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NEW CASE STUDIES ON THE HORIZON SOLUTIONS SITE:

Project Snow Leopard
submitted by Shafqat Hussain

Project Snow Leopard is an innovative scheme implemented in the Baltistan region of Northern Pakistan to help reduce the inherent conflict between livestock farmers and endangered Snow Leopards. The insurance scheme utilises the economic value of the Snow Leopard to provide cover against any losses due to Snow Leopard predation and involves a partnership between local farmers and a private eco-tourism company. It is expected that compensation through the insurance scheme will continue to help reduce retaliatory killings of Snow Leopards and will consequently help their conservation.

An important lesson emerging from Project Snow Leopard is the effectiveness of the innovative way of bringing together developments in the fields of community-based conservation and community-based micro-finance. Insurance can be considered a mirror image of credit. People want insurance or credit to smooth out unexpected variations in income and consumption over time. Insurance and credit provide this opportunity. What is more important, however, is that this model can form an integral component of similar community-based conservation initiatives, especially where locals see wildlife as a threat because it destroys crops or threatens human lives and livestock.

The project demonstrates a successful endeavour to overcome collective action problems. Aside from the arguments that participation is a right in itself, it is a condition for successful economic intervention. By providing a basis for an institutional arrangement (largely managed and monitored by locals) and facilitating access to otherwise remote markets, collective action among and between stakeholders is possible. More importantly, individuals interested in the global survival of the species have an entry point to the conservation efforts and collective action.

Project Snow Leopard acknowledges the need for self-sustaining public-private partnerships. There is virtually no reliance on external donors for compensation, rather Fund 1 is entirely generated from local resources. Fund 2 is a collective effort of locals and the private enterprise. A missing link has been filled by the private sector, which demonstrates and captures the economic value of Snow Leopards. With group action some of the inherent risks associated with insurance, for example fraud and cheating, can be mitigated and managed.

Project Snow Leopard attempts to be self-sustaining and does not intend to rely on donor money to run the scheme. This approach however leaves the scheme exposed to potential financial crises. The income from eco-tourism is subject to many uncontrolled factors. Perceived or real security issues in Pakistan could seriously decrease the flow of tourists to the area thus leaving the scheme in risk of going bankrupt.

One of the most common features of community based conservation programs throughout the world is reliance on economic incentives to induce a pro-conservation behaviour among the people. Project Snow Leopard is also going down the same path. Whilst economic incentive is quite a powerful motive for conservation, it is not clear how it affects other non-economic incentives for conservation. It may be that other institutional motives, based on aesthetic, religious and cultural aspects get crowded out due to a heavy emphasis on economic motive alone.

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Additional information may be found here: www.fmntrekking.com

Galapagos Conservation Fund (GCF) integrates conservation action into visitors' experience

The following are excerpts from the case study prepared by Tom O'Brien, Director of Environmental Affairs, Lindblad Expeditions
Sven Lindblad is a UNEP Global 500 recipient in recognition of his significant role with the creation and operation of the Galapagos Conservation Fund (GCF)

Tourism is one of the most important industries in Galapagos, if not the most important. Sixty thousand visitors come to Galapagos every year, and all leave with the understanding that Galapagos is an extraordinary place on this planet. Yet, there has been surprisingly little integration of conservation issues into the visitor experience, and the tourism industry plays an inadequate role in the support of conservation of Galapagos. The links between tourism and conservation in Galapagos are vital to the future protection of its unique flora and fauna.

The Galapagos Conservation Fund (GCF) was created in May of 1997 by the international travel company, Lindblad Expeditions, to develop a strong partnership and link between the visitor, the tourism industry, and defined conservation institutions of Galapagos. The GCF has raised over $1 million since its inception. The dialogue and institutional interaction created by the GCF have stimulated interest and support by the tourism industry, and increased outreach efforts by the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station. The project is fully implemented and operational on a consistent, year-round basis since July 1998.

The project is fully implemented and operational on a consistent, year-round basis since July 1998.

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(c) HORIZON INTERNATIONAL 2001