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In addition to news, interviews and media advisories, the FAO News and Media office is now distributing real-life stories of farmers, pastoralists, fisher folks, indigenous peoples, forest dwellers and others in the sector.
News agencies and media outlets are welcome to reproduce and reuse these stories and related photos with proper credit given. A link back to the original story is also appreciated.
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Eco-travelling with mountain communities
Mountain regions around the world have long held a fascination for visitors, drawn by the rugged natural landscapes, outdoor activities, cooler summer temperatures and unique mountain cultures.
In fact, for these communities, tourism brings with it a real economic lifeline. Mountains may look pretty, but they can be a tough place to live. They are remote areas with high levels of food insecurity,
a lack of infrastructure and very few jobs. Tourism is a key source of income, but making sure activities are sustainable is vital to protect the natural beauty of mountainous areas and their cultural heritage. As travel begins to pick back up, we have a chance
to rethink tourism, making sure it is sustainable in the long-term for the environment and local communities.
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat at FAO and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have a new publication that explores the ways that mountain communities can leverage this to their advantage, creating
both sustainable tourism opportunities and robust livelihoods.
Here are just some places that are already doing that:
Ancient red rice in Philippines
Nestled in the Cordillera mountain range in the Philippines are the Fummag Rice Terraces, famous across the country for their superior rice production.
"Rice in the Philippine Cordillera represents life, culture and identity. It is the first crop to be planted before all other crops. It is the first food families prepare before cooking other foods," says
72-year-old Lita, who has worked in the rice fields her whole life.
Ulikan red rice, native to the village of Pasil, is particularly renowned and Lita's ancestors have been growing this heirloom variety since ancient times. Legend has it that when the great leader Likan of
the Taguibong tribes went missing after a hunt, the Ulikan red rice variety grew from his remains. The tribe brought the seeds home and planted them in remembrance of their leader. Fast forward several generations and there are over 400, predominantly women,
Ulikan red rice farmers in the Pasil area.
Stargazing in the Himalayas
Do you fancy lying under the night sky, watching shooting stars in one of the best stargazing spots in the world? This is what some communities deep in the Himalayas are offering with their astrotourism services,
which include night-time stargazing and special events for solar eclipses or meteor showers. Remote, mountainous areas offer the best vantage points for these events and, situated at an elevation of over 3 000 metres, the Indian region of Ladakh is the perfect
location.
Since 2018 villages across Ladakh have been following a community-led astrotourism model developed by the International Astronomical Union and Mountain Partnership member Global Himalayan Expedition. ‘Astrostays’,
owned and operated by local communities, include homestays and stargazing sessions for tourists.
“Ever since we introduced astrostays in the village of Maan, tourists are now staying overnight to experience the night stargazing sessions, which has helped to generate additional income for us,” said Tsering
Dorjey, a 29 year-old village resident.
Thirty women from 15 different villages have been trained in the basics of astronomy and hospitality. A team of five trained community members from Maan conduct night sky viewing sessions for the incoming
travellers.
“Tourists are now also visiting us in cold winters, when stargazing is at its best, which has helped to spread the benefits of tourism year-round,” Tsering added.
Experiencing nomadic life in Iran
It would be harder to find a more extraordinary experience than going on a migration with a nomadic tribe.
The tribes of Iran historically reside in mountainous areas, migrating twice a year so that their cattle can graze. However, the remoteness of their communities and the unique lifestyle often result in social
exclusion and poverty, causing younger generations to abandon nomadism and settle for generally low-level jobs in cities. This only exacerbates the communities’ poverty and risks the ethnicity and culture of these nomadic tribes gradually disappearing forever.
Ecotourism, on the other hand, offers nomadic peoples the chance to keep living in the mountains while maintaining financial stability and preserving their local culture.
IRANomad Tours has developed an ecotourism model that allows small groups of responsible foreign travellers the chance of joining a nomadic family from the Bakhtiari tribe on its migration. This tribe moves
between the provinces of Bakhtiari, Chaharmahal and Khuzestan in the Zagros Mountains in southwestern Iran. During the journey, tourists share food, chores and tents with the family.
Increasing tourism has sparked the ambition of nomadic youth to become certified tour guides. A nine-month training course will give them a local guide certificate issued by the Iranian Ministry of Tourism,
allowing them to offer their own customised tours.
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The original story and related photos can be found at: https://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1459007/
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Media outlets are welcome to reproduce the article and related photos provided that FAO and the photographers are given credit. A link back to the original story is also appreciated. Please contact [log in to unmask] for the original photos or other information.
(+39) 06 570 53625 This email was issued by the Media Office at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
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