Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal: Nibinamik Bird Survey, 2005 Prepared by: A co-operative venture of Nibinamik First Nation, Ontario Nature and the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Table of Contents Project Description . .3 Highlights . .4 Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal . .4 What is Ecotourism? . .6 Trends in Ecotourism . .6 Requirements for Ecotourism Planning and Development . .7 Challenges To Tourism Development . .8 Access . .8 Competing Industrial Land Uses . .8 Suggestions for Community Ecotourism Development . .10 Promotion and Marketing . .10 Access to Remote Wilderness . .10 Logistics and Infrastructure . .10 Bird Species of Interest to Ecotourists . .11 Photography . .12 General Canoeing Potential . .13 Major Routes . .13 Side Routes . .13 Trapping and Hunting . .13 Guides and Human Resources . .14 Nibinamik Maps: Survey Squares and Survey Notes . .10 1. Summer Beaver . .15 2. North of Summer Beaver . .16 Sponsored by: Report prepared by: Riki Burkhardt, Julee Boan, and Pete Read Maps produced by Ontario Nature with Data supplied under License by Members of the Ontario Geospatial Data Exchange (2006). 2 | Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal: Nibinamik Bird Survey, 2005 Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal: Nibinamik Bird Survey, 2005 | 3 Nibinamik Traditional Territory Kingfisher Lake Wunnumin Nibinamik Maps for illustrative purposes only. Based on MNR trapline system mapping and may not accurately represent historical and contemporary land use of the First Nation. Figure 1: Location of Nibinamik First Nation in Ontario context. Project Description From late May to July 2005, Ontario Nature implementation activities, and breeding bird and a field crew of the Ontario Breeding data will be useful for developing land use Bird Atlas worked with the community of decisions and monitoring protocols. With Nibinamik (Summer Beaver) to undertake regard to economic development, birds are a special wildlife research and ecotourism also of major interest for many ecotourists. potential project. This unique and collab- Project coordinators Pete Read and Josh orative approach partnered traditional eco- Shook worked in cooperation with commu- logical knowledge with western research nity elders, guides and community members techniques of the Ontario Breeding Bird to compile information and gather data on Atlas to establish baseline bird population bird distributions and abundance. The infor- data in this northwestern boreal region of mation collected through the project has Ontario. As new industrial development been analyzed regionally and in the context opportunities reach Nibinamik First Nation, of the boreal forest as a whole. Detailed local it is particularly critical to gather base-line information, together with compiled data, wildlife data. We have focused on birds can feed directly back into land-use planning because they are excellent proxies for over- efforts and development monitoring by the all environmental health. Nibinamik is cur- communities, and also contribute to the rently undertaking land use planning and provincial Atlas baseline data. 2 | Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal: Nibinamik Bird Survey, 2005 Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal: Nibinamik Bird Survey, 2005 | 3 Highlights • Bird checklist prepared for Nibinamik; participation completed successfully • Ecotourism potential reports prepared for during summer 2005, including presen- the community; tations, radio interviews, gathering of • Wildlife data for breeding bird distribution traditional knowledge on wildlife infor- and population abundances collected; mation with Elders, and hiring of local currently being analyzed through Ontario researchers and guides. Breeding Bird Atlas project for regional The following report summarizes some and provincial status; results will contrib- the ideas and specific information derived ute to Atlas project and from the work carried out in 2005 and community land-use planning; through discussions with the community. • Community outreach and project Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal What is Ecotourism? resources in the area. In many cases, eco- What is Ecotourism? In the field season of 2005, tourism offers a combination of adventure, cultural and natural history features. • Economically viable Ontario Nature and the Ecotourism appeals to a growing market in • Culturally appropriate Breeding Bird Atlas project the US and Europe. Since international • Nature-based coordinators Josh Shook and Pete Read conducted ecotourists come primarily from heavily • Low impact field research in partner- industrialized countries to visit destinations • Responsible use ship with the Nibinamik that offer unique natural environments, • Education First Nation. The field remote locations and the absence of large- • Environmental protection research and community scale industrialization in the far north can • Community involvement dialogue focused on the be an asset for cultivating the ecotourism potential of the communi- market. ties’ lands for ecotourism, in this case spe- However, the development of a sustain- cifically tourism linked to wildlife viewing able ecotourism industry requires a planned and nature appreciation. approach that recognizes and addresses Like the term sustainable development, environmental and social impacts as part ecotourism has been defined in a variety of of its overall strategy for growth. In the ways. However, in good practice, it refers to absence of a management plan for tourism economically viable, culturally appropriate, development opportunities, and the econ- nature-based tourism activities that promote omy built upon them, are no more secure education, interpretation, environmental than any other single resource economy. protection, conservation and involvement of Only a well-built and thoughtful approach local communities1. to ecotourism will add sustainability, Ecotourism features low impact activities, dimension and depth to a region’s economy. environmental and cultural appreciation and sensitivity. It often focuses on the edu- Trends in Ecotourism cational aspect of an experience and relies The value of international tourism exceeds heavily on the responsible use of the natural US$444 billion2; nature-based tourism may 4 | Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal: Nibinamik Bird Survey, 2005 Recommendations for Developing Ecotourism in the Northern Boreal: Nibinamik Bird Survey, 2005 | 5 Challenges for ecotourism in remote communities can include: • Underdeveloped attraction and services base – not enough established activities and attractions for visitors once they decide to visit the region; • Not enough services designed to meet specific visitor needs; • Lack of a local workforce trained in hospitality industry skills. comprise 40-60 percent of these expendi- and assets, including culture and heri- tures and is increasing at 10-30% annually3. tage, wildlife viewing, provincial parks, According to a 1993 survey conducted by and adventure tourism locations; Statistics Canada, adventure travel and eco- • Evaluation of existing infrastructure and tourism were driving the Canadian tourism gap analysis, including access issues and industry in all regions across the country, fly-in only desirability; with a growth rate of 12.9% in 19924. Oppor- • Assess level of community interest in tunities for the development of First Nations ecotourism; tourism products are clearly evident. • Develop checklist of requirements for Aboriginal tourism is a major growth indus- viable ecotourism industry; and try in Canada – in 1999, aboriginal tourism • Agreement on community tourism generated about $250 million and employed standards (i.e. environmental, social, and about 12,000 people. Revenues are expected cultural considerations or concerns). to reach the $1 billion mark in 10 years5. The The bird checklist is one of many infor- profile of tourists interested in First Nations mation pieces needed to develop ecotourism tourism products is similar to that of the options for the community of Nibinamik. ecotourist6. While it may be that birdwatchers or any Challenges To Tourism other specialized nature-watchers may not be interested in a remote wilderness expe- Development rience, there is certainly a market segment Access for this kind of remote tourism. Canoeists Ecotourism in remote areas is contingent and hikers who enjoy combining relatively on the development and maintenance of an easy paddling or hiking or a combination ecotourism infrastructure to support and of travel methods in natural surroundings, accommodate such visitors. Some attributes who also would like to take time and enjoy of an area that can attract one type of visitor historical, cultural, or natural historical can also serve to keep others away: extreme points of interest would have an interest in climates and distant locations, for example. these remote areas. These are people who The distance from major tourism corridors expect some adventure with their outdoor can be a limitation because of the additional experience, and who take part actively dur- expense and time required to reach and ing their trips. travel within remote regions. On the other hand, remoteness creates opportunities Requirements for Ecotourism Planning in the niche adventure market. As a 2004 and Development report by Ontario Nature and