The document summarizes the origin and objectives of the BTCA organization, which was formed to address socioeconomic issues faced by villagers living around the GHNP national park after natural resource utilization was prohibited. The BTCA works to promote environment protection, biodiversity conservation, and livelihoods for locals through programs like women's savings groups, training, and marketing of sustainable products. Outcomes include increased community incomes, savings, and women's participation in decision making. Challenges remain around production, marketing, and overcoming social obstacles, but the future aims to strengthen identity and mobilize more villagers.

1. Origin of BTCA
 GHNP is not only the land of splendid nature, the area is also
inhabited for centuries by villagers whose livelihood closely depends
on the natural environment
 GHNP is created in 1999 for conservation of
landscape, biodiversity and endangered species
 Utilization of natural resources in the park became prohibited. As a
consequence, villagers were deprived of a substantial part of their
income
 To address this socioeconomic issue, the park authorities have
encouraged the villagers to make a local organization. It was named
SAHARA
 In 2008, SAHARA has given birth to a fresh organization BTCA
 BTCA stands for protection of environment and conservation of
biodiversity by making it socially feasible and economically viable for
the local community

2. Objectives of BTCA
 Rising awareness for protection of environment and conservation of
biodiversity among the local community
 Ensuring decent livelihood for the villagers by creating sources of
income which do not require to utilize the park’s resources
 Promoting inclusive socioeconomic development through upliftment
of the poorest and lowest cast families
 Social, economic and political empowerment of women
 Ensuring that tourism in the park benefit the villagers in the first
place
 Promotion of girl education
 Rising awareness for women and children health

3. Actions of BTCA
 Formation and empowerment of “Women Saving and Credit Groups”
(WSCGs) among the poorest and lowest cast families in the ecozone
 The eco-zone is divided in 9 clusters headed by selected “Group
Organizers” who follow, support and motivate their respective groups
 The WSCGs are encouraged to save daily at least one rupee that
they place on their joint bank account. They are also getting
involved in various production activities in the villages
 The saved money is gradually invested in income generating
activities
 In association with the park BTCA offers training, facilitates
production and marketing for the following products :
• Organic spices, medicinal plants and other agriculture products
• Apricot oil, honey, ghee
• Handicrafts
• Jams and juices made of local raw materials
 Training of youngsters for being employed in ecotourism activities
 Awareness programme through street theatre for conservation of
nature, health issues, girl child education

4. Outcomes
 52 WSCG’s have been formed, with a total of 546 members. Out of
them 194 belong to scheduled (lower) cast
 Total saving of the groups adds up to 1,195,699 rupees
 30 medicinal plants propagation areas implemented
 110 vermi-compost beds are productive
 Total income generated through the new production/marketing
system for the last 3 years:
• Agriculture produces : 195,789 rupees
• Medicinal plants : 563,620 rupees
• Processed products : 146,614 rupees
• Handicraft : 70,065 rupees
• Worms and compost : 236,244 rupees
• Wages : 269,920 rupees
 4 souvenir shops have been opened for marketing of the products
 Total income generated by ecotourism : 320,412 rupees
 20 days awareness programme organized yearly since 2008
 22 ladies from the WSCGs have been elected in the local
administration. Many are now involved in village level decision making.

5. Outcomes
Report of saving and loaning
1400000
1200000
1000000
800000
Consumption Loan
600000
Production Loan
Total Saving
400000
200000
0
Dec. 2009
Dec. 2010
Dec. 2011
Jun. 2010
Jun. 2011
Jan. 2009
Oct. 2008
Aug. 2012

6. Outcomes
Report of Income Generated Activities
300000
250000
200000
150000 2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
100000
50000
0
Agriculture Medicinal Processed Handicraft Ecotourism Wages Worms and
Produces Plants Products compost

7. Challenges of BTCA
 Organizing systematic and regular production
 Opening appropriate marketing channels
 Involving more villagers in the socioeconomic movement
 Increasing the ecotourism profit return to the villagers
 Overcoming the social obstacles arising because of the cast factor
 Having some control on the tourism market forces for preserving the
landscape, the rural traditional culture, and respecting the ecotourism
principles

8. The future of BTCA
 Asserting the BTCA’s identity (new logo, web site, promotional
documents, capacity building of the members, etc)
 Widening the range of production to home-made products that can
be marketed according to the fair-trade principles
 Mobilization of more villagers for formation of new WSCGs and
reinforcement of the promoted village social system
 Providing incentives for the Group Organizers and the most active
WSCGs
 Policy advocacy for benefiting of a well defined and legal frame
laying down the rules and regulations for ecotourism in GHNP
 Keeping the WSCGs away from partism
 Involving the villagers in conservation activities

9. BTCA
Biodiversity, tourism and community advancement
We hope the GHNP will be included the World
Heritage list. It will surely help BTCA in its
efforts to improve the living conditions of the
villagers and to preserve their culture and
identity…