Sustainable livelihoods in Milne Bay: Eco-tourism versus logging
James Butler, Erin BohenskyCSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
The Holy Grail: livelihoods from conservation
• Livelihoods strategies which alleviate poverty and conserve high value biodiversity
• Livelihoods-biodiversity linkage model for conservation (Salafsky & Wollenberg, 2000)
• Link economic activity to biodiversity protection • Eco-tourism provides stronger linkages than consumptive uses
Develop viable linked
enterprise
Enhanced value of
biodiversity
Enhanced capacity to
reduce threats
Protected biodiversity
New approaches to measuring ‘success’
• Resilience and linked social-ecological systems (Berkes, 2007)
• Social-ecological networks (Janssen et al., 2006)
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+
Reachability
Density
Milne Bay, PNG
Milne Bay Population Growth and Projection
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
1960 1980 2000 2020 2040 2060
yearN
o. p
erso
ns
The logging story
• 2001 Sewa Bay Timbers, foreign-owned company• 10 km2 selective logging of hardwood on one clan area• Skilled labour and royalties offered to 9 village men• After 12 months supervisor hospitalised• Enterprise disintegrated in acrimony• K80,000 export timber sale, no royalties paid
The eco-tourism story
• 2004 village guesthouse established at Saidowai• Network of village stays and tourism activities• Locally-owned• Fees paid to villages for diving, Bird of Paradise guided walks• 31 visitors in 2008
Sewa Bay
Cash income (2007 prices)
Logging (Leiwoya) Eco-tourism (Saidowai)
Cash balance (p.a.) - K653 K2,928
Per capita income (p.a.) K104 K1,333
Total income for service all providers (p.a.)
K5,564 K9,890
Sewa Bay village
Mainland village
Posiyai Island
Kasawedobu
Niudadi
Welala
Oilage
Wakuyuyuna
SaidowaiTaumidimidi
Sibonai Mission Station
Magetuwa
Sibwatoleya
Samowau
East Cape Mission
Ecosystem service
Guest house
Ferry
Guide
Dive fees
Church donation
Food
Skilled logging labour
Key
Natural capital
Coral reefs Bird of Paradise
Leiwoya
Imwaulesina
Popondetta
Raba Raba
Logging forest
Conclusions
• Eco-tourism provided greater cash benefits• Higher density and reachability• Logging incited local friction• Eco-tourism builds social capital• Eco-tourism creates more biodiversity linkages• Eco-tourism based on wide range of un-skilled labour
BUT DID NOT CONSIDER
• Ecological costs/benefits• Feedback loops to natural capital• Cross-scale networks beyond villages• System dynamics over time
Escape to E(s)cape- Migration to mainland- Ecotourism marginalised as focus shifts to law and order- Revival of traditional sailing canoes
Down but not Out- High awareness, “crisis” stimulates action - Need to rebuild infrastructure allows a rethink of technology adoption
Future scenarios for eco-tourism in Milne Bay
CSIRO Sustainable Regional Development
Climate crisis
Gradual climate change
Technologyavailable
Technologyunavailable
Kula Connections-Time to prepare for climate impacts- Traditional Kula ring reinvented as modern information network - Risk of losing cultural uniqueness
Save our Forests- Activity shifts from coastal to inland areas- Grassroots environmental activism and education- Traditional gardens promoted- Planting trees for carbon
THANK YOU