Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos Marine Protected Area, Honduras
R.J. PayneLakehead University
Ocean Management Research Network ConferenceUniversity of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
October 21 – 24, 2009
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
Background
The MPA The Garifuna People The Agencies
Three Tourism Development Cases
Emerging Issues
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
Background
The MPA Cayo Menor, Cayo Mejor and 13 smaller coral cays; Area: 489.5 sq. kms
Established 1993, by off-shore NGOs; under Honduras, 2002; HCRF manages until 2013
Management plan, 2004: find economic activities for local people
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
Background
The Garifuna People Descendents of slaves brought from Africa Culturally different from other Hondurans; economically disadvantaged Largely dependent on subsistence fishing for their livelihoods Most affected by MPA establishment
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
Background
The Agencies Honduran Coral Reef Foundation (cayoscochinos.org)
CCMPA manager Operation Wallacea (opwall.com)
UK conservation organization; proponent of co-operative development model Groupo de Apoyo al Desarollo (GAD)
Local capacity building NGO Nature Conservancy, WWF
Junior partners
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
Three Tourism Development Cases
Restaurant and Accommodation on Chachauate Cay
1st development Four rooms Tourism operators from La Ceiba stop off at Chachauate
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
Three Tourism Development Cases
Restaurant and Accommodation at East End, Cochinos Mejor
2nd development 1 large room (dormitory style) restaurant
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
Three Tourism Development Cases
Rio Esteban Dive and Eco-Centre
Proposed Location Finance
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
Emerging Issues
Capacity building: GAD's role Institutional Strengthening: Co-operative principles and operation Marketing:
Promotion: e.g., Lonely Planet Market segments: backpacker → ecotourist
Effectiveness: OpWall's role (undergraduate and
graduate students)
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
End/Fin
Tourism and Local Benefits in the Cayos Cochinos MPA
References
Bown, N., 2007. Field Season Report 2007: Socioeconomic and Governance Objectives of the Cayos Cochinos Marine Protected Area (CCMPA) Management Plan. Newcastle, UK: Operation Wallacea.
Brondo, K. and Woods, L., 2007. Garifuna land rights and ecotourism as economic development in Honduras’ Cayos Cochinos Marine Protected Area. Ecological and Environmental Anthropology, 3 (1), pp. 2-18.
Clifton, J., 2003. Prospects for co-management in Indonesia’s marine protected areas. Marine Policy 27, pp. 389–395.
Key, C., 2002. The political economy of the transition from fishing to tourism, in Placencia, Belize. International Review of Modern Sociology, 30, (1), pp. 1-17.
Wiskerke, J., Bock, B., Stuiver, M. and Renting, H., Environmental co-operatives as a new mode of rural governance. NJAS – Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 51, (1-2), pp. 9-25.