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Himalayan Ecotourism is banking on a cooperative model to ensure that conservation and community come together seamlessly.
When Stephan Marchal a Belgium national came to India, 17 years ago he initially spent seven years in Jharkhand in the eastern part of India, working with the local tribal women on community-based projects in the field of healthcare, income generating activities, tribal culture, water management and conservation.
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Seven years later he happened to discover the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Himachal Pradesh, a huge protected area managed by the Forest Department. “I came to know that the park administration was facing serious issues with the local community that struck me. I could not understand how a conservation effort could create a conflict with the local community. I thought this is something I can work on,” he reminisces.
Read the full story that first appeared in Adventure Uncovered March-April 2021 edition here:
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