India is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world and this is also what makes it a popular tourist destination on the planet. Tourists from across the globe descend on this land of wide-ranging geography and landscapes to destress, rejuvenate and to connect with nature. Eco-tourism is the name of the game now and every second tourism project in the country is being promoted as being eco-friendly.
Eco-tourism can be defined as a kind of tourism that involves travel to zones that are rich in biodiversity and ecologically diverse. The main purpose behind such activities is to be able to observe wildlife of an area and learn about the environment, its components and the biodiversity. Eco-tourism not just promotes sustainable tourism and development but also promotes sensitisation and awareness towards the environment and its protection and conservation.
In most cases, tourism is detrimental to sustainable development. Eco-tourism, on the other hand, is a conscientious form of tourism that promotes sustainable tourism development. This kind encourages and ensures ‘going back to nature’ and its by-products. All aspects of eco-tourism help preserve nature, maintain ecological balance of the zone and hold the key to sustainable ecological development.
The importance of eco-tourism
Today, most nations on the planet are struggling to cope with the side effects of development and developmental activities. Climate change and global warming has led to countries adopting measures that will help protect their natural resources and, in turn, that of planet earth. Today, survival of the human race is at stake. Several measures have been adopted to ensure a safer and greener home for future generations and ecotourism is one of them.
Eco-tourism not only furthers conservation of natural resources but also focusses on making every participant a stakeholder in the entire process. Today, in India, eco-tourism is gaining momentum. Every day, more entities are focussing on promoting eco-tourism and striving to address the needs of eco-tourists.
Every country has a set of laws, known as green laws that are enacted to ensure citizens are made aware of the importance of environment protection and conservation and are penalised if there is a violation. The laws also help in spreading awareness on how man and environment can exist in a symbiotic relationship. Eco-tourism is one of the most effective ways to maximise the benefits of tourism – social, economical and environmental.
Eco-tourism strengthens and promotes conservation initiatives. Some of the advantages of eco-tourism include:
– Sustainable development of remote and rural areas surrounding urban centres and cities
– Preservation of natural habitat of indigenous flora and fauna and preservation of the zone’s wildlife
-Awareness about the natural wealth of the zone and the rich biodiversity
– Involvement of locals, tribals and indigenous groups of the zone in tourism activity that ensures sustainability, prevents misuse or abuse of resources and also provides revenue-generating opportunities
– Revenue generated from eco-tourism activities help improve prospects of long-term development of the zone, in a sensible and sustainable manner
India abundant in natural resources
In India, there are many ways one can experience the beauty of Mother Nature. Some regions in the country are abundant in natural resources and are extremely popular among travellers looking for eco-friendly zones for tourism.
The Himalayas in the north offer great eco-tourism opportunities. States and Union Territories such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, etc., are some of the favourite destinations for such tourists. On the other extreme are Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, extremely rich in biodiversity and natural landscapes, where tourists make a bee-line round the year.
Thenmala, in Kerala, was the first planned ecotourism destination in India. Thenmala lies at the conjunction of the Kollam-Shencottah Road and the Trivandrum-Shencottah Road and has ten ecotourism spots that cover the great hill ranges of Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts.
The literal meaning of Thenmala is ‘Honey Hill’ and high quality honey is exported from the zone. The area is surrounded by dense forests and rubber and tree plantations. The Nakshatravanam, a nursery of trees that are considered sacred to the 27 constellations, is very popular among tourists.
Also, the Deer Rehabilitation Centre situated nearby is home to several deer species. The deer are released into the forest when their population reaches optimum levels to maintain the natural balance. Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary also offers great experience, with its rich flora and fauna, in the lap of nature. The World Tourism Organisation selected Thenmala as one of the premier eco-friendly projects in the world.
Initiatives to protect eco-diversity
India has a wide variety of rare and endangered species and the declaration and demarcation of several zones as wildlife areas and national parks has helped in the conservation and protection of these natural resources, especially the wildlife.
At present there are about 80 national parks and 441 sanctuaries in the country that are being protected by strict laws in place that also extend severe punishments for poaching, hunting, illegal trade of animals, plants or their products. In addition, the many botanical and zoological gardens also ensure protection of the ecosystem and offer great potential for eco-tourism.
Ecotourism encourages travellers to spend time in the lap of nature to experience its richness and magnanimity. So, tourists looking for an eco-tourism experience not only get to enjoy a new place and learn about it, they do so in a manner that is not destructive and less intrusive.
Be it undertaking a nature walk in the forests or meditating in the quiet of the grand mountains, eco-tourism is the one-stop solution to prevent the damage caused by tourism in general. Eco-tourism helps in promoting native cultures and ensuring the local flavours and elements remain intact amid tourism-based development.
Popular eco-tourism destinations
India has some of the best ecotourism destinations in the world and slowly, but surely, India is developing destinations that offer the perfect experience without disturbing the natural surroundings or the local population.
Uttarakhand’s popularity has been soaring recently as it is popular as a biodiversity hotspot with its picturesque mountains, dense forests, water bodies and rugged terrains. Arunachal Pradesh, on the other hand, is the preferred choice among the north-eastern states owing to its many green mountain valleys, native culture of the many tribes, etc. Sikkim offers travellers great sight-seeing opportunities owing to its location amid the mighty Himalayas where Kanchenjunga stands as the third highest mountain in the world.
God’s Own Country and India’s first state to execute planned tourism, Kerala is a traveller’s paradise. The lush green tree plantations, pacifying backwaters and the gorgeous terrain never fail to impress. Kerala’s rich biodiversity can be experienced the moment one lands into the exotic state.
In Karnataka, ecotourism has combined the goals of preservation of nature and uplift of local communities to create a flawless system of ecotourism. Karnataka is home to many eco-tourism destinations including Madikeri, Agumbe, Coorg, Shimoga, Belgaum, Karwar, etc. In Coorg, for example, tourists can make visits to Nagarhole National Park, Brahmagiri Reserve Forests and other eco-sensitive zones without being intrusive.