New eco-tourism guidelines of MoEF

BHOPAL: Guidelines issued by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) of the new ecotourism include, local conservation cess on all privately-run tourist facilities within 5km of the boundary of a protected area (PA); no new tourist facilities on forest lands; gate receipts from PAs for management, and only 20% area for tourism in PAs over 500 sq km.

The MoEF has sought comments from the people on the draft guidelines by June 30. The states will now have to notify ecotourism strategy by December 31, 2011. The chief wildlife warden has to ensure that each PA prepares an ecotourism plan, as part of the management plan/tiger conservation plan (TCP) by December 31, 2011.

The guidelines were issued in view of mushrooming tourist facilities around Pas, which have lead to exploitation, disturbance and misuse of fragile ecosystems. It has also led to misuse of the term ‘ecotourism’, often to the detriment of the ecosystem and alienating locals.

The MoEF directives will be applicable to any PA, including tiger reserves, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, community reserves, conservation reserves, sacred groves, or pilgrimage spots located in PAs and forested areas.

“Unplanned tourism in such landscapes destroys the very environment that attracts such tourism. Hence, there is a need to move towards a model of tourism that is compatible with these fragile landscapes,” say the guidelines issued by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

As part of the ecotourism strategy, state governments will now have to levy a ‘local conservation cess’ as a percentage of turnover, on all privately-run tourist facilities within 5km of the boundary of a PA. The rate of cess has to be determined by the government.

The money collected will be earmarked for PA management, conservation and local livelihood development, and will not go to the state exchequer.

Also, no new tourist facilities are to be set up on forest lands. This is in compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and directives of the Supreme Court. Besides, tourism facilities inside the PAs will have to be shifted out. In Nagzira and TATR, there are accommodation facilities inside the PAs.

“Ecotourism, when practised correctly, is an important economic and educational activity. It has the scope to link to a wider constituency and build conservation support while raising awareness about the worth and fragility of such ecosystems in the public at large,” said Ramesh.