Surfbirds News: BirdLife International Archives
Zululand Birding Route celebrates ten years
One of Africa’s most established and celebrated ecotourism initiatives, the Zululand Birding Route (ZBR), celebrated its 10th anniversary this weekend.
“It has been a real conservation success story. To see the Zululand Birding Route reach 10 years is testament to how simple and effective the avitourism [birding ecotourism] concept has been in this case,” said Duncan Pritchard, BirdLife South Africa Avitourism Division Manager. “There have been winners all round: local economies, jobs, education and, of course, the birds.”
Pel's Fishing Owl, South Africa, Lower Mkuzi July 2005 ?? Adrian Jordi
Celebrations for the anniversary took place over three days and included guided tours of the Birding Route, a film festival, Bird Fair and a Forest Birders Camp.
The ZBR initiative has received appraisal globally for combining economic benefits to local communities (through “birder-friendly” establishments and local bird guides) with environmental benefits relating to habitat protection and bird conservation. The ZBR, along with the established Greater Limpopo Birding Route, are worth an estimated ZAR 50 million (USD 6.8million) per year in direct economic value to the South African region. |
