„Sustainability‟ of Sustainable Development Discourse (With Special Focus on Community Based Eco-tourism in the Sinharaja Rain Forest)

Abstract

Community based eco-tourism (CBET) is a well-established concept that based on
sustainable development discourse and its implementation has been an important component
for many regional development and eco-system management strategies. This research paper
argues that CBET under the sustainable development discourse has originated as a western
concept, however, CBET operates within diversgeo-political, economic and cultural contexts,
which generate challenges to achieve realistic goals of sustainable development discourse.
This research examines a CBET initiative in the Kudawa- Sinharaja site, Sri Lanka which
shifted in 1995 from a central government approach under the forestry sector master plan, in
line with western CBET and sustainable development ideologies.

A qualitative approach has principally guided this research together with quantitative analysis
to examine the socio-cultural, socio-economic and geo-political context. A total of 293
participants have provided information for this research, which includes 193 interviews (115
individuals, and 15 different focus groups totalling 78 people) and 100 questionnaire
respondents. These participants were surveyed during late 2012 and early 2013, and included
both domestic and overseas tourists, local community residents and tourist operators, tourism
consultants, and government officials. A critical discourse analysis (CDA) method was used
to examine both primary qualitative data, which were collected through participant and direct
observation, interviews as well as secondary data. One of the main findings is that despite
plans being developed at a community level, the wider context includes superimposed
capitalism, which dominates and counteracts the ideologies of sustainable development
discourse. Superimposed capitalism results in individualistic and competitive behaviours that
undermine the collaborative community approach. It encourages poaching and the selling of
rare flora and fauna (biopiracy), and results in anthropogenic disturbances to nature.

Further, this research also highlights the strong influence of geo-politics, which operates at
both the international and domestic scale. Political corruption, access to funds, and the lack of
established decision making processes are also associated with geo-politics. This research
also underlines the influence of the socio-cultural context such as gender inequality and caste
discrimination, which substantially disempower certain people. The research concludes that
sustainable development discourseis a phantasy ideology if not to be addressed, in particular,
superimposed capitalism, socio-cultural and geo-political issues in the particular areas. The
findings of this research will inform CBET in similar developing countries, but caution is
required because the geo-political, economic and cultural context is different in every country.

Keywords: Sustainable development discourse, Community based eco-tourism