The Namche Conference: May 24-26, 2003 People, Park, and Mountain Ecotourism Participants and Presentations: Mr. Cholpon K. Dyikanova

Mr. Cholpon K. Dyikanova (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic) Director, Kyrgyzstan Community and Business Forum; email: cholpon-cbf@elcat.kg Presenter's Note I am the Director of the Community and Business Forum, an Environmental NGO dealing with the conservation and communities development issues in the reserves areas of the Kyrgyz Republic. At present our organisation is working with the International conservation NGOs - FFI(Fauna Flora International, UK), ISLT (International Snow Leopard Trust, US). The CBF/ISLT project is on the conservation of snow leopards and its prey species in Sarychat Ertash reserve in the Kyrgyz Republic. My presentation at the conference will be based on the CBF experience in this field. The topic of the presentation is the Sustainable Development of Local Communities in the Reserve Areas. Abstract Ecotourism, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development of Local Communities in the Kyrgyz Republic Rich in both natural and cultural resources, Kyrgyz Republic nonetheless no different from any other large natural area in the former Soviet Union countries in one respect: considerable pressures exist from both local people and outside economic interests to exploit the region's natural wealth. The lack of economic alternatives in this transition period and insufficient support for basic human needs, such as in health and education, contribute to the instability of the lives of the inhabitants of the region. Under this situation, many residents have no time to consider the long-term use of their natural resources when they have to use them immediately to ensure their daily survival within the natural reserves and parks. The government of the Kyrgyz Republic have restricted logging and hunting and other economic activities to guarantee the survival of fragile and unique ecosystems. This practice has created a debate on how to conserve nature while allowing local communities to use the natural resource base at the same time. Nature-based tourism or 'eco-tourism' could be used as a tool for conservation of natural areas and wild life as well as the income generating activity for the local communities.

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