The Great Himalayan National Park was selected as one of the first national parks in India to demonstrate the approach of linking biodiversity conservation with local social and economic development broadly known as ecodevelopment. International assistance funded the five year Conservation of Biodiversity (CoB) Project which started in late 1994. The CoB Project at GHNP addressed some of the concerns:
• Conservation of biodiversity in a "megadiversity" country
• Conservation of Himalayan ecosystem in danger
  of fragmentation and degradation
• Help prepare future projects to address additional
  critical biodiversity issues
• Developing linkages between conservation and
  development

Socio-Economic Aspects of Conservation
Local people are the key for managing biological diversity in the Park. Providing alternative forms of income generation to compensate for the reduction in livelihood as a result of conservation efforts is essential for the local communities. Communities are being organized into smaller groups to participate in alternative income generation activities.
top

Women Saving and Credit Groups
Poverty is the main constraint to sustainable conservation. Women are the poorest of the poor, and they are being empowered by organizing them into Women's Saving and Credit Groups (WSCGs). Each WSCG comprises about 12 to 16 poor women who mostly depended for their livelihood upon the biodiversity of the Park. The GHNP and SAHARA, a non-governmental organization (NGO), is organizing these women to save their own money and then make credit available to the needy group members for investment in income generation activities.
top

Alternative Income Generation
The link between GHNP and the local community must address livelihood issues of those who were directly or indirectly depending upon the resources of the Park. Major interventions as Alternative Income Sources include:

Ecotourism: The local people who previously were dependent upon the Park are being organized for training as cultural and nature guides, cooks, camp organizers, and porters. Ecotourism activity is expected to provide employment as porters, cooks and guides for 100 males belonging to the WSCGs for about 50 days in a year.

Vermicomposting: This process creates a rich organic fertilizer by the transformation of plant waste by worms. An income generating vermicomposting site requires an investment which is affordable by most of the poor members of the WSCGs and GHNP is already an immediate customer for vermicompost for its nurseries. About 100 sites have already been established.

Organic Farming: Vermicomposting is in fact the first step towards an expanded organic farming program. The WSCGs are now using the surplus vermicompost to fertilize their fields. Long-term use is expected to produce quality fruits, vegetables and cereals. Already there is a substantial reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the ecozone.

Medicinal Plant Cultivation: From 1990-2000, GHNP established ten major nurseries for medicinal plants. The Park is providing forest land for medicinal plant cultivation. Any WSCG can enter in a contract with the Park to cultivate the already enclosed forest land for medicinal plant cultivation. About 22,500 plants are planted on one hectare (approx. 2 acres) which makes medicinal plant cultivation a viable economic opportunity. All the produce goes to the groups. GHNP is helping with the marketing and sales with the assistance of a local NGO.

Seed Oil Extraction: Earlier the seed fruits such as hill apricots, walnuts, and almonds were being bought by the local traders at a low cost for oil production. Now the WSCGs are setting up their own oil extractors to realize greater economic benefit from these high quality oils.

Crafts/Souvenirs: Training workshops are being organized to make hemp or grass-based handicrafts and souvenirs. The GHNP has organized sale of such material through departmental shops as well as various local fairs and exhibitions.

Employment: The GHNP gives priority to WSCGs members for employment in its ten medicinal plant nurseries, construction work, repairs, etc.

Through these alternatives, the projected earnings for one month for each woman in a WSCG is expected to be Rs. 1500 (about 32 US$). A women will be spending 3 to 4 hours per day to earn this monthly income. With the present pace of working, it is expected that the above projections of income will be realized in coming two to three years. In addition to above, there are other user groups of basket weavers, eco-tourism, and village craftsmen who are gaining from the alternative income generation sources.

The WSCG members are developing the skills and responsibility of investing their own savings, which result in income generation activities and increase in self esteem. Each activity is discussed and implemented by the group members. The choice of the appropriate responsible individuals for various aspects of a project is facilitated by the fact that the groups are small and members know each others interests and abilities. In the hills, the women have intimate knowledge of natural resources and their use, they are more honest, and responsible towards their families, and get involved rather quickly with participatory approach of management. Through their savings, the group members are initiating income generation activities such as vermicomposting, medicinal plant growing, organic farming, oil extraction from stone fruits, handicraft development, and marketing of these.

The following are two very important strengths of these Groups:
1. Because it is their own savings which the women are loaning for 'production activities', the recovery of such small loans is almost 100%. At the same time, these women are moving away from the subsidy culture.
2. In long run, such WSCGs are going to be sustainable and will contribute to the conservation of the biodiversity of the Park. The WSCGs are expected to address the issues of sustainability through its inherent strength of empowerment of womenfolk within the hill society.
top