Tourism Development in
Christian and Langaman
Kondre in Suriname.
Criteria for evaluating success.
Community Structure
• Type: Indigenous Peoples; Carib
Amerindian
• Population:1,200 persons
• Employment: ~30%
• Per Capita Income (estimated
USD 50 - 200)
• Income generation (by type): fishing,
tourism, other
Culture
• Fishing
• Traditional dance
• Production of cassava
bread and “cassiri”,
cassava rum
Marine Turtles
• 4 species known to nest in Galibi NR
• Warana, olive ridley or LO once nested in
high abundance
• Leatherback, DC and green turtles, CM
nest also in high densities
• The hawksbill, EI nest in low
densities
Tradition: Marine Turtles
Villages are located near
turtle nesting beaches
• Beach visits to “turtle watch”
• Egg collection for local consumption
Turtle egg consumption…. a
significant component of traditional
diet
Turtle Conservation
• 1960’s Galibi NR created to protect
nesting sites of turtles
• Nesting females protected
• Fishing of turtles banned
• Disturbance of nesting habitats not
permitted
• Access to turtle resource restricted
• Permission required to harvest eggs
Turtle Conservation
• 2002: marine turtles fully protected. No
longer possible to harvest eggs.
• Negative reaction from villagers as access
to marine turtles now completely
restricted.
Marine Turtle Conservation:
Target Audience
• Egg poachers
• Egg consumers
• Middle men and merchants
Egg poachers
• Mainly from ChristianKondre and
LangamanKondre
• Males (15 – 55 yrs)
• Most (80%) unemployed residents
• Others are part-time and full-time
fishermen
Egg Consumers
• Reported to be most (90%) village
residents
• Large proportion of Indonesian, East
Indian, Creole coastal population
• Males and females (18 – 80 yrs)
• All occupations
Middlemen
and Merchants
• Residents from Galibi villages, the
surrounding communities closer to Albina,
Paramaribo
• Employed persons
• Males, with access to vehicles
Drivers of Egg Poaching
1. Tradition: egg consumption is part of
Surinamese (Indonesian and
Amerindian) culture (consumers)
2. Enjoyment: turtle eggs are reported to be
very tasty and fun to eat (consumers)
3. Affordable and nutritional (consumers)
4. Good income generator (collectors and
vendors)
WWF Interest in Tourism
Marine Turtle Conservation support…..
• Reduce egg collection
• Alternative to coastal seine fishing
Ecotourism
• Alternative or compensation for loss of
access to the resource
• Contribute to the livelihoods of the peoples
of Galibi
Ecotourism
• Assumption: non-consumptive exploitation
of marine turtles ………may generate as
much or more social and economic
benefits to the local communities ………
than consumption of the marine turtle eggs
and meat.
Ecotourism in Galibi
Ecotourism in Galibi
• Tourists transported from Paramaribo to town of
Albina and then to the villages by large canoe:
60 – 90 mins.
• Visitors stay at small lodges within the village
• Stays are for 1 – 2 days on average
• All meals provided by the lodge
• Visitors are transported at night to the nesting
beaches by boat
• Beach visits conducted by trained tour guides
Who is involved?
• Boat owners 100% local
• Stidunal (NGO responsible for tourism
development in Galibi) 100% local
• Boat operators 100% local
• Guest house owners 100% local
• Cooks 80% local
• Tour guides (50% local, 50% Paramaribo)
Ecotourism in Galibi.
Who are the beneficiaries?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tour operators
Boat owners
Boat operators
Guest house owners
Housekeepers
Cooks
Tour guides
Does ecotourism in Galibi
impact on the livelihoods of
marine turtle egg collectors
and consumers?
And if not
Consider…….
Is ecotourism achieving its
desired objective?
Is there a contribution to turtle
conservation?
How can the tourism package
be adjusted to ensure equity in
returns to community
residents?
How may we expand benefits
to embrace target groups
relevant to turtle
conservation?
Recommendations
• Training packages in tourism for
unemployed persons in the community.
• Reserve 50% of tour guide jobs for trained
ex-poachers.
• Increase access to tourism transport to all
boat owners including egg poachers.
• Use nature fee to support alternative
income generating projects identified to
directly help persons involved in poaching.
Criteria for Success
•
1. Activities are legal and socially acceptable.
2. Activities are biodiversity friendly or contribute to
biodiversity conservation.
3. Benefits are clearly visible, measurable and long term.
4. Benefits extend to relevant target groups.
5. Benefits are socially, economically and or culturally
comparable to any that they are intended to substitute.
6. Benefits do not disadvantage any social, or economic
group in the community.
Let us ensure that eco-tourism is truly a tool
for turtle conservation.
Not only must activities be environmentally
sustainable, benefits must also be clearly
relevant to all stakeholders.
Thank You