Ecotourism in Karnataka

What is Ecotourism?
The Ecotourism society in 1991 defined it as
Responsible Travel to natural areas that
conserves the Environment and sustains the
well-being of the local people
It came to be described as, travelling to
relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural
areas with the specific objective of studying,
admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild
plants and animals, as well as any existing
cultural manifestations found in these areas

Origin of Ecotourism
Alexander von Humboldt grandfather of
Ecotourism, born in 1769,Berlin . Idea of
interrelation of all natural objects. 8
characteristics of Ecotourism
In the 20th century- In 1983 the word
Ecotourism coined by Hector CeballosLascurain, Mexican architect and
environmentalist

Environment and Tourism

Tourism is a panacea - but is in fact a queer mix
of the good and the bad. The good is associated
with sustainable development policies, the bad
is dubbed with mass tourism.
The dilemma is when tourism is allowed to
penetrate into vulnerable and fragile
environments, like coasts, wetlands, tropical
forests - and mountains.
Mountains - used as a metaphor for stability and
strength, but their ecosystems are inherently
weak and have limited tolerance for human
activity - and above all for aggressive tourism.
God does not seem to have designed mountains for
people, not for too many of them anyway

Environment and Tourism

Envt core of Tourism Product
Profitability in Tourism depends on
Attractiveness of tourist destination
Tourism is Double-Edged Sword- it has the
power to enhance the Envt. And also to destroy
it, if not planned properly.
Therefore steps must to be taken to preserve
and protect Envt. But how?
To the rescue came the concept of Ecotourism

What is ecotourism?
A walk through the rainforest is not
ecotourism unless that particular walk
somehow benefits that environment and the
people who live there. However,
this concept is getting lost with most
players seeking to make profits from the
buzzword .
Often the notion of ecotourism is confused with
the broader concept of sustainable tourism or
with certain types of adventure tourism that have
nothing to do with ecotourism.
experts began to reason saying mere nature
travel cannot be termed ecotourism

What is ecotourism?
Natural areas have originally been home to numerous
indigenous communities. Their culture, lifestyle, is
completely in sync with their natural surroundings. When
more and more people took to these virgin wilderness
areas in the name of ecotourism, there came an
expected reaction from the locals and thus came in the
component of welfare of the local people
ecotourism came to be defined as "responsible travel to
natural areas which conserves the
environment and improves the welfare of the local
people".
A walk through the rainforest is not
eco-tourism unless that particular walk somehow
benefits that environment and the people who live
there. A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises
awareness and funds to help protect the
watershed.

The Focus of
Ecotourism
Ecotourism focusses on wilderness adventures,
volunteering , personal growth and learning new
ways to live on our very vulnerable planet.
It is responsible tourism which includes
programmes that minimise the adverse affects of
traditional tourism on the natural Envt.
It is environmentally friendly travel and an
alternative to mass tourism

Ecotourism in disguise?
the forests of Bandipur and Madhumalai are
often exploited in the name of ecotourism.
Several organizations make tall claims of a
natural experience and loosely use the word
ecotourism to describe their package. How much
of the money earned is ploughed back for local
development? And who keeps tabs on this? Its
anybody's guess that there is hardly any
resources being invested back. If so why are we
risking our few remaining patches of natural
areas.

Eco-tourism in India
Today Eco-tourism as advertised in India
is technically Nature Tourism
Ecotourism was born out of a need to
practice Nature Tourism Sustainably
The high-dollar international tourist is in
search of ecotourism
The market niche is unique and practically
untapped in India at this time

Nature tourism
Nature tourism is often referred to and is
confused to be Ecotourism
Its primary focus is on experiencing
natural areas that foster environmental
understanding and conservation
Nature tourism activities include- hunting,
fishing, photography, birdwatching
It is distinct from Adventure tourism
It is a tool for Sustainable development

Benefits of Ecotourism
Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the
environment and sustains the well being of the local
people. The Ecotourism Society (1991 )
Contributes actively to the conservation of natural and
cultural heritage,
Includes local and indigenous communities in its
planning, development and operation, and contributing to
their well-being,
Interprets the natural and cultural heritage of the
destination to visitors,
Lends itself better to independent travelers, as well as to
organized tours for small size groups.

The Indian Story

Ecotourism mentioned in tourism policy but forgotten in
budgetary allocation
Government is still unclear about what is ecotourism ..
Mentions amusement parks, Spas etc in ecotourism
Not even an indication of community participation
Few states have come up with policy/guidelinesKerala,
Sikkim, MP, HP, Tripura, Karnataka
Kerala TD working on certification

Periyar model example of ecotourism in India

The Karnataka Fact file

One State Many worlds
Represents variations of topography- high mountains,
hills and long coastal stretches
It is part of high biodiversity-rich region
Tropical evergreen forests, mangroves
Has 4500species of flowering plants, 600 species of
birds, 160species of mammals, 160species of
reptiles,70sp of frogs, and 800sp of fish
25%of elephant popn, and 10%of tiger popn
14 heavy rainfall stations, 20%of forest cover
5 national parks and 21 wildlife sanctuaries

Coastal environment
Sun, Sand and Surf -Environmental issues use
of NR, disposal of waste and sewage, depletion
of groundwater
Uncontrolled coastal tourism has led to loss of
bio-diversity, erosion of sand dunes, decline of
fish catch, and siltation
pollution of backwaters and impacting fisheries
wealth. Food chain is thus affected
Sand mining and infrastructure devt leads to
increasing pressure on environment.

Coastal environment
Devbagh- in the name of Ecotourism, the
coastal region is being damaged.
Construction of Hotel complex on the
beach is in violation of the CRZ , but not
much is being done to remedy such
violation due to influential hotel lobby.
Mangalore- pvt residential dwellings also
in violation of CRZ.

Misuse of benefit
World Bank estimates that in less
developed areas the percentage of money
generated through tourism retained in the
local economy is often very low. In many
of the popular ecotourism circuits it
was found that as little as 10 percent of
the money was pumped back into the local
economy. Within a particular country the
money may end up in the large cities or in
the hands of the wealthy elite.

Case of Nagarahole
long-standing conflict between the natural inhabitants of
India's Nagarahole National Park in Karnataka, the
Adivasis, and the forest authorities.
Karnataka Government leased out 56.41 acres of forest
land, to Gateway Hotels, a division of the Taj Group of
Hotels for 18 years to launch a Rs.40 crore hotel project
inside the National Park
In the legal battle High Court declared in April 1997 that
'the assignment of a portion of forest land was in
violation of Wildlife protection Act, 1972
Central Government directed the State Government to
reclaim the land leased out to Taj Group within 45 days.

Forest and Wildlife

So called ferocious animals- no longer so.

Littering of trekking trail.
Camp fires not doused- forest fires
Loss of flora and fauna
Poaching and hunting in reserve forests
Loss of pasture lands
Loss of medicinal plants

Loss of Habitat
Birds have been left with no habitat
Hardly any sparrows now in cities
Rare birds are fast disappearing and may
soon be extinct

System to monitor impact of

tourism on ecology vital'
Developing some excellent policies on
eco-tourism and properly implementing
these policies is the most important test of
any State's commitment to eco-tourism