Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project

by Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences
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Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project
Naalumanikattu: Rural Sustainable Tourism Project

Summary

An innovative village way-side ecotourism project in Kottayam. Transformed from a wayside dump yard, it now features local & heritage food stalls, providing an evening leisure spot. It promotes women empowerment, offers livelihood support, & foster habitat and water conservation. It also emphasizes energy conservation, sustainable waste management, & preservation of heritage food & culture, aligning with SDGs through community engagement & environmental stewardship.

$10,000
total goal
$10,000
remaining
0
donors
0
monthly donors
25
days

Challenge

The Manarcaud-Ettumanoor Bypass Road, built in 1995, faced neglect, becoming a dumping site (especially household and slaughter house wastes) and dangerous area. Eventually, it turned out to be a night shelter for drunkards and robbers. In 2010, residents, with TIES' support, initiated a sustainable waste management project to restore its beauty. This has deteriorated the water quality and affected biodiversity, leading to serious ecological imbalance and social issues.

Solution

The MEB Residents Association proposed a local evening destination & rest stop for commuters. Ensuring vigilance, volunteers conducted regular clean-ups and Local women offered traditional food cuisine to visitors. To achieve sustainability, a beneficiary model was developed, incorporating food stalls, vegetable stands, a library, heritage item stalls, & a public amenity center. Fruit trees planted, educational boards installed, & sustainable practices employed for informal community education.

Long-Term Impact

The innovation's novelty lies in its self-sustainable model, support for local livelihoods, and emphasis on water, energy, and biodiversity conservation. It transforms both the host and visiting communities towards a conservation mindset. Its participatory nature and local ownership ensure sustainability, encouraging communities to adopt sustainable lifestyles in alignment with the SDGs. Despite its simplicity & low investment, the model faces challenges in attracting developers and policymakers

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources

Organization Information

Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences

Location: Kottayam, Kerala - India
Website:
Facebook: Facebook Page
Twitter: @tiesktm
Project Leader:
Punnen Kurian
Kottayam , Kerala India

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