The Hindu : Front Page : Forest Dept. wants Government to limit number of eco-tourists

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Sunday, Jun 10, 2007
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Forest Dept. wants Government to limit number of eco-tourists

S. Rajendran

National parks and sanctuaries have touched the optimum carrying capacity

Bangalore: Eco-tourism in Karnataka has touched a new peak over the past year and the State Government is reportedly thinking of imposing a cap on visitors to some of the national parks and game sanctuaries.

As it has turned out, the presence of brigand Veerappan in the forests had apparently prevented people from venturing into the forests over the past two decades.

With his death, the number of visitors has doubled to 10 lakh a year compared with about five lakh three years ago.

With its vast forest cover encompassing five national parks and 21 sanctuaries, Karnataka (in particular the Nagarahole and Bandipur national parks) has turned out to be "must to visit" for wildlife enthusiasts.

Capacity

The Forest Department has reportedly told the Government that the national parks and sanctuaries have now touched the optimum carrying capacity and hence the Government should now "apply the brakes."

Further, it has also said that the Government should enhance the buffer zone by another 10 km around all the national parks and sanctuaries.

A buffer zone is one where private commercial activity, including hotels, is strictly prohibited and the area is directly under the control of the Forest Department.

`Eco-terrorism'

Given the nature of tourist arrivals into forests, a top official of the department reportedly told the Government that if a quick decision was not taken, "eco tourism will end up as eco-terrorism" what with even the movements of wildlife being restricted and motor vehicles causing pollution.

Nearly 10,000 motor vehicles make trips to the Bandipur and Nagarahole tiger sanctuaries annually.

"As such wild animals, particularly the predators such as tigers and leopards are shy and with motor vehicles continuously plying in the forests, the animals have to hunt only by night. The problem becomes more acute during summer when the water holes dry up."

Survey

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, after a recent trip to Chamarajanagar, told The Hindu that a limit had to be fixed for eco-tourism.

A recent survey by the Forest Department had shown that 50,000 motor vehicles entered the national parks and sanctuaries annually.

How then could the Forest Department play its role in conservation? "We have to find ways of tackling this problem."

Restrictions

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) A.K. Varma said that restrictions had to be brought about to reduce the tourist inflow into forests.

As such, tourists are permitted only into the peripheral areas of the national parks and sanctuaries.

"Yet it has become a problem. The money that eco-tourism generates has multiplied in recent years. People wanting to be one with nature is one thing but it cannot be at the cost of placing impediments to wildlife," the official said.

Resorts

Interestingly, with eco-tourism flourishing in a big way, resorts and hotels offering accommodation for various budgets are coming up in a big way in the periphery of several national parks in the State.

With the Forest Department impressing upon the Government to enforce a cap, some of the star resorts expected to be commissioned shortly may find it difficult to get clearance form the authorities.

The Jungles Lodges and Resorts Limited, a State Government undertaking, is in the lead in drawing visitors in large numbers to forests in the State.

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