Bird-based ecotourism for conservation and sustainable livelihoods: Connecting research with policy and practice in the Far Eastern Himalaya

Harnessing the landscape’s potential for bird-based ecotourism The Landscape Initiative for Far Eastern Himalayas (HI-LIFE) – implemented by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and its national partners – aims to scale out such bird-based ecotourism within the landscape’s three member countries – China, India, and Myanmar – and possibly across other Hindu Kush Himalayan countries. This potential for bird-based ecotourism is supported by the deep environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic ties among the three countries sharing the transboundary landscape. These countries have identified birdwatching tourism as a priority conservation and development strategy.

The Initiative aims to strengthen integrated conservation and development actions in the landscape through bird-based ecotourism by establishing links among communities, civil societies, academia, businesses, and governments.