With Madhya Pradesh emerging as a most favourite tourist hub due to its rich flora and fauna and rich culture the State Govt has embarked on ecotourism development, writes Vivek Trivedi

Madhya Pradesh is one of the most favoured tourist hubs in the country, with its rich flora and fauna and dense forest, picturesque destinations, national parks and ancient pre historic sites. Ecotourism has emerged as a crucial option in conserving natural resources achieving sustainable forest management.

Well around 32 per cent area of Madhya Pradesh is covered with forests. The State boasts of 9 national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuaries.

With the key objective of sustainable forest management, The Madhya Pradesh Ecotourism Development Board was established in July 2005. Since its inception, the board has undertaken a number of activities and projects across the State. The board has taken initiatives in the destination development, capacity building, ecotourism activities and infrastructure development of ecotourism facilities in the State.

Few key objectives of the board include; making ecotourism a mainstream programme of the Forest Department, identifying and prioritising ecotourism destinations throughout the State based on parameters to be defined, overseeing the process of infrastructure and facilities development at the destinations identified, creating and maintaining a conducive policy environment, encouraging public-people-private partnerships, generating synergy among the Forest Department, Tourism Corporation and other stakeholders and so on.

Among prominent ecotourism centres in the State include; Amarkantak (Anuppur), Madhav National Park (Shivpuri), Kuno wildlife sanctuary (Shivpuri), Bandhavgarh tiger reserve and green forest (Umaria), Pachmarhi and Madai (Hoshangabad), Orchha (Chhatarpur), Chambal Safari (Morena) and others.

Bhopal blessed with plentiful greenery and picturesque locations also is emerging as a favoured ecotourism destination. The city is gifted with several sites, which have the potential of trnsforming into ecotourism destinatiosn but in the last few years, locations like Kerwa, Van Vihar and Smruti Van have proved tourist hot spots. The commercial capital of the State Indore is also a destination, which offers much to the visual treat of the visitors.

The ancient capital of Holker dynasty boasts of locations like Ralamandal sanctuary, Tinchha Fall, Choral, Ganbhir River, Janapavkuti and dense forest.

Besides, the board has proposed developmental works at scores of destinations in 20 districts of the State. Moreover, conservation being a matter of public interest and requiring large sums, Public-Private Partnership is also proposed at several centres of the State. These destinations include; Patalpani in Indore, Karbala in Shivpuri, Jhohila in Shahdol, Narmada herbal park Hoshangabad, Smriti Van Bhopal, Eco park Jamad in Ratlam and many more.

Apart from other things, enhancing awareness about the nature and its various constituents is also a key objective of the board. For fulfilling this aim, the board in an endeavour to enhance awareness for environment conservation among school goers and making them more sensitive for tourist spots, organises special one-day awareness camps in all the 50 districts of the State.

MPEDB Eco Awards

MPEDB also presents Eco Awards for stakeholders of ecotourism in the State, in recognition of their performance in their respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition with aim to promote ecotourism.

Ecotourism Awards are given in the categories; Best Eco friendly Resort/Lodge, Best Tour/Travel Operators/ Ecotourism Activity Organisers, JFMC (Eco Vikas /Van Surakhsa /Gram Van Samiti)/ Gram Shabha, Individual for innovative initiatives, Awards to Forest/Tourism personnel promoting Eco tourism activities up to the rank of Manager of the unit, Beat Guard, Circle In charge, Range Officer, MPT Personnel (Up to the Rank of Manager).

Finance Minister Raghavji on July 12 had distributed eco-tourism awards on the occasion of eco-tourism day observed on the foundation day of Madhya Pradesh Eco-tourism Development Board here. The awards in the sectors of eco-tourism have been introduced by Madhya Pradesh for the first time in the history of country.

Speaking on the occasion, Raghavji said that it was a great achievement of the State Government which established first Eco-tourism Development Board of the country in Madhya Pradesh with being a pioneer to institutionalise awards. The demand of environment conservation has increased in view of climate change and global warming. The interest of people is increasing towards nature. As per demand, carbon trading is also being started.

Raghavji said that Madhya Pradesh is a model state for eco-tourism development. He underlined the need for creating awareness among the people towards nature and environment conservation. On the occasion, Finance Minister Raghavji conferred awards upon Panna resort, operator of Indore and forest care taker Durgesh Dixit of Kanha National Park for working outstandingly as per eco tourism norms. Besides, he also distributed prizes to the winners of painting and slogan competition held on June 12.

Experts to share experiences

Experts from various countries would share their experiences on their approach on wildlife and tourism with the persons concerned from the State in September.

The exercise would be a part of Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation and CII's joint effort in which experts will deliberate on wildlife tourism and best practices followed worldwide. This seminar on Wildlife Tourism would held in mid September this year in the State capital. .

Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI) will be the principal partner for the event.

Wildlife tourism, which is being discussed owing to the new draft containing renewed guidelines for eco tourism in and around protected areas in the country, has also augured the need to understand the best practices followed in wildlife tourism in India and elsewhere in the world.

Mandip Singh Soin, president for ESOI has revealed that it was felt that best practices are required to be discussed and aspects that are feasible and fit to be implemented in the Indian scenario need to be brought to the fore to address the concerns of national parks and sanctuaries, and to promote tourism in an eco sensitive manner.

He added, "We are fine tuning the details of the seminar and it would address the best way we can harness potential wilderness practices which India can adopt."

He stressed that it is important that we do a competitive comparative study to bring about the best out of the ecological heritage available in terms of national parks in the country.

According to Soin, participation is expected from representatives of national parks in Alaska, Africa and Europe who will discuss their approach towards wildlife and national parks/sanctuaries.

The seminar will bring to the focus concepts of manning national parks with unique practices, which are applied in places like Alaska, Africa and Europe.