Ecotourism as an Alternative to Upland Rubber Cultivation in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, Luang Namtha

• Economic policy and administration
• Environment and natural resources
• Livelihood rights
• Protected areas
• Rubber
• Tourism

Tourism arrivals in Laos continue to rise, reaching over one million people in 2005. It seems that visitors are primarily interested in the country’s natural and cultural attractions. There is concern now that forested lands used for community based ecotourism may be earmarked for conversion to rubber plantations. Since 2002, both ecotourism and rubber cultivation have become important economic activities in Luang Namtha province. This paper reports on the financial benefits that ecotourism is generating around the Nam Ha NPA, arguing that it generates financial benefits for local people while protecting the environment and culture of Laos. Rubber may provide less profit and negatively affects national biodiversity. It is concluded that ecotourism activities and rubber plantations can both be conducted viably, but not in the same immediate areas.

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Ecotourism as an Alternative to Upland Rubber Cultivation in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, Luang Namtha

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Document type	Advocacy and promotional materials
Publication date	2007
Publisher	UNDP
Access and use constraints	The journal 'Juth Pakai' or 'new thought' was a development journal produced in Laos appears with the support of the UNDP in Laos. It appears to be an open source journal, however, it has not been possible to locate a online source outlining the copy-right terms or contents of the journal. It appears to be discontinued.
Copyright	No
License	unspecified
Author (individual)	Steven Schipani
Language	English
Date modified	9 Dec 2018