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PHASE I (Round 3) |
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OUTCOME 1: Develop ecologically-based tourism program |
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Specific actions |
Description |
Progress snapshot |
Steps taken this quarter (if any) |
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Activity 1.1 |
Evaluate the monetary value of PA resources in 2 PAs |
2 = activity fully underway |
The national economical expert (Oleg Guchgeldiev, Economist) has prepared the first draft report based on the field visits to the pilot sites conducted in May-September. Further data collection and a first assessment will be conducted during joint field visits of the national and the international economical expert (Paul Morling) end of October.
The national economical expert has attended the study tour (agroecotourism) to Belarus (12th to 21st July), see also Activity 1.2 |
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Activity 1.2 |
Develop mechanism for engaging local people in providing services |
2 = activity fully underway |
The national experts on ecotourism (shared between a tourism expert and a protcted area expert from the Ministry of Nature Protection, Serdar Akiniyasov and Rejep Amanov) have prepared their first assessment reports on the ecotourism situation in Turkmenistan. The report will provide baseline data and information and the first chapters for the to be developed ecotourism strategy for the country.
Study visit to Belarus has been undertaken from 12th to 21st July 2009. All national experts of the project, project coordinator and international expert on ecotourism participated in the study tour. Report was prepared and shared with the Ministry of Nature Protection, can be downlouded on the Ministries website (www.natureprotection.gov.tm). The study visit was extremly useful for the development of further activities. Even though this form of tourism is more advanced in Belarus the outline situation can be compared with Turkmenistan a lot. |
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Activity 1.3 |
Hold workshops and meetings to review studies |
0 = not yet begun, no progress |
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Activity 1.4 |
Develop national strategy for ecotourism in and around PAs |
2 = activity fully underway |
Data gathering and surveys already have started after the national consultants were hired in May 2009.
Fieldvisits with assessments of all 8 Protected Areas was scheduled for May 2009 but had to be postboned due to a temporary travel ban to Protected Areas imposed by the government of Turkmenistan. This ban is now lifted and field visits can start in September 2009. |
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Activity 1.5a |
Select 2 PAs to study other forms of sustainable resource use in PA buffer zones |
2 = activity fully underway |
Datagathering and surveys already have started after the national consultants were hired in May 2009.
After the lift of the travel ban to Protected Areas (see below "obstacles faced" ) the logistics for the travel to PAs were prepared.
The international Socio-economic Consultant (Mrs Aigul Zhanserikova, CAMP, Kazakhstan) has undertaken her field visit to the two study site Protected Areas (Kugitang and Sunt-Hasardag State Nature Reserves) together with the Project Coordinator in August 2009. First analysis report has been prepared already. |
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Activity 1.5b |
Develop appropriate models for Turkmenistan |
0 = not yet begun, no progress |
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Activity 1.6 |
Develop report on findings and submit to government |
0 = not yet begun, no progress |
The national legal expert (Elbars Kepbanov) as part of his first assessment of the legislationhas already made baseline recommendations for further discussions (focusing on ecosystem services and ecotourism development). |
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Obstacles faced in implementing Activity 1: |
Currently no obstacles faced. The travel restrictions from spring and summer (due to visa limitations for citizens of Swine Flue countries / temporary travel ban imposed by the government for international project staff to Protected Areas) have both been lifted. So fieldwork under 1.5a started and 1.4. is scheduled for November 2009. |
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Lessons learned in implementing Activity 1: |
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