News
 Plateau Perspectives launches documentary on ecotourism in Kyrgyzstan22.05.2020Today, on International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May 2020, Plateau Perspectives launches a conservation-oriented short film about ecotourism in Kyrgyzstan, in an alliance with the Mountain Partnership and the International Ecotourism Society (TIES). The short film aims to bring greater international attention to the country’s potential for ecotourism. The film, titled “The Future We Want: Building Partnerships in Ecotourism and Conservation for Mountain Sustainability”, is a 20-minute documentary filmed in Kyrgyzstan. The film follows a small group of travelers as they explore the mountain region through ecotourism, partnering with two community conservancies in the vicinity of Lake Issykul - the Shumkar Association, comprised of former poachers who now monitor and protect local wildlife, and the community-run Baibosun Nature Reserve in the Tianshan Mountains. Produced by Plateau Perspectives Director Marc Foggin and Pavel Bolshakov, the documentary is an integral part of the ecotourism and community-based conservation project undertaken by Plateau Perspectives and Horseback Planet Society, co-led by long-time friends and project partners Foggin and Chris Yuan (那么).The project, launched in October 2019, is a trial ecotourism venture in the Lake Issykul region of Kyrgyzstan. The purpose was to collaborate with and support two mountain communities actively engaged in the conservation of the elusive snow leopard and other endangered wildlife and their habitats in the Tianshan Mountains. Participants of the trial adventure came from China, Canada, Germany and Kyrgyzstan, and included nationally renowned Chinese actress Hao Xingqi. This ecotourism venture was undertaken in partnership with Ilbirs (Snow Leopard) Foundation, Araketke-Bereket and Ecoland Travel. Plateau Perspectives is a non-government organization that aims to promote conservation and sustainable development in the Tibetan Plateau region of China and the mountains of Central Asia, and is at the forefront of ecotourism development in Kyrgyzstan. The group is working towards “purpose driven tourism” in Central Asia through a variety of means, including a trial ecotourism venture, policy briefs, academic research and this engaging short film. In their policy brief, Plateau Perspectives explains that Kyrgyzstan is the perfect opportunity to implement purpose-driven tourism that is both sustainable and community-based. Central Asia remains relatively little known on the global stage, but tourism is on the rise: more than three million people visit Kyrgyzstan each year. With visa-free entry for nationals from many countries, Kyrgyzstan has become the most accessible country in the region. Its mountains, wildlife, culture and uncounted possibilities for adventure have made it a ‘rising star’ of tourism in Central Asia. Purpose-driven tourism is different than regular tourism in that it is "high value, low number" and, more importantly, it seeks to advance the fundamental values and aspirations held by society. In Plateau Perspectives' work, two types of purpose-driven tourism come together: community-based tourism and ecotourism. Community based tourism seeks mainly to promote people's wellbeing, whereas ecotourism aims not only to bring benefit to local communities but also to protect the environment and to enhance environmental awareness. Both of these approaches have already begun to take root in Kyrgyzstan. For example, the community-centred work of Ilbirs Foundation in Kyrgyzstan is enabling local associations comprised of former poachers to protect critically endangered wildlife while also supporting themselves through ecotourism. Plateau Perspectives is also shining a spotlight on the importance of biodiversity in mountains. They prepared a policy brief on the topic that also addresses the possibilities for responsible tourism and sustainable mountain development. The brief explains that tourism in mountains may be leveraged to contribute to meaningful adaptation by agro-pastoralist communities living in these fragile socioecological systems in the face of climate change and globalization. The way forward in Kyrgyzstan may include many purpose-driven tourism initiatives, including the development of a “Great Tianshan Trail” modeled after the Great Himalayan Trails in Nepal and beyond. Read Plateau Perspectives’ policy brief on ecotourism Read Plateau Perspectives’ policy brief on mountain biodiversity News and photo from Marc Foggin - Plateau Perspectives
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