PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM IN UAXACTUN, GUATEMALA by: Claudette Juska Cynthia Koenig A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan June 2006 Faculty advisors: Professor Ivette Perfecto Professor Arun Agrawal 1 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT <<<<<<<<<<<<<.<.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<.. 6 LIST OF ACRONYMS <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<.. 7 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 8 1.1: METHODS ……………………………….…..……………………….………. 9 1.1.A: THE CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE <<<<<<<<<<<.<<<.. 9 1.1.A.I: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES <<<<<<<<<..<<<< 9 1.1.A.II: METHODS <<<<<<<<<<<<<.<.<<<.< 9 1.2.B: THE TOURIST PERSPECTIVE <<<<<<<<<<<.<.<<.< 10 1.2.B.I: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES <<<<<<<<<<<<<< 10 1.2.B.II: METHODS <<<<<<<<<<<<<.<.<<<..< 10 CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 12 2.1: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ……………………………….….…………. 12 2.2: THE ROLE OF ECOTOURISM ………………………………………….…….. 14 2.2.A: DIRECT EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM ON BIODIVERSITY .<<<.<< 15 2.2.B: INDIRECT EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM ON BIODIVERSITY <<<<.. 18 2.2.C: SOCIOCULTURAL EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM <<<<<<<<< 20 2.2.D. POSITIVE EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM ON BIODIVERSITY <<<<<. 23 2.3: A RATIONALE FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM …………………………….… 24 2.4: THE ROLE OF PARTICIPATION ……………………………….….………….. 25 2.4.A: LESSONS LEARNED <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 27 2.4.A.I: TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK <<<<<..<<<<.< 27 2.4.A.II: MONTEVERDE NATIONAL PARK <<<<<<..<<< 28 2.4.A.III: THE SANTA ELENA RAINFOREST PRESERVE ....<.<<. 29 2.5: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL ………………………….……….………. 30 2.5.A: WHY IS SOCIAL CAPITAL IMPORTANT FOR CONSERVATION INITIATIVES? <<<<<<<<<<<..<<... 32 2.5.B: THE REALITY OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES <<<<<<<.<<<<< 34 3 2.5.C: THE POTENTIAL FOR SOCIAL CAPITAL TO IMPROVE PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES …………………….……….…….. 36 CHAPTER THREE: BACKGROUND ______38 3.1: THE MAYA FOREST ……………………………………………………….... 38 3.2: THE MAYA BIOSPHERE RESERVE ……. .…………………………........…… 41 3.2.A: THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE MODEL <<<<<..<<<<<.......... 42 3.2.B: MANAGEMENT OF THE MAYA BIOSPHERE RESERVE <<<<<. 44 3.2.C: THREATS TO THE MAYA BIOSPHERE RESERVE<.<<<<<.......... 49 3.2.C.I. IMMIGRATION………………………..……………........…. 50 3.2.C.II. OIL EXTRACTION………..…………..……………........…. 52 3.2.C.III. LOGGING……………………………..…………….......... 52 3.2.C.IV. ROADS ……………..…………….…………...............… 53 3.3: UAXACTÚN …………………………………………….…………….......... 54 3.3.A: LOCAL INSTITUTIONS ………………………..…………….......... 56 3.3.B: LIVELIHOODS AND ECONOMICS ……………..…………….......... 56 3.2.B.I: CHICLE……………..……………………..……….......... 57 3.2.B.II: XATE PALM…………………………………….………. 57 3.2.B.III: PIMIENTA ………………………….…………….......... 59 3.2.B.IV: OSCELLATED TURKEY ……………..…………….......... 59 3.2.B.V: MILPAS ……………..…………………………….......... 60 3.3.C: CONCESSION AGREEMENT .…....................................................... 60 CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES ON TOURISM IN UAXACTÚN 62 4.1: TOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN UAXACTÚN ………………..……………..... 62 4.2: TOURISM SERVICES IN UAXACTÚN ……………………..……………..... 63 4.2.A: ALDANA’S LODGE ……………..………………………..…......... 63 4.2.B: EL CHICLERO ……………..…………..………………..….......... 64 4.2.C: EL BENDICION ……………..………..………………..…............... 64 4.2.D: COMEDOR IMPERIAL……………..……………………..….......... 65 4 4.2.E: COMEDOR UAXACTÚN ………..………………………..….......... 65 4.3: CURRENT AND POTENTIAL TOUR OFFERINGS IN UAXACTÚN ………….. 65 4.4: COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES ON ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT …….... 68 4.4A: PAVING THE ROAD ………..……………………………..….......... 69 4.4B: ADVERTISING ………..………………….………………..….......... 69 4.4C: WATER AND ELECTRIFICATION ………..…….…………..….......... 69 4.5: CONCLUSION: COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES…..………………………..…... 70 CHAPTER FIVE: ANALYSIS OF TOURIST PERSPECTIVES ON TOURISM IN UAXACTÚN 72 5.1: SURVEY SITE: TIKAL NATIONAL PARK ………..……………..…............... 72 5.2: SURVEY FINDINGS ………..………………..……….……………............... 73 5.2.A: TOURIST CHARACTERISTICS ………..…….……………............... 73 5.2.B: GENERAL AWARENESS OF UAXACTÚN …….……………............ 74 5.2.C: POTENTIAL TOURIST ACTIVITIES …….…………………............... 74 5.2.D: OVERALL INTEREST IN VISITING UAXACTÚN …….…………...... 77 5.2.E: SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ADVERTISING …….……........... 78 5.2.F: FLEXIBILITY OF TRAVEL PLANS …….…………………................. 78 5.2.G: COMPETITORS AND ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES …….…….... 79 5.2.H: WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY …………………...……………............... 79 5.2.I: GUIDE LANGUAGE SKILLS ………………………………............... 80 5.3: SUGGESTIONS FOR ATTRACTING TOURISTS TO UAXACTÚN .…............. 80 5.3.A: PROFILE OF POTENTIAL TOURISTS …….………..………............... 81 5.3.B: PREFERRED TOURIST ACTIVITIES …….…………………............... 81 5.3.C: PRICING …….……………………………………............... 83 5.3.D: ADVERTISING …….…………………………..…………............... 83 5.4: CONCLUSIONS: TOURIST PERSPECTIVES ……………….………..........….. 84 CHAPTER SIX: SYNTHESIS OF COMMUNITY AND TOURIST PERSPECTIVES 86 5 6.1: DISCUSSION .…............................................................................................... 86 4.5.A: LOCAL PARTICIPATION ………..………….……………..….......... 87 4.5.B: VIABILITY OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS ………..……………….......... 89 4.5.C: INFORMED DECISION-MAKING AND COLLABORATIVE PLANNING.. 89 4.5.D: LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE, INFORMATION, AND SERVICES ……….. 91 4.5.E: FUTURE RESEARCH ………..……………….……………............... 92 6.2: CONCLUSION .…............................................................................................ 92 BIBLIOGRAPHY ……………………………………………………………… 94 APPENDICES ……………………………………………………………….. 109 APPENDIX 1: OPEN-ENDED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS <<<<<. …….……....... 109 APPENDIX 2: TOURIST SURVEY …….…………….……………………............... 110 APPENDIX 3: RIGHTS OF LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ……............ 113 APPENDIX 4: AGENDA 21 FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM …….…………….......... 121 APPENDIX 5: CODES OF CONDUCT<<<<<<<<.. …….…………….......... 129 6 ABSTRACT Located in the shadow of Guatemala’s famous Tikal National Park, Uaxactún’s residents have witnessed Tikal’s increasing popularity as a tourist attraction firsthand. Similar to other communities in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), some Uaxactúnecos have expressed interest in capturing part of this lucrative tourism market. At the same time, in recognition of mounting threats to the integrity of the MBR, NGOs like the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), are encouraging communities to explore environmentally-friendly economic alternatives that help alleviate poverty while preserving natural resources. However, this advice may not be in the best interest of Uaxactúnecos. Our research reveals that ecotourism initiatives rarely succeed in achieving the dual goals of biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation. In addition, the rapid development of ecotourism in Uaxactún would likely intensify existing pressures on the landscape and local institutions that are unprepared to deal with these challenges. Our research seeks to inform Uaxactúnecos, and the individuals and NGOs who work in partnership with them, of the risks posed by ecotourism development. If and when Uaxactúnecos decide that developing ecotourism is in their best interest, a balance must be struck between the wishes of the community, the objectives of NGOs, and the experience sought by tourists. 7 LIST OF ACRONYMS CBC – Community-Based Conservation CBNRM – Community-Based Natural Resource Management CEPF – Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund CI – Conservation International CONAP – National Council of Protected Areas CONAMA – National Commission on the Environment EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment IDAEH – Anthropology and History Institute IDB – Inter-American Development Bank INGUAT – Guatemalan Tourism Institute FYDEP – Petén Promotion and Development Association ICDP – Integrated Community Development Project INTECAP – Technical Institute for Training and Productivity MAB – Man and the Biosphere Programme MBR – Maya Biosphere Reserve NGO – Non-Governmental Organization NTFP – Non-Timber Forest Products OMYC – Management and Conservation Organization (Uaxactún) PPP – Plan Puebla Panama SCBET – Sustainable Community-Based Ecotourism UNESCO – United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization USAID – United States Agency for International Development WCS – Wildlife Conservation Society 8 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION The residents of Uaxactún, a community of approximately 150 households (850 individuals) located within the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) in northern Guatemala, have been granted a 25-year concession by the Guatemalan government, for the use and management of an approximately 80,940 hectare tract of tropical forest 23 kilometers north of Tikal National Park. Uaxactúnecos have a long history of sustainable use of both timber and non-timber forest products, the latter being the primary source of income for most residents. However, Uaxactún’s location at the epicenter of Guatemalan tourism means that the potential to capture a share of the benefits of tourism to the region exists. In addition, if suspected large scale tourism development plans come to fruition, tourism may be an inevitable occurrence in Uaxactún – and one the community has been advised to begin preparing for now. As a result of these factors, the community has expressed a strong interest in developing sustainable ecotourism ventures in Uaxactún. More specifically, Uaxactenecos are interested in pursuing a community-based strategy for ecotourism development, in order to benefit from the economic opportunities they hope tourism will bring to the community. Community-based