Thelivingearth

08/02/2024

We are honored to present our research paper entitled on "Community empowerment through biodiversity conservation by The Living Earth Tours: A Case of social entrepreneurship in Kerala" at the CESTour Conference 2024.

We are grateful for the opportunity provided by the " Birla Institute of Management Technology" and the "CESTour Erasmus+ programme of the European Union" to share insights on sustainable tourism practices in Kerala. The conference promises insightful discussions and forward-thinking solutions.

Our study highlights the transformative impact of social entrepreneurship in the preservation of biodiversity and the empowerment of local communities. It elucidates the grassroot level initiatives and their pivotal role in ensuring conservation based tourism.

Together, let's explore how community empowerment and biodiversity conservation can shape the future of sustainable tourism for all. 🌟


🌏✨

19/05/2022

When our country is planning to construct the second largest dam on the river Brahmaputra at a cost of 50,000 crores, to ensure water security, a large number of dams are being removed from the rivers in Europe to rectify their past mistake which disturbs the very foundation of ecological stability. Through this, ecological flow can be restored to enhance climate resilience and to restore a wide spectrum of biodiversity from eagles to otters. Dams fragment the river, deteriorate the water quality, alter the landscape along with species composition, affect migratory fish routes, and negatively impact the riverine biodiversity, resulting in coastal erosion and beach disappearance which in turn will affect the nesting grounds for turtles whose ecosystem services to the fishing sector is immeasurable, generate greenhouse gas emission, hinder nutrients distribution, etc.
The mere thought of this is seriously disturbing. Being the second most populated country whose dependency on monsoon is vital for ensuring food and water security, do we have the luxury to restore healthy, free-flowing rivers. Climate change has already impacted the timing and the intensity of rainfall and its repercussion can be witnessed in the form of extreme floods and droughts. At this juncture when climate change along with increasing population and rapid unsustainable development is choking our water and food security, do we have the luxury to stand with the short-term solution, or do we have a better strategy to address this crisis? Assuring food and water security is the basic responsibility of the government but what about the sustainability factor?
Good air to breathe, pure water to drink, and healthy food for consumption is our basic right as well as our privilege. Only a healthy, living earth can assure us that luxury.

The Centre has planned to build India's second-largest dam on the Brahmaputra river at Yingkiong in Arunachal Pradesh.

09/12/2021

Ministry of culture, Department of water resources and Wildlife Institute of India is celebrating Nadi Mahotsav and inviting you all to showcase your creative skills in the form of Vlogging/ blogging, Photography and Painting!
Come join us in the celebrations.

11/08/2021

Orchid friendly tourism, an innovative approach to Sustainable Tourism.

Training to tourism stakeholders to create orchid conservation centres in their properties. A status will be assigned based on performance and promoted through Living Earth Tours.

This workshop is exclusively for the selected Living Earth members based on their conviction and commitment for making this planet a better place to live in.

11/08/2021

Orchid friendly tourism, an innovative approach to Sustainable Tourism.

Training to tourism stakeholders to create orchid conservation centres in their properties. A status will be assigned based on performance and promoted through Living Earth Tours.

This workshop is exclusively for the selected Living Earth members based on their conviction and commitment for making this planet a better place to live in.

29/07/2021

According to the distribution of species, organism and ecosystem, India is divided into 10 biogeographic zones. Vegetation/ flora of any landscape is determined by it's topography and rainfall pattern. Accordingly, fauna has evolved or placed themselves in a suitable habitat. Rivers become the blood veins of that landscape, and their banks witnessed the evolution of human civilization, along with their culture and traditions. Everything is closely associated within the web of nature and their actions depend on varying seasons, natural resources and biodiversity around. Without understanding and preserving these ground matrix, we cant protect or preserve the culture and tradition of our communities. Therefore we have that responsibility, to conserve and restore that ground matrix, on which the very base of human foundation rest.

10/07/2021

Neela kurinji 2021. Even though this strobilanthes species is not kunthianus, it hardly resist the flow of crowd from all corners. After experiencing the nature of unmanaged crowd, had a doubt whether the species survive in this part of landscape where restrictions are limited. It was pouring when we started our journey, so never expected anything miraculous, only wish to meet a friend at Shanthanpan. Fortunately the weather turned really awesome when we reached the destination. So we decided to have a look at these rare phenomena of Nature.
Our happiness was short-lived when we saw people, irrespective of gender and age, coming down the mountain with hand full of uprooted strobilanthes plant. We had no other option other than to act but the sad part is that, the people who read and heard the news about Kurinji already knew its conservation importance but still want someone to impose on them strongly. Most of the people where from local communities or the friends of local communities. I was wondering whether an outsider can impose such restriction if we were there without Asish Varghese. Being a local, he was able to convince them without hurting their ego. Its more like a carrot and stick approach.
I always believed in local hero's of conservation rather than expecting a savior from outside to come and protect our precious biodiversity. We should be proud of what we have and should be able to preserve such wonders for our future generation to cherish and appreciate.
I would like to appreciate Vinayak Ayyakunnel and Sreejith V Nair for their timely and well needed support backup to Asish Varghese
#

#

Without the involvement and commitment of local communities, it's impossible to protect the biodiversity outside protected area network. A beautiful story of...

02/05/2021

We had a beautiful world which teaches us to live in harmony for sustaining, not only human race but also the biodiversity all around. It's time to thank Nature for the wonderful climate, abundant oxygen supply, fresh water for our body and soul as well as n number of other services which form the base of human existence. These are not our rights but special privileges of being a part of it wonderful creations.

20/10/2020

Thelivingearth is an association of like minded people who take the responsibility of creating a better world through tourism. Rather than talk, we believe in impact, therefore we only associate with people who do climate friendly tourism and should be ready to take the responsibility of promoting sustainable tourism in that region. We believe in regional heros rather than one man show because each one of us is responsible for the well being of our Planet and it's biodiversity.

30/08/2020

The Living Earth wishes you a Very Happy Onam!

05/08/2020

Hey people!!! We have won Two Oscars! Oh, Not a joke.🤩

When you are into a service sector, what else will be an Oscar than being *“The People’s choice”*

Yes, we are happy & proud to share that two properties of thelivingearth has been awarded as *“Traveller’s Choice 2020” by TripAdvisor.* Thank you, TripAdvisor and People, to choose our properties!

Properties:
*Monsoon Retreat Eco stay, Thekkady,* for a Cherishing getaway admits the breezing natural spirit, yet not disturb the nature anyways.

*Wind Valley Homestay, Ramakelmedu,* for a convenient home away from home with authentic cuisines and beautiful scenic features.
And with no doubt, these properties meet up with the vision of Living Earth.

Living Earth, will always continue to deliver its best in the terms of services while meeting the terms of conservation through *Responsible Tourism* activities that connect the Local Community & *Community Centric Tourism* for the *Environmental & Economic* growth to enrich the *biodiversity*.

We Live in the Earth so that We Love the Earth!

@ India