Disclaimer: This ‘Sindh Coast: A marvel of nature – An Ecotourism Guidebook’ was made possible with support from the American people delivered through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of IUCN Pakistan and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of USAID or the U.S. Government. Published by IUCN Pakistan Copyright © 2017 International Union for Conservation of Nature. Citation is encouraged. Reproduction and/or translation of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from IUCN Pakistan, provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from IUCN Pakistan. Author Nadir Ali Shah Co-Author and Technical Review Naveed Ali Soomro Review and Editing Ruxshin Dinshaw, IUCN Pakistan Danish Rashdi, IUCN Pakistan Photographs IUCN, Zahoor Salmi Naveed Ali Soomro, IUCN Pakistan Designe Azhar Saeed, IUCN Pakistan Printed VM Printer (Pvt.) Ltd. Table of Contents Chapter-1: Overview of Ecotourism and Chapter-4: Ecotourism at Cape Monze ....... 18 Sindh Coast .................................................... 02 4.1 Overview of Cape Monze ........................ 18 1.1 Understanding ecotourism...................... 02 4.2 Accessibility and key ecotourism 1.2 Key principles of ecotourism................... 03 destinations ............................................. 18 1.3 Main concepts in ecotourism .................. 04 4.3 Ecotourism activities ............................... 19 1.4 Identifying ecotourism 4.4 Key stakeholders ..................................... 21 opportunities along Sindh coast ............. 06 4.5 Ecotourism packages .............................. 21 08 Chapter-2: Ecotourism at Sandspit.............. Chapter-5: Ecotourism at Keti Bunder ........ 24 2.1 Overview of Sandspit .............................. 08 5.1 Overview of Keti Bunder .......................... 24 2.2 Accessibility and key ecotourism 5.2 Accessibility and key destinations ............................................. 09 eco-destinations ...................................... 25 2.3 Ecotourism activities ............................... 09 5.3 Ecotourism activities ............................... 25 2.4 Key stakeholders..................................... 11 5.4 Key stakeholders ..................................... 28 2.5 Ecotourism packages.............................. 11 5.5 Ecotourism packages .............................. 28 14 Chapter-3: Ecotourism at Rehri.................... Chapter-6: Ecotourism guidelines and 3.1 Overview of Rehri .................................... 14 visitor satisfaction ......................................... 30 3.2 Accessibility and key ecotourism 6.1 Ecotourism experience ............................ 30 destinations ............................................. 14 6.2 Nature tour guidelines ............................. 31 3.3 Ecotourism activities ............................... 15 6.3 Legal requirements and procedures ........ 34 3.4 Key stakeholders..................................... 17 6.4 Operations and safety ............................. 34 3.5 Ecotourism packages.............................. 17 6.5 Achieving visitor satisfaction ................... 35 Chapter-1 Overview of Ecotourism and Sindh Coast 1.1 Understanding encompasses nature ‐based ecotourism adventure, soft adventure, and Ecotourism is an ethical and cultural tourism. We’ll explore responsible form of tourism those terms below. To others, the which provides an opportunity for term ecotourism means healthy recreational activities and ecologically sustainable, low adventure. It explores the impact, culturally sensitive, ecological, cultural, historical and learning ‐oriented, and archaeological treasures of a community supporting tourism. In natural area while preserving its other words, ecotourism is integrity and enhancing economic small ‐scale, compatible with the development opportunities for environment, educational, and local communities. provides benefits to the communities in or close to which Ecotourism means different it occurs. It is often contrasted things to different people. To with mass tourism. some, it is the general term that 2 responsible business, which works cooperatively with local authorities and people to meet local needs and deliver conservation benefits. - Direct revenues to the conservation and management of natural and protected areas. - Emphasize the need for regional tourism zoning and for visitor management plans designed for either regions or natural areas that are slated to become eco- destinations. - Emphasize use of environmental and social base-line studies, as well as long-term monitoring programmes, to assess and minimize impacts. - Strive to maximize economic benefit for the Sustainablility is defined as region engaging in ecotourism host country, local business “meeting the needs of the should develop its own and communities, present without compromising principles, guidelines and particularly people living in the ability of future generations certification procedures based and adjacent to natural and to meet their needs.” Another on the materials already protected areas. view holds that sustainable available internationally. This tourism is “travel to natural process of creating international - Seek to ensure that tourism areas that is beneficial to local certification guidelines is far development does not economies, respectful of the from being completed. exceed the social and environment, and sensitive to environmental limits of indigenous cultures.” Main features of ecotourism: acceptable change as - Minimize the negative determined by researchers 1.2 Key principles of impacts on nature and in cooperation with local ecotourism culture that can damage a residents. Because ecotourism was destination. originally just an idea, not a - Rely on infrastructure that discipline, many businesses and - Educate the traveller on the has been developed in governments promoted it importance of conservation. harmony with the without an understanding of its environment, minimizing use most basic principles. Each - Stress the importance of of fossil fuels, conserving 3 local plants and wildlife, and blending with the may have a seasonal run, and are organised by natural and cultural environment. family and medium scale operators alike, as well as highly organised groups. The business 1.3 Main concepts in ecotourism generated through these ecotours can run into millions of dollars and in some cases maybe a - Ecotour source of revenue for countries. By definition, an ecotour is a visit to a scenic or ecologically important area while attempting to For a well-planned ecotour, adequate planning is minimize the negative impacts on the environment required and the traveller must have prior and on the local habitat or inhabitants. It also information about the culture, biodiversity and entails a visit to an area that either contributes to environment of the area to be visited. Such the protection of the environment or minimizes travellers should be informed about dress code to damage to it. Ecotours, therefore, require be followed and properly briefed on arrival at the adequate planning and accessibility to resources destinations on the dos and don’ts. Well-trained so that there are no barriers in arranging travel to nature guides are necessarily required in a well- the desired destination. Globally, ecotours are designed ecotour, which may involve interaction created in a well-planned manner with an with communities as well. interactive learning experience. It introduces small groups of travellers to unique environments and In the case of Sindh, adequate planning is cultures while minimizing environmental impacts required for arranging any ecotours to the and supporting conservation efforts. Ecotours are selected sites. This may include a visit to a now arranged by local or international operators, mangrove ecosystem, which requires special shoes and gear to visit the mudflats and walk these eco-destinations appropriate. Although no among pneumatophores. A similar visit to Cape guideline of a typical eco-destination is available, Monze in Karachi requires trekking gear and the basic principle is that such a site attracts equipment for study of underwater biodiversity. ecotourists because of the diversity of habitat, its historical importance or because of significant - Eco-destination archaeological remains. In general, plans for ecotours are made for areas whose ecological, historical or archaeological It is essential that an eco-destination should have significance is well established and must have natural features conserved within a protected adequate arrangements and facilities for tourists landscape and if any development is made, it to visit key attractions. For example, if an ecotour should not impact negatively on it. It must also destination has a particular iconic animal, then be ensured that eco-tourism is not harming ecotourists may be able to see that animal in the natural systems such as creek areas, mudflats wild or witnesses some evidence of the presence and wildlife hotspots. However, the eco- of that animal. If this doesn’t happen, then the destination must have facilities for tourists, such eco-destination may not serve the purpose of as public showers and toilets as well as satisfying the need of the eco-tourists who restaurants and eateries. Along the