Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Development of Leatherback - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Development of Leatherback Ecotourism p Based Initiatives in St. Kitts, West Indies Based Initiatives in St. Kitts, West Indies Kimberly M. Stewart, MS, DVM Kimberly M. Stewart, MS, DVM Andrew J. Nibblett Andrew J. Nibblett Andrew J. Nibblett Andrew J. Nibblett

• Background Background Background Background • Leatherback Ecotour Development & Leatherback Ecotour Development & Implementation Implementation Implementation Implementation • Turtle Glass Project Turtle Glass Project • Business Certification Business Certification

St. Kitts & Nevis St. Kitts & Nevis St. Kitts & Nevis St. Kitts & Nevis • Population: 42,696 Population: 42,696 – St. Kitts: 31,880 St. Kitts: 31,880 – Nevis: 12,106 Nevis: 12,106 • Size: 270 sq km (104 sq • Size: 270 sq km (104 sq Size: 270 sq km (104 sq Size: 270 sq km (104 sq mi) mi) – St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles) St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles) St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles) St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles) – Nevis: 93 sq km (36 sq miles) Nevis: 93 sq km (36 sq miles) • Economy: Tourism Economy: Tourism

St. Kitts Nesting Species St. Kitts Nesting Species Chelonia mydas Chelonia mydas – July through February y July through February y y g g y y Dermochelys coriacea Dermochelys coriacea – March through July March through July Eretmochelys imbricata Eretmochelys imbricata – July through February July through February

St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network • Founded: 2003 Founded: 2003 Founded: 2003 Founded: 2003 • Classification: Community based organization Classification: Community based organization • Primary Collaborators: Primary Collaborators: ll b ll b – Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) – Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) Wid Wid Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) C C ibb ibb S S T T tl C tl C ti ti N t N t k (WIDECAST) k (WIDECAST) – St. Kitts Fisheries Department St. Kitts Fisheries Department – Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) g g ( ( ) ) – Global Environmental Facility Global Environmental Facility ‐ Small Grants Programme Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF (UNDP GEF ‐ SGP) SGP)

St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network • Primary objectives: Primary objectives: y y j j – To implement, under the direction of the St. Kitts Fisheries To implement, under the direction of the St. Kitts Fisheries department, a long standing sea turtle conservation management department, a long standing sea turtle conservation management program program – To promote community awareness of the plight of sea turtles To promote community awareness of the plight of sea turtles • Organizational Structure: Organizational Structure: • Director Director Director Director • Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer Coordinator • In In ‐ water Tagging Coordinator water Tagging Coordinator • Environmental Outreach Coordinator Environmental Outreach Coordinator • Treasurer Treasurer • Glass Project Coordinator Glass Project Coordinator • Sea Turtle Technicians Sea Turtle Technicians • Research Assistants R R Research Assistants h A i t h A i t t t • Volunteers Volunteers

• Background Background Background Background • Leatherback Ecotour Development & Leatherback Ecotour Development & Implementation Implementation Implementation Implementation • Turtle Glass Project Turtle Glass Project • Business Certification Business Certification

Why the Need? • Sustainability Sustainability • Alternative source of income based on Alt Alternative source of income based on Alt ti ti f i f i b b d d conservation rather than harvest conservation rather than harvest • Protection of nesting beaches Protection of nesting beaches • Enforcement Enforcement

Leatherback Ecotour Leatherback Ecotour Development Development Development Development • Survey Survey Survey Survey – Citizens Citizens – Tourists Tourists – Residents Residents • Delivered by SKSTMN Delivered by SKSTMN y volunteers at hotels, volunteers at hotels, port, RUSVM, town port, RUSVM, town

Results 7.1% (n=29) Female 60.3% 18.2% Male 39.7% 36.8% (n=74) (n=150) 37 8% 37.8% (n=154)

Results 32.4% 43.3% 27.1% 34.6% (n=131) (n=175) (n=110) (n=139) 70.7% (n=191) (n=191) 67.6% 67 6% 56.7% 56 7% 72.8% 72 8% 65 4% 65.4% 29.2% (n=273) (n=229) (n=295) (n=263) (n=79)

Results 77.3% (n=312) 47.1% 56.7% 58.5% 83.2% (n=192) (n=229) (n=238) (n=338) 52.9% 52 9% 28.2% 28 2% 22 7% 22.7% 41.5% 16.8% (n=215) (n=115) (n=92) (n=169) (n=68)

Results Results • Question 1: no difference by classification(p=0.2) Question 1: no difference by classification(p=0.2) • Question 2: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) Question 2: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) with tourists being significantly less likely to know turtles were with tourists being significantly less likely to know turtles were around (16.7%; 25/149) compared with citizens (64.9%; 50/77) around (16.7%; 25/149) compared with citizens (64.9%; 50/77) d ( 6 % 2 / d ( 6 % 2 / 9) 9) d d i h i i i h i i (6 9% (6 9% 0/ 0/ ) ) and residents (89.6%; 138/154) and residents (89.6%; 138/154) • Question 3: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) Question 3: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) with tourists being significantly less likely to know network with tourists being significantly less likely to know network exists ( 8/120) compared with citizens (34/72) and residents exists ( 8/120) compared with citizens (34/72) and residents (26/49) (26/49)

Results Results Question 4: residents significantly more likely to go than Question 4: residents significantly more likely to go than • tourists (p=0.003); however, majority of tourists say yes (62.7%) tourists (p=0.003); however, majority of tourists say yes (62.7%) (p (p ); ); , , j j y y y y y y ( ( ) ) Tourists: Yes: 62.7% (94/150) Tourists: Yes: 62.7% (94/150) • Citizens: Yes: 68.4% (50/73) Citizens: Yes: 68.4% (50/73) • Residents Yes: 85.6% (131/153) Residents Yes: 85.6% (131/153) • Question 5: Majority of all groups willing to pay: Question 5: Majority of all groups willing to pay: Q Q j j y y g g p p g g p y p y • • Tourists: Yes: 64% (96/150) Tourists: Yes: 64% (96/150) • Citizens: Yes: 64.4% (47/73) Citizens: Yes: 64.4% (47/73) • Residents Yes: 67.3% (103/153) Residents Yes: 67.3% (103/153) •

St. Kitts Pilot Tour Package St. Kitts Pilot Tour Package St. Kitts Pilot Tour Package St. Kitts Pilot Tour Package • 10 individuals/beach/night 10 individuals/beach/night • Informational Packet Informational Packet • 1 local non 1 local non ‐ alcoholic beverage alcoholic beverage • 40 US per person 40 US per person • Transport Transport – 11US 11US

• Advertised locally Advertised locally • 299 tours conducted for the 299 tours conducted for the 2009 pilot season 2009 pilot season • 202 tourists 202 tourists • 83 residents 83 residents • 14 citizens • 14 citizens 14 citizens 14 citizens

• Background Background Background Background • Leatherback Ecotour Development & Leatherback Ecotour Development & Implementation Implementation Implementation Implementation • Turtle Glass Project Turtle Glass Project • Business Certification Business Certification

Turtle Glass Project Turtle Glass Project • WIDECAST AGM WIDECAST AGM 2006 2006 • Site Visit Site Visit December 2008 December 2008 • Sensitization Sensitization February 2009 February 2009 • Training Initiation Training Initiation March 2009 March 2009

Workshop

25

St. Kitts Adoption Package St. Kitts Adoption Package • Information Packet Information Packet • Adoption Certificate Adoption Certificate • End of Season Summary End of Season Summary • Gift Gift

• Background Background Background Background • Leatherback Ecotour Development & Leatherback Ecotour Development & Implementation Implementation Implementation Implementation • Turtle Glass Project Turtle Glass Project • Business Certification Business Certification

Business Certification Business Certification Business Certification Business Certification • Establishments in close proximity to nesting Establishments in close proximity to nesting beaches beaches beaches beaches • Voluntary Voluntary • Inspection Inspection • Signage Signage • Tourist Notification Tourist Notification • Annual Award • Annual Award Annual Award Annual Award