ECO -TOURISM IN THE HIMALAYAS : A RECREATIONAL WAY TO ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS IN INDIA Dr. S. K. Sharma Environmental Education Department, Carman Residential and Day School, Dehradun 248007, India sks105@rediffmail.com
Land Use Classification in India (2005-2006) Net Area Sown (violet 49%) Forest (blue 21%) Non Agricultural Uses (Yellow 6%) Permanent Pastures and Other Grazing Land (light blue 3%) Miscellaneous Tree Crops and Groves (maroon 1%) Culturable Wasteland (brown 4%) Non Agricultural Uses (red 8%) Fallow Land ( dark blue 8%) Forestry is the second largest land-use after agriculture
Introduction (National forest vegetation map) The forest cover as per Government Forest Report of 2003 is about 0.7 million km², which constitutes about 21 % of the geographic area of the country and plays a significant role in preserving the ecological balance and natural eco-systems.
Biodiversity status of India India is one of the 16 mega-biodiversity nations of the world, despite being very densely populated. With only 2.4% of the land area, accounts for 7-8% of the recorded species of the world, including over 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals.
Threats to biodiversity Traditional and substantial dependence on biodiversity resources for fodder, fuel wood, timber and minor forest produce has been an accepted way of life for the rural population that accounts for nearly 74% of India's population. With radical demographic changes, the land to man ratio and forest to man ratio has rapidly declined. The lifestyles and the biomass resource needs having remained unchanged, the remnant forests have come under relentless pressure of encroachment for cultivation, and unsustainable resource extraction rendering the very resource base unproductive and depleted of its biodiversity.
Threats to biodiversity.continues Forests are an economic benefit but hugely challenged due to these diverse socioeconomic pressures. Therefore, the forests and biodiversity came under adverse attack leading to habitat degradation.
Threats to biodiversity.continues There was no institutional structure in the country specially designed to create consciousness and to educate people regarding the role of forests. It is an ongoing struggle to balance the need for conservation with the need for development. The illegal practices that have been detected in the forest industry are largely illegal logging of various forms and movement of wood products, which may not have been harvested legally.
Conservation measures For combating illegal and corrupt acts in the forestry sector, the National Commission on agriculture, government of India introduced the social forestry, agro forestry concept, Joint Forest Management Committee s, Van Panchayats and Village Councils to protect the forest areas in 1976 and for making use of all unused, degraded and fallow land, involving farmers and local people in forestry activities to meet the growing demand for timber, fuel wood, fodder etc, thereby, reducing the pressure on traditional forest area and increasing the income of the family.
Conservation measures.continues In addition, Government of India has enacted Forest Conservation Act, 1980 with an objective to effectively controlling the illegal forest and forest based trade. In order to conserve the natural heritage of the country and to protect and preserve the wild fauna and flora, it has established 523 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 99 National Parks and 15 Biosphere Reserves to augment this priceless national asset. THESE WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES, NATIONAL PARKS AND BIOSPHERE RESERVES NOW ACT AS SITES OF ECO-TOURISM.
How Eco-tourism in seen in India? It involves travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specific objectives of studying, admiring and enjoying nature and its wild plants and animals as well as any existing cultural aspects, past or present, found in these areas. It stresses on the total environment while making an economic contribution to local community and is distinguished from mass tourism or general resort tourism by having a lower impact on the environment and requiring less infrastructure development.
Bio-diversity of the Himalayan zone The Garhwal Himalayas, in the far north, constituting 6.4% of the total geographical area includes some of the highest peaks in the world and makes India one of the richest areas in terms of habitats and species.
Bio-diversity of the Himalayan zone.continues Here one finds the alpine and sub-alpine forests, grassy meadows and moist mixed deciduous forests provide diverse habitat for endangered species such as Tiger, Bharal, Ibex, Markhor, Tahr, and Takin. Other rare and endangered species restricted to this zone include Hangul and Musk Deer.
Loss of bio-diversity in the Himalayan zone But these soft wood from coniferous forests of the Himalayas are largely cut illegally for the use of pulp, furniture, packing boxes and also as timber in building houses. Poaching, hunting and illegal felling of trees are some major causes of forest and animal species extinction.
Objective of Eco-tourism in the Himalayas Government of India as well as state Governments, specially, the Uttarakhand Government has started the Eco-Tourism in the country to save forests and its biodiversity specially, the fragile Himalayan Eco System and culture and heritage of the indigenous people, which is probably the largest concentration in the world.
Conservation measures Like many countries have established their Eco - tourism sector around their natural wildlife so as India. India offers many opportunities for tourists to see the country's wildlife in its National Parks, such as the Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park, Jim Corbett National Park are only a few to mention.
Rajaji National Park The wildlife here includes elephant, tiger, panther, bear, chital, sambar, wild bear, kakar, python, monitor lizard and a large variety of avian (birds) fauna. Tiger
Gloriosa superba - an ornamental orchid of Himalaya
Musk Deer in their natural habitat
Rhino in Kaziranga National Park
Rafting in Ganges : a part of Eco tourism and challenge that leads to an ultimate adventure Garhwal also has immense scope for adventure sports like river rafting, aero-sports and skiing. Rafting in Ganges - the 150 km long route from Rudraprayag via Srinagar to Rishikesh while passing through picturesque dense forest along with freezing temperature and some whirlpool experiences creates rough and thrashing rapids at the initial stage. The U-tube follows :
Tangible benefits of eco-tourism The various ways in which eco-tourism is found to be beneficial : Greater Awareness Generation among the public - The stakeholders in Indian forestry are largely the forest dwelling and forest dependent communities, religious centers and industries. Eco-tourism is the best possible program in which the forest dependent communities are made aware of the problem facing the Indian forestry and their combined clout is used to advance the cause of forestry in India. Eco-tourism also exposed school children the future generation of policy maker, to the relevance and importance of our forests.
benefits of eco-tourism.continues Benefit to local community - Eco-tourism plays a very significant role in reducing the dependence of local communities on the forest. Setting up of an Eco-tourism unit not only provide them with means of employment but also make them stakeholder in the financial progress of such an enterprise. The Eco-tourists constitute a readymade market for Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) such as honey, medicinal herbs and traditional local handicrafts at their very doorsteps.
benefits of eco- tourism.continues Benefits to the forest and forest department By providing the local people with alternative source of income, Eco-tourism drastically reduce the biotic pressures in the region which automatically lead to greater habitat improvement.
benefits of eco-tourism.continues Policy and legal framework Government of India has issued policy and guidelines on Eco-tourism in India in the year 1998. The policy states that international tourists visiting interiors of the country for reasons of purity of the environment and nature contributes to the development of the areas particularly the backward regions. Thus, tourism should also become a reason to better preservation ad protection of our natural resources, environment and ecology.
Conclusions Eco-tourism has played a significant role in reducing the dependence of local communities on the forests in India. It not only provides direct financial benefits for conservation but it also provide empowerment for local people. The local communities and local authorities are addressing the needs of the eco-tourists and promoting ecotourism plan which meets the economic needs of the local population whilst protecting the landscape in which they live.
Conclusions.continues Such responsible travel to natural areas conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Eco-tourism has also played a significant role in reducing the poverty of the local communities through employment generation based on the forests.
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