach and education, site planning, and citizen-science participation. 119 95% 6,616 new eBird users; Belize reduction in poaching in children received now in top 3 in Central Cockscomb Basin Wildlife environmental/ America for eBird use Sanctuary bird education classes Research and knowledge sharing We have driven understanding of marketplace opportunities for partner countries. $17.3B $500M 20M spent annually on spent annually on birding United States citizens wildlife-watching trip- in the UK took birding trips from related expenses (U.S.) 2005 to 2009 4 AUDUBON: BIRD-BASED TOURISM PROJECT AUDUBON: BIRD-BASED TOURISM PROJECT 5 BIRDS MEAN BUSINESS Creating economic opportunity to support conservation 2. Demand-Side Development The Project Model rained guides need to see ments, international and local clients or receive employ- tour operators, developed or Key takeaways: ment from the trainings, improved promotional material, By taking into account the connection of people to their natural spaces, this bird-based ecotourism initiative T or its impact will be limited. such as maps and videos, inte- Effective partnerships with local tourism ministries addresses both conservation needs and provides sustainable livelihoods for people to gain a benefit from Audubon has leveraged its grated bird-watching content are essential; investments in advertising by local and become better stewards of the environment. The project leveraged the value of natural capital in ways brand and extensive network into national governments’ governments were easier to secure after capacity that generate income and thus drive local people to sustainably use and preserve those natural assets. It also of more than 460 chapter and and tourism industry websites was already built; captured the economic value of more abstract economic natural assets like biodiversity. As countries move nearly one million supporters through partnerships, marketed in the United States to address project destinations through forward to implement their climate commitments under the Paris Accord, these kinds of private sector-led It is better to market the sites and build partnerships this fundamental need. Within both local and international ed- to market the sites once sites and guides are ready or models will become increasingly important mechanisms to leverage funds that support landscape preserva- the scope of this project we itorial and advertorial content, near-ready to accept trips. tion and restoration. designed birding trip itineraries especially in relevant birding and packages to project-sup- media channels, and developed 1. Supply-Side Development ported sites with local govern- local and national bird festivals. n this project we sought advanced levels, and special- to improve structure and ized versions

Load more