In Summer 2012 a Xining based community service NGO traveled to three communities in Kham, working with local community leaders and monastery representatives on raising environment awareness and exploring ecotourism opportunities in their areas. The local communities are interested in developing ecotourism to protect their surroundings again mass tourism initiatives, preserve traditional lifestyles like nomadic herding and to provide sustainable income for locals.
monks are getting training in waste disposal
International tourism experts worked alongside local experts to give an introduction in the basic requirements for ecotourism and look at possible ecotourism products like home stay, hiking, horse trekking, cultural tours, art courses and other local experiences. SInce monasteries play a leading role in these areas and a clean environment is key for ecotourism to be a success, monks were given practical training in biodegrading time of waste, organizing clean up programs and the importance of making waste management systems. The monks will share their new knowledge with the local communities.