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American Duduk Student Wants to Share his thougts about Teghut forest with You


I am on my way to ride an old soviet touring bicycle from
Yerevan to Teghut forest - widely regarded as the most beautiful
natural area in the country of Armenia. It is a poignant journey,
because the ecosystem of this forest is endangered by a copper mine
already under construction in the middle of it.

In Teghut, I hope to see and flee from wolves, bears, and other large
carnivores - which are sorely missing from the forests of Europe. I
hope to see small villages and traditional lifestyles - as a contrast
to the bland monochrome of Westernized modernity. I believe that this
kind of biological and cultural diversity is a greater treasure than
all the works of art in museums, all the monuments - greater even than
the music of Armenia, which is my current passion and reason for being
here.

'Eco-tourism' has been proposed as a possible economic alternative for
the people of this region, who support the copper mine as an income
source which is desperately needed. Maybe I can test out this idea by
being an eco-tourist. My idea of tourism is travelling alone, or with
a partner, with no schedule, to a new place, and participating in the
culture I am visiting. It is much more interesting to work in a
garden, or building a house, or harvesting fruit trees, than to sit in
a tour bus or next to a swimming pool. So how can this kind of tourism
contribute to a local economy, without becoming monetized into tourist
packages and monetization of foreigners?

How can the influx of foreigners provide an opportunity for exhange
and positive reciprocal support, instead of eroding local culture and
catering to the advertising whim of tourists?

I have many questions like these. Sustainable tourism is a key issue
for much of the developing world. If I can gather any insight along
the way, I will try to articulate it! Otherwise I have no camera, no
computer, and no desire to chronicle my experience in the blogosphere.
:) Wish me luck, and please wish Armenia, and Teghut forest the very
best of luck.


jhno

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