Ecotourism in Karnataka 1

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Ecotourism in Karnataka


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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 wildplants and animals, as well as any existing

cultural manifestations found in these areas


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Origin of Ecotourism

Alexander von Humboldtgrandfather of

Ecotourism, born in 1769,Berlin . Idea of

interrelation of all natural objects. 8

characteristics of Ecotourism

In the 20thcentury- In 1983 the word

Ecotourism coined by Hector Ceballos-

Lascurain, Mexican architect andenvironmentalist


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Environment and Tourism

Tourism is a panacea - but is in fact a queer mixof the good and the bad. The good is associatedwith sustainable development policies, the badis dubbed with mass tourism.

The dilemma is when tourism is allowed topenetrate into vulnerable and fragileenvironments, like coasts, wetlands, tropicalforests - and mountains.

Mountains - used as a metaphor for stability andstrength, but their ecosystems are inherentlyweak and have limited tolerance for humanactivity - and above all for aggressive tourism.

God does not seem to have designed mountains forpeople, not for too many of them anyway


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Environment and Tourism

Envtcore of Tourism Product

Profitability in Tourism depends on

Attractiveness of tourist destination

Tourism is Double-Edged Sword- it has thepower to enhance the Envt. And also to destroy

it, if not planned properly.

Therefore steps must to be taken to preserveand protect Envt. But how?

To the rescue came the concept of Ecotourism


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What is ecotourism?

A walk through the rainforest is notecotourism unless that particular walksomehow benefits that environment and thepeople who live there. However,

this concept is getting lost with mostplayers seeking to make profits fromthebuzzword.

Often the notion of ecotourism is confused withthe broader concept of sustainable tourism orwith certain types of adventure tourism that havenothing to do with ecotourism.

experts began to reason saying mere naturetravel cannot be termed ecotourism


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What is ecotourism?

Natural areas have originally been home to numerousindigenous communities. Their culture, lifestyle, iscompletely in sync with their natural surroundings. Whenmore and more people took to these virgin wildernessareas in the name of ecotourism, there came an

expected reaction from the locals and thus came in thecomponent of welfare of the local people

ecotourism came to be defined as "responsible travel tonatural areas which conserves theenvironment and improves the welfare of the local

people". A walk through the rainforest is not

eco-tourism unless that particular walk somehowbenefits that environment and the people who livethere. A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises

awareness and funds to help protect thewatershed.


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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 oftraditional tourism on the natural Envt.

It is environmentally friendly travel and an

alternative to mass tourism


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Ecotourism in disguise?

the forests of Bandipur and Madhumalai areoften exploited in the name of ecotourism.Several organizations make tall claims of anatural experience and loosely use the wordecotourism to describe their package. How muchof the money earned is ploughed back for localdevelopment? And who keeps tabs on this? Itsanybody's guess that there is hardly any

resources being invested back. If so why are werisking our few remaining patches of naturalareas.


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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


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Nature tourism

Nature tourism is often referred to and isconfused to be Ecotourism

Its primary focus is on experiencing

natural areas that foster environmentalunderstanding and conservation

Nature tourism activities include- hunting,

fishing, photography, birdwatching It is distinct from Adventure tourism

It is a tool for Sustainable development


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Benefits of Ecotourism

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves theenvironment and sustains the well being of the localpeople. 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 totheir well-being,

Interprets the natural and cultural heritage of thedestination to visitors,

Lends itself better to independent travelers, as well as toorganized tours for small size groups.


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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 Indian Story


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The Karnataka Fact file

One StateMany 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 ofbirds, 160species of mammals, 160species ofreptiles,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


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Coastal environment

Sun, Sand and Surf -Environmental issuesuseof NR, disposal of waste and sewage, depletionof groundwater

Uncontrolled coastal tourism has led toloss ofbio-diversity, erosion of sand dunes, decline offish 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.


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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 notmuch is being done to remedy such

violation due to influential hotel lobby.

Mangalore- pvt residential dwellings alsoin violation of CRZ.


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Misuse of benefit

World Bank estimates that in lessdeveloped areas the percentage of moneygenerated through tourism retained in the

local economy is often very low. In manyof the popular ecotourism circuits itwas found that as little as 10 percent ofthe money was pumped back into the local

economy. Within a particular country themoney may end up in the large cities or inthe hands of the wealthy elite.


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Case of Nagarahole

long-standing conflict between the natural inhabitants ofIndia'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 ofHotels for 18 years to launch a Rs.40 crore hotel projectinside 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.


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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


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Loss of Habitat

Birds have been left with no habitat

Hardly any sparrows now in cities

Rare birds are fast disappearing and maysoon be extinct


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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

Ecotourism in Karnataka 1

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