Naturebeyond Eco-Tourism Charter

Over the last few years there has been rapid changes in tourism with increasing emphasis on the nature, heritage, and recreational destinations. Conventional tourism also has to meet tougher environmental norms.

North-east of India, the region where naturebeyond operates, has very rich biodiversity and is ecologically vulnerable. The region is also home to a large number of ethnic groups with their own cultural heritage. Conserving this heritage has been one of our prime concerns and we believe that Ecotourism is the way forward. We believe the benefit of tourism must reach the local population economically and culturally and tourism must contribute towards protecting the natural resources instead of destroying it.

North-East India abounds in areas with potential for development of value-tourism like nature tourism, cultural tourism, ethnic tourism and adventure tourism. Despite this, tourism activitiy in the region so far center on some over-exploited holiday resorts. Tourist inflow to the region remains restricted to destinations like Darjeeling, Gangtok, Pelling, Kalimpong, Mirik, Jaldapara and more recently developed resorts at Lava and Loleygaon. This causes ecological problems for these sensitive areas and limits options for discerning tourists. Besides, unrestricted growth of tourism in some pockets neither addresses community concerns nor the region's economic development.

We at naturebeyond believe that the local and socio-economic considerations demand that new tourism areas get created in North Bengal and development planning incorporates following parameters:

a. Large projects that may lead to environmental problems should not be promoted.
b. Tourism activities need to be value-based and must directly address community concerns.
c. Local communities must benefit through asset creation and direct or indirect employment for members.
d. All activities need to be of a closely monitored restricted nature so that no area gets over-exploited.

Keeping these needs in mind naturebeyond has set the following objectives for itself

to effectively promote the preserve local ecosystems, not just individual species, vistas or sites.
be economically viable and sustainable.
be well planned, financed, managed and marketed in order to serve the needs of the guests, local communities and that of the future generations.

Achievement of the above objectives is incumbent upon the following goals.

1. Development of a number of special tourism zones in its activity area through a multiple stakeholder mechanism.
2. Setting up of various tourist facilities like tent resorts, ethnic cottages, treetop huts, nature interpretation-cum-eco parks, watch towers and adventure sports centers at strategic locations area.
3.Identifying community- level stakeholders at each site and develop managerial capabilities of such stakeholders so that mechanisms of decentralized community level management can be evolved.
4.Generating and increasing income levels of community members through revenue sharing and creation of employment opportunities.
5. Promoting indigenous culture including traditional handicrafts within the tourism zone and establishing necessary marketing mechanisms.
6.Starting various tourism activities at each site and facility and designing such activities in a way so that they do not harm the environment
7. Marketing the tourism zone at home and abroad as a conservation programme and making the project commercially viable.
8.To protect and conserve the forests and other natural resources within the project area through the community level stakeholders as well as creating environmental awareness among tourists using facilities within the area.
9. To actively participate in local NGO movement to support eco-tourism activity in the area.
10. To act as a catalyst between the local people and different government agencies to help them take the maximum benefit of different government projects and proposals.

Eco-resorts
Tinchuley(Darj)
Rocky Island(Sams)
Karmi Firm (Darj)
Mt. Narsing(Sik)
Rinchenpong(Sik)
Martham(Sik)

Ecotourism Destinations
Chilapata
Kalijhora
Lava
Latpanchar
Lepchajagat
Loleygaon
Pedong
Rongo
Samsing
Tinchuley

The People
Drukpa
Bhutia
Rajbansi
Lepcha
Mech
Rabha
Sherpa
Nepali

Our Eco Projects
Background
Objectives
Stakeholders
Activities
Locations

Eco Resources
What is eco-tourism
Our Charter
Important links