FRAMED: A WWF-Canon Photo Contest
In 2009, under the aegis of the Green Hiker campaign, WWF-India partnered with Canon to launch an online photo contest called ‘Framed’, on the theme of the Himalayas, with special focus on the threats faced by this ecosystem.
Partnership with MoT
In 2010, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India joined Green Hiker in support through its Incredible India campaign. Its logo can be seen on all Green Hiker collateral.
Green Hiker at Manimahesh lake
For a new campaign and a new wetland site, both clicked. The huge waste problem at Manimahesh Lake in Himachal Pradesh during the annual yatra saw an improvement in 2010 from the year before. Most of this was possible through visible signage, talking to pilgrims, tent and dhaba owners and awareness raising material.
ECOTRAIL: A WWF-LPMI Travelogue Contest
The contest was jointly organized in September 2010 by WWF-India and Lonely Planet Magazine India. Eleven pieces of travel writings were awarded, which spoke of how they traveled green or of experiences in the high altitude Himalayas that moved them to change and inspire change in others. These can be read at
http://greenhikercampaign.blogspot.com/2011/01/ecotrail-travelogue-winning-entries.html
Moreover, the first three award-winning entries were published in the April issue of Lonely Planet Magazine India. The award ceremony was accompanied by a Photo Exhibition by renowned Himalayan photographer Mr. Ashok Dilwali. This greatly complimented the spirit of the Himalayas and the great travel writings.
Green Hiker reaches Dodital Lake
A clean-up drive was jointly organised and conducted by The Shikhar Eco Foundation, the Uttarakhand Forest Department, WWF-India and the Agora village community around Dodital Lake and its trekking route, in November 2010. It was the first organised effort to clean up this high altitude lake. During this expedition, 25 sacks of non-biodegradable waste were collected, which were then brought to Sangamchatti for segregation and recycling.
Educating tourists in West Sikkim
WWF-India’s Sikkim Team organised a three-day programme in Yuksam, West Sikkim from November 1-3, 2010, in collaboration with the Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee and a few volunteer students from the Yuksam Secondary School. Green Hiker posters and message banners were put on display at the Khangchendzonga National Park check post and at the Yuksam market. A blank banner was also put up for tourists to write their feedback on which was full by the end of the programme. Tourists were receptive to the messaging and interacted with the team.
Making new friends in Uttarkashi
WWF-India organised an interactive workshop for local tour operators and other stakeholders in Uttarkashi to highlight the campaign and its relevance to the region, which has several high altitude wetlands that are threatened. It also brought together local stakeholders – tour operators, hoteliers, local communities, educational institutions, local NGOs and the Forest and Tourism government departments, to lay the foundation for collective conservation action in the future.
Training workshop in Jammu with Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI)
WWF-India and ESOI organised a two-day training workshop on ‘Practising Responsible Tourism’ on April 6 and 7, in Jammu, J&K, supported by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department and the Pacific Asia Travel Association –India (PATA). It was attended by tourism service providers, environmentalists, government officials, students and various NGOs. It was aimed at raising awareness on sustainable tourism practices in J&K.
Green Hiker launched in the land of the Everest
For the first time, the campaign surpassed national boundaries and took root in Nepal on May 29, 2011 on World Everest Day, in partnership with Nepal Tourism Board, Government of Nepal. Merchandising, interpersonal communications and events will be the major tools used to promote Green Hiker.
Training workshop in Sikkim
WWF-India, Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS) and Khanchendzonga Conservation Committee (KCC) jointly organised a two-day training workshop on ‘Practising Responsible Tourism’ on June 11-12, 2011 in Gangtok. It enabled a discussion on the current tourism scenario and trends in Sikkim, the urgent need for responsible tourism, successful case studies of community-based and home stays from Arunachal Pradesh and more. Strong emphasis was placed on the need for setting standards and guidelines for home stays, in consultation and agreement with the local communities and the right kind of marketing, to regulate the kind of tourists they receive.
Green Hiker in the virtual world!
Green Hiker is networking full on through Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo and blogger.com!
