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*This article was originally published by Southern Cone Journeys on October 6, 2011. View original article “Indigenous Communities and Tourism: The Benefits of Co-Management“

Los Flamencos National Reserve protects the largest nesting colony of the Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus). Photo: © Hernán Torres

By Marcela Torres

Co-management of protected areas by the State and local communities is one of the best ways to guarantee that tourism will provide economic and social benefits to many people who would otherwise be marginalized, and at the same time that it ensures protection of the environment on which these communities rely on for their income. An excellent example is the Soncor Sector of Los Flamencos National Reserve, in the Atacama Desert of the Antofagasta Region, in northern Chile.

Tourism Development in Los Flamencos National Reserve

Los Flamencos National Reserve is located within the Atacama La Grande Indigenous Development Area, which was established in 1997 to promote sustainable development of the ancient territories of the Lickan Antay peoples. Since then, the Lickan Antay communities have strengthened their ancient rights to use the resources, in many cases using traditional ways and in others, applying modern natural resource management techniques.

When the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) began charging entrance fees to visit the Reserve about a decade ago, the Lickan Antay Community of Toconao cut off the road to access Laguna Chaxa, in the Soncor Sector, to demand that tourism carried out in their ancient territories would also benefit the descendants of this ethnic group that live in this nearby town.

Their action brought about a revision of the plan and CONAF and the Lickan Antay communities signed co-management agreements for four of the seven sectors of the Reserve: Soncor, Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, Moon Valley and Tambillo. Income generated from the entrance fees to these sites, which attract national and foreign visitors, has allowed the communities to strengthen programs to aid elderly and disabled people in their communities.

This bilingual sign at the entrance explains the co-management project and the local guide system to visitors. Photo: © Ricardo Cerda

At the same time, a significant amount of these incomes is invested in the management of each sector and staff salaries. The inclusion of local community personnel in the management of these sectors has, in turn, allowed CONAF to redirect its staff to sectors and activities that were previously left largely unattended.

First Sustainable Visitor Center

Because of the increasing interest shown by tourists from the nearby town of San Pedro de Atacama, the community decided to improve the site’s infrastructure and visitor information. To that end, in 2006, it partnered with CONAF and SQM mining company, which exploits lithium in the Atacama Salt Flat, to develop the first sustainable Visitor Center in the country to be built in a protected area.

The project included the architectural design and construction of the Visitor Center, incorporating techniques such as reuse of grey water and electricity generation through solar panels and wind mills. The roads were also repaired and the parking lot expanded.

This was the first sustainable Visitor Center built in a protected area in Chile, using renewable wind and solar energy. Photo: © Hernán Torres

At the same time, a group of local guides was trained, all of them members of the Lickan Antay Community of Toconao, in interpretation techniques, to convey effectively to visitors the natural and cultural values of the area. To support this, five bilingual signs were developed for the interpretive trail and 18 for the inner hall of the Center. A documentary video was also produced, in Spanish with English subtitles, to complement information provided to visitors.

The results could not have been better. Visitors to Laguna Chaxa comment that it is a pleasure to pay an entrance fee because you can see that the revenues are invested in the people and in improving the place, where you no longer find garbage lying around and there is good infrastructure. In addition, tourism has provided local people with a new source of income and each day more and more Lickan Antay Community members seek training to be part of the benefits of responsible tourism.

A local Lickan Antay guide explains the importance of conservation to a group of school children. Photo: © Marcela Torres

Local Lickan Antay guides accompany visitors in the interpretive trail, providing in-depth explanations and answering questions. Photo: © Hernán Torres

Southern Cone Journeys

Southern Cone Journeys is a responsible tourism operator based in Chile. Our tours provide you with a unique opportunity to experience the country’s natural and cultural heritage in depth. We have designed excursions off the beaten path, allowing you to be in close contact with locals and to discover scenic wonders that will take your breath away.

Southern Cone Journeys es un operador de turismo responsable con base en Chile. Nuestras excursiones le brindarán una oportunidad única para experimentar en profundidad el patrimonio natural y cultural de nuestro país. Hemos diseñado excursiones en rutas poco exploradas, que le permitirán entrar en contacto cercano con la gente local y descubrir maravillas paisajísticas que lo dejarán asombrado.