Regulating tourism in tiger resorts

The Pioneer , Monday, June 14, 2010
Correspondent : Brigadier CS Thapa
Tourism is a popular industry and to stop it altogether will choke the sources of revenue for both the parks and locals alike, and thus the clarification of Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh that there was no proposal to ban tourism in the country’s tiger reserves. On the other hand not to have tourists will deny revenue, and create loss of interest for the people at large. The answer lies in drawing a correct balance which is going to be difficult due to vested interests.

A reserve normally consists a core area which is the heart of the reserve and is surrounded by a buffer area. A tourist circuit normally straddles a small part of the core area and falls mostly in the buffer zone. The core area of Jim Corbett is around 520 sq km while the buffer area, which protects the core area, is around 797.72 sq km. Ideally and normally no commercial activity is allowed in the buffer zone, though notifications for such are generally lacking in a large number of reserves. In the case of Corbett the Sonanadi Wild Life Sanctuary with an area of 301.18 sq km and the Reserve Forest are also part of the buffer zone to protect the core. A decision has been taken recently regarding translocation of Van Gujjars from here. The Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) is facing a large number of problems like encroachments and a large number of visitors. Encroachments have lead to blockage of critical corridors which are required by animals to move from one area to another. Thus the encroachments at Laldhang, Sunderkhal, and Dikhull area have become critical. The other problems are of excess tourists and a buffer area which has not been notified.

A tourist is a person who comes to see and observe the wild. He is short on time, needs to be managed properly, must get to see something and not go back empty handed. Over a period of time certain parks of the 28 tiger reserves have developed a reputation for being tourist friendly and some say better managed. The number of popular tiger reserves can be counted on our finger tips. The reserves that have acquired a reputation for lack of tigers are Sariska and Panna. It is accepted facts that parks which have high tourist density have less poaching. Tourism generates money and if the revenue goes back to the parks the locals will also prosper as they get employment related to the parks and local will business also get a boost. The help of the local community is necessary as the bulk of the poaching is done through them and they are always aware of what is happening around them. They are affected the most due to proximity and they must get the maximum benefits from the funds that come in.

How should the tourist be managed requires stringent guidelines. This can best be done by enforcing the current set of rules. There are strict guidelines for entry and exit of vehicles, their checking at midway points, not permitting any one to dismount inside the park, vehicles accompanied with a guide, regulation of timings, and the number of vehicles. A large number of these rules are given the famous chalta hai brush. There needs to be a compliant authority independent of forest who checks these people and has the ability to temporarily suspend licence and if the same persists not to renew the same next year. In Uttarakhand guards were on strike whereas in some reserves canteen facilities are so good that everyone throngs there. We have to motivate and lead our forest staff well also; if they are a disgruntled lot what will they deliver.

There are innumerable cases where prime land is being allotted for construction of eco friendly lodges, thus blocking animal corridors, wild parties in the fragile areas and exploitation of resources to make a fast buck. All this is certainly unethical. What will be more unprofessional now will be knowing what is wrong and not setting it right when we are down just to 1,411 tigers.

We have a serious problem and the answers to that are tough. In our State we have this year alone 44 reported cases of man-animal conflicts, mostly leopards which obviously move out because of the shortage of prey base. As per the tiger census the number of the big cat has come down nationally to just 1,411, which is a shocking number. It is time to enforce the book of rules. The current enforcement methods have not worked either. The rules are obeyed and delivered or we should get some one who can deliver. Let us hope that we don’t have to take that choice but to ban tourists will be counterproductive as the good works done will not be known to the outside world, and thus tourism with correct guidelines and restrictions is required.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/262483/Regulating-tourism-in-tiger-resorts.html
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us