Sustain ancient falconry traditions in Kazakhstan

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Sustain ancient falconry traditions in Kazakhstan

Toronto, Kazakhstan
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

My approach helps this Central Asia place to enhance local heritage of hunting with bird of prey, that dates back to medieval ages.

About You
Contact Information
Title

Mr.

First name

Khazret

Last name

Sapenov

Your job title

Your Job Title

Name of your organization

Just me and my friends

Organization type

Organization Type

Annual budget/currency

Annual Budget/Currency

Mailing address

910-2980 Don Mills rd, Toronto Canada

Telephone number

Telephone Number

Postal/Zip Code
Country
Website

http://ihatecubicle.blogspot.com/2008/01/geo-tourism-in-kazakhstan.html

Email address

sapenov@gmail.com

Alternative email address

Alternative email address

Your idea
This will be the address used to plot your entry on the map.
Street Address

910-2980 Don Mills rd

City

Toronto

State/Province

Canada

Postal/Zip Code
Country
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant

Organization size

Indicate sector in which you principally work

Destination-stewardship business

Year innovation began

2007

Indicate sector in which you principally work

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Innovation
What is the goal of your innovation? Please describe in one sentence the kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.

Falconry tourism is pretty rare in the world and supports ancient traditions in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Please write an overview of your project. Include how your approach supports or embodies geotourism or destination stewardship. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the map located on the competition homepage.

My approach helps this Central Asia place to enhance local heritage of hunting with bird of prey, that dates back to medieval ages.

Explain in detail why your approach is innovative

Though no one knows exactly when the use of birds of prey for hunting began, the International Association for Falconry states that historians trace the sport's roots as far back as 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, to kings who ruled ancient Persia. This type of geotorusim sustains local environment that tries to preserve rare bird species, used for hunting like falcons and golden eagles. It also uses horses and local hounds.

Impact
Describe the degree of success you have had to date. How do you measure, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the impact on sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How has it transformed or contributed to the power of place or demonstrated the sustainability of tourism? How does your approach minimize negative impacts?

This approach is ecologically clean and doesn't affect global warming in any way. It is commercially succesful as well. My approach would help to increase number of people that are able to keep ancient traditions as well as increase quality of international falconry by exchange. I'm not aware of any negative impacts so far.

In what ways are local residents actively involved in your work, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?

Local residents are pretty involved, read on following independent resources http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-falconry_webfeb03,1,2... and http://www.pmicro.kz/~falcon/falcon_e/

How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?

This program is unique and guarantees 100% satisfaction, since it is very different from traditional sight-seeing or even active types of tourism, as it is multi-modal type of engagement.

Describe how your work helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area's cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues.

The innovation gives travelers and local residents unique chance to get best of falconry on its natural territory, thus promoting area's cultural and natural heritage.

Sustainability
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.

This is not currently financed by any source of funding and is totally non-profit.

Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? Is there a potential demand for your innovation?

It is commercially profitable and there might be great demand for this type of geotourism, given that government of Kazakhstan have dedicated funding for tourism development. I think what is required - more promotion in highly-developed countries.

What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?

Mostly lack of access to mass media advertising.

What is your plan to expand or further develop your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.

At current stage the approach is only gaining traction and we plan use social networking to enhance our innovation.

The Story
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell the Changemakers and media communities what prompted you to start this initiative.

Hunting with golden eagles in Kazakhstan, is ancient and deeply esteemed tradition, and hunters-berkutchi are one of the most esteemed persons in a society. The first world falconry festival took place on July14-15, 2007 in Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom http://www.falconryfestival.com/ Festival gathered teams from 33 countries, including USA, France, Germany, Belgium, Japan, Brazil, China, South Korea, Turkmenistan, England and others. Kazakhstan team was recognized the best one.

Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.

My name is Khazret Sapenov. I was born in Kazakhstan and lived there for 30 years. My area of research is fundamental mathematical problems. Currently I live and work in Toronto, Canada with my family.

Describe some unique tourist experiences that your approach provides. Be specific; give illustrative examples.

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What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?

Maybe some kind of partnership with media like National Geographic, Lonely Planet or other ways to be presented to wide masses of tourists.