Benefits Of Ecotourism
 
 

Ecotourism is more than simply taking tours to view wildlife in a natural habitat; it is also a mechanism for protecting this environment and all its inhabitants. The Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia are dedicated to fulfilling the aims of ecotourism: long-term environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability. Using best practices, our ecotourism efforts work to support local conservation, educational and development projects, as well as contributing to raising the standard of living of the local villagers. Specifically, our programs:

Ensure support for Community Funds: Visitors who come to see the birds leave a conservation contribution which goes into a local development fund directed towards various projects such as community development, agricultural assistance and fish ponds.

 
At Tmatboey, this contribution is dependent on visitors seeing either the Giant Ibis or the White-shouldered Ibis. Fund disbursements are only made subject to the villagers abiding by an agreement not to hunt wildlife species and to follow land-use plans
At lorican sites, the contribution helps support nest protection. Villagers are paid for each nest found and additionally for successful hatchings.
At Ang Trapeang Thmor, the contribution supports local livelihood development initiatives (such as rice banks).
 

Provide economic incentives for conservation Villagers directly benefit in Tmatboey: we use their services as local guides, cooks, and housekeepers. The villagers have set up a committee to manage the ecotourism, including allocation of benefits and tourism income between individual households and encouragment of local responsibility both for the environment and community development.

Sustain a local non-profit organization’s conservation efforts:  A portion of the income from tours helps support Sam Veasna Center, which provides the conduit between foreign tourists eager to see the protected species and remote habitats. SVC also works promoting ecotourism efforts of the villages, handling communications with foreign visitors, and providing logistics and the essential English-speaking bird guides.

Good conservation practices cannot exist without sound local development. Visitors to these sensitive and unique areas contribute to sustaining both the environment and the local communities.