Tourism has seen as a means of providing communities with economic bene!ts in the form of supplementary incomes, but engagment of local communites in tourism is complex and varied levels. In 2008 through a collaborative projectcoordinated by African Safari Lodge (ASL) Foundation EQUATIONS looked into community based efforts in nature based tourism. Three naturally blessed sites were covered in this study- Himalayan Homestays in Ladakh, Mountain Shepherd Initiative in Uttarakhand and Manas Maozigendri Jungle Camp in Assam.
The case studies are an attempt to understand the particular context and history of each of these initiatives – what set of factors led to their genesis and what they set out to achieve. In each case, tourism was seen as a means of providing communities with economic bene!ts in the form of supplementary incomes. In all three cases, perhaps not incidental, the element of conservation and care of natural resources was central to their practices. The communities involved, as well as those helping the implementation of these initiatives, were aware that through the process of communities shaping the how and what of tourism they would also feel empowered to charter the course of tourism on their terms. These terms, as the cases clearly show, were not about control, but about visioning principles that were respectful and wise.
This dossier, in addition to the case studies, contains some articles (by EQUATIONS as well as other researchers) that serve as a background to the issues. We also have included framework for analysis that may be useful for anyone who wishes to investigate ecotourism /nature based tourism development issues.