Here is an essay on ‘Ecotourism’ for class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Ecotourism’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Ecotourism
Essay # 1. Introduction to Ecotourism:
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According to the latest United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) world tourism barometer, International tourist arrivals grew by 4.4 per cent in 2011 to a total 980 million, up from 939 million in 2010 and it is expected to cross 1 billion mark in 2012. The argument for the integration of tourism with conservation was first made widespread by Budowski (1976) in an article.
However, the term “Ecotourism” has become prevalent concept since the mid 1980s and it has experienced the fastest growth of all sub-sectors in the tourism industry. The popularity shows a proof of change in tourist perceptions, increased environmental awareness and a desire to explore natural environments.
The tourism activities stretch from conventional tourism to ecotourism and there has been a lot of contention to the limit at which biodiversity preservation, local social-economic benefits and environmental impact should be considered in ecotourism For this reason, environmentalists, special interest groups and governments define ecotourism differently.
Environmental organizations have generally insisted that ecotourism is nature-based, sustainably managed, conservation supporting and environmentally educated. The tourist industry and governments, however, focus more on the product aspect, treating ecotourism as equivalent to any sort of tourism based in nature. As a further complication, many terms are used under the rubric of ecotourism.
Nature tourism, nature travel, low impact tourism green tourism, soft tourism, bio-tourism, ecologically responsible tourism and others have been used in literature and marketing, although they are not necessary synonymous with ecotourism. Presently the Ecotourism as industry is one of the fastest growing economic sector in the globe.
The concept of ecotourism is probably equally due to the widespread and growing interest in the natural environment and a corresponding recognition of the importance of conserving natural environmental quality. The idea of visiting and experiencing high-quality natural environments and also protecting them from harmful impacts is now an acceptable and marketable one.
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Ecotourism involves nature conservation by tourists who visit several attraction sites. This is aimed at securing threatened species of plants and animals that depend of nature to survive. This is done mainly by tourists with an aim of sustaining the beauty and attraction of the sites. It is the exercise that is worthy investing in since the outcome benefits the generations to come and creates a sustainable source of government revenue.
When the visiting tourists explore a certain site and encouraged to conserve the environment, it becomes a source of inspiration and fun to them. On the other hand, the tourists gain an experience of what makes the site attractive and they become eager to visit the same site in future in order to see the outcome of what their work. It is a partnership that enables all the parties to participate in sustaining the attractive sites.
Ecotourism has numerous merits to the environment and nature in general. It has a long run benefits to the climate which in turn improves the favourable weather in the area. By adopting ecotourism as a sustainable model, the forest cover is increased, the canopy is created and in the long run, the climate improves.
This reduces the effects of global warming and improves the water reservoir. It is a common knowledge that nature conservation is easier and cheaper compared to the painful outcome of the nature destruction. For this reason, the environment authorities across the world have adopted ecotourism as a sustainable model.
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Essay # 2. Definition of Ecotourism:
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Defining ecotourism has proven to be a difficult task and there are many different definitions to what ecotourism really is. It is more feasible to treat ecotourism as a spectrum with a variety of products rather than attempting to define ecotourism from a specific stance or product.
Ecotourism was first defined as travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations found in these areas. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people”.
Honey (2008) defined ecotourism as travel to fragile, pristine and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and often small scale and helps educate traveler; provides funds of conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities.
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It is also defined as nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable. Ecotourism is responsible travel in areas containing natural resources that possess endemic characteristics and cultural or historical resources that are integrated into the area’s ecological system.
Its purpose is to create awareness among all concerned parties of the need for and the measures used to conserve ecosystems and as such are oriented towards community participation as well as the provision of a joint learning experience in sustainable tourism and environmental management.
Another definition by The World Conservation Union’s Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas, defines ecotourism as an environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations.
It is a purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and the natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem; producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of the natural resources beneficial to the local people. When compared to mass tourism, ecotourism not only stresses the appropriate use of all resources, but also emphasizes community development to meet the economic, social and cultural needs of the community.
Mass tourism on the other hand creates initiatives in Third World countries that are directed towards satisfying the needs of the tourists. Ecotourism development is most likely to be at a smaller scale, locally owned, with low import leakage and a higher proportion of profits remaining in the local economy.
Ecotourism is travel to fragile, pristine and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and small scale. It helps to educate the traveler; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights.
Ecotourism appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals. Generally speaking, it focuses on volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet. It typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.
Ecotourism is a conceptual experience, enriching those who delve into researching and understanding the environment around them. It gives us insight into our impacts as human beings and also a greater appreciation of our own natural habitats.
World Tourism Organization:
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was founded on 27 September 1970 and from 1980 onwards, this day is celebrated as “World Tourism Day”. WTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.
The International Ecotourism Society:
Concept of TIES was launched by a team organized by Megan Epler Wood at a conference in Florida in 1989 as the world’s first international non-profit dedicated to ecotourism as a tool for conservation and sustainable development.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) was founded in 1990 and has been in the forefront of the development of ecotourism providing guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, research and publications. TIES global network of ecotourism professionals and travelers is leading the efforts to make tourism a viable tool for conservation, protection of bio-cultural diversity and sustainable community development.
Through membership services, industry outreach and educational programs, TIES is committed to helping organizations, communities and individuals promote and practice the principles of ecotourism. TIES currently has members in more than 120 countries, representing various professional fields and industry segments including: academics, consultants, conservation professionals and organizations, governments, architects, tour operators, lodge owners and managers, general development experts and eco-tourists.
TIES advocated for sound ecotourism practices at World Parks and Protected Areas Congress in Caracas, Venezuela (1992) and First World Congress on Tourism and the Environment in 1992 at Belize.
Global Significance of Ecotourism:
The global importance of ecotourism is highlighted by several international agreements including: The UN Commission on Sustainable Development, 7th Session 1999; UN World Tourism Organization Code of Ethics (1999); The Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development issued by the CBD (2003); The Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism (2002); and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002).
Guidelines and standards relating to sustainable/responsible tourism (including specific reference to biodiversity) are developed by the Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Development which has created environmental guidelines for hotels, resorts and tourist attractions.
Concrete UNEP projects include the Tour Operators Initiative for Sustainable Tourism development, with WTO and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), promotion of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism in Vulnerable Ecosystems and the UNEP Principles for Sustainable Tourism; the further development and implementation of the tourism components of the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), the Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP) and the Mountain Commons project.
World Ecotourism Summit/Quebec Declaration:
In the framework of the UN International Year of Ecotourism, 2002, under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO), over three thousand representatives from 132 countries met at the World Ecotourism Summit, hosted in Quebec City, Canada by Tourism Quebec and Canadian Tourism Commission during 19-22 May 2002.
The salient features of the event are:
i. The first-ever Ecotourism Summit which has signaled that ecotourism, in practice, can contribute to poverty alleviation and environmental protection
ii. Ecotourism must be considered a privileged tool, leading the way and paving the road towards a tourism that is truly sustainable
iii. Sustainable tourism can contribute to the more global effort of protecting the sustainability of our planet’s resources
iv. Major issues facing ecotourism have been debated: Concept of Ecotourism; Ecotourism Policy and Planning; Regulation of Ecotourism; Product Development, Marketing and Promotion of Ecotourism; Monitoring Costs and Benefits of Ecotourism
v. Ecotourism embraces the principles of sustainable tourism, concerning the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism.
vi. Ecotourism also embraces the specific principles: ecotourism contributes actively to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage; includes local and indigenous committees in planning, development and operation and contributing to their well-being; interprets the natural and cultural heritage.
Essay # 3. Objectives of Ecotourism:
The question of “why ecotourism” is one of the emerging questions in the present day context. There are two groups and hence two opinions regarding the subject. One group strongly suggests it as an effective tool for conservation while the other group denies it by terming it as the prominent threat to the existence of nature and natural resources.
In this situation the objectives of ecotourism can be listed as follows:
i. To cultivate environmental consciousness among the local population by educating them about the dangers of overexploiting resources and unrestricted number of tourists.
ii. To help preserve ecosystems and natural areas with a high tourism potential.
iii. To promote new economic incentives, alternate employment opportunities, etc.
iv. To ensure communal ownership and control, and that part of the profits flow into community development programs rather than into personal enrichment.
v. To foster a feeling of pride and community through a revival or preservation of traditional practices and cultural techniques.
Essay # 4. Characteristics of Ecotourism:
Ecotourism aims to promote excellence in tourism by development and protection of natural areas, benefiting the local communities and encouraging commercially successful and environmentally sound tourism operations.
Its focus is sustainability, brought about by building up the following characteristics:
i. Tourism activity is carried out in a relatively undisturbed natural setting.
ii. All natural based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas.
iii. Educational, appreciation and interpretation features.
iv. Generally, but not exclusively, organized by small groups by specialized and small, locally owned business.
v. Minimum negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment.
vi. Conserves natural and cultural heritage.
vii. Contributes to sustainable development and is a profitable business.
viii. Actively involves local people in the process, providing benefits to them.
ix. Supports the protection of natural areas by generating economic benefits for host communities, organizations and authorities managing natural areas with conservation purposes.
x. Provides alternative employment and income opportunities for local communities and increases awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists.
Essay # 5. Principles of Ecotourism:
Ecotourism is a tool to unite conservation, communities and sustainable travel.
Hence, those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles:
i. Minimize impact on environment.
ii. Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
iii. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
iv. Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
v. Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
vi. Provide healthy political, environmental and social climate for the host country.
Essay # 6. Positive Impacts of Ecotourism:
There are two important promises ecotourism put forward. One promise of ecotourism is that it increases the monetary value of standing biological systems and thereby hopefully encourages the preservation of biological diversity. Another promise is that it is supposed to bring people closer to nature and thus instill a greater desire to protect it.
Ecotourism activities planned and established on the sound ecotourism principles will have the following advantages:
i. It will provide maximum visitor satisfaction with minimal impact on the environment.
ii. It will build awareness and respect for the local culture and environment.
iii. Benefits the local people through employment which is a positive step for the socio-economic development of the local people.
iv. Educates visitors by an on-site visit about the local political, social and environmental issues.
v. Money from the tourism activities go back into the conservation of the area.
vi. Visitors carry new ideas back to influence their own environment.
i. Ecotourism and Conservation:
Is ecotourism a tool for conservation of nature and natural resources? This is debating question today. Both pros and cons are there, but it is, if planned and conducted properly. Ecotourism provides both direct and indirect benefit for conservation. Direct benefit is in terms of financial outturns. The revenue obtained through ecotourism programmes can be directly used for the conservation efforts.
The indirect benefits are raised in terms of the awareness to the people regarding nature and natural resources, employment to the local people, etc. Lack of awareness regarding the importance of nature and natural resources is one of the important challenges faced by conservation efforts.
Hence the chances of visiting natural and cultural heritage areas will enhance the ability of people to appreciate it and will make aware them regarding the importance of conservation. Hence ecotourism can be a simple way of communicating the idea of conservation to the local people. If planned properly, the extent of awareness they are explored can be made more.
ii. Ecotourism and Local Communities:
By increasing local capacity building and employment opportunities, ecotourism is an effective vehicle for empowering local communities around the world to fight against poverty and to achieve sustainable development. In many areas, nowadays ecotourism has been selected as a powerful tool to compensate for the injustice done to the tribal people in the past.
There is always a conflict between the existing rules and regulations and the traditional jobs of the forest dependent community. In this context, it is very important to have some tools for providing sufficient employment opportunities to meet their daily needs and also for improving their living standards. Another important advantage is that, a feeling among the people will arise, that the nature and natural resources are the means of their livelihood and hence they will put their maximum effort to conserve it.
In many of the protected areas, the need of ecotourism is caused by the necessity of the local people for sufficient livelihood opportunities. The new ecotourism activities also provide an opportunity of getting new skills to them and the same can be imparted through proper training also. In short, the healthy relation between the nature and the local community can be achieved through properly planned ecotourism activities.
iii. Ecotourism and Interpretation:
Ecotourism can also be termed as a way of effecting nature interpretation to the visitors. If the packages are designed in such a way that they are getting chances of interpreting the nature, natural resources, natural phenomena etc., it will be an effective interpretation tool.
The lack of awareness among the people is one of the emerging threats to the conservation of nature today. Hence effectively planned ecotourism activities will be an efficient method for making aware the people regarding the conservation of nature and natural resources.
Essay # 7. Threats to Ecotourism:
One definition of ecotourism is the practice of low-impact, educational, ecologically and culturally sensitive travel that benefits local communities and host countries. Many of the ecotourism projects are not meeting these standards. Even if some of the guidelines are being executed, the local communities are still facing other negative impacts.
Some of the negative impacts are forcing people to leave their homes, gross violations of fundamental rights and environmental hazards-far outweigh the medium-term economic benefits etc. A tremendous amount of money is being spent and human resources continue to be used for ecotourism despite unsuccessful outcomes and even more money is put into public relation campaigns to dilute the effects of criticism.
Ecotourism channels resources away from other projects that could contribute more sustainable and realistic solutions to pressing social and environmental problems. The money tourism can generate often ties parks and managements to ecotourism. But there is a tension in this relationship because ecotourism often causes conflict and changes in land-use rights, fails to deliver promises of community-level benefits, damages environments and has plenty of other social impacts.
Indeed many argue repeatedly that ecotourism is neither ecologically nor socially beneficial, yet it persists as a strategy for conservation and development. While several studies are being done on ways to improve the ecotourism structure, some argue that these examples provide rationale for stopping it altogether.
Improper Planning:
Launching of ecotourism activities may cause harmful effects if not planned properly. All the possible demerits will cause direct environmental impacts and hence environmental degradation.
Some of the demerits of the bad planned ecotourism activities are as follows:
i. Overcrowding constructions
ii. Pollution of the habitat
iii. Unlimited numbers of tourists
iv. Traffic congestion
v. Footpath erosion and soil loss
vi. Tourists don’t understand or care what ecotourism really is
vii. Criticism as green washing where the environment is used as a bait to attract tourists
Direct Environmental Impacts:
Ecotourism operations occasionally fail to live up to conservation ideas. It is sometimes overlooked that ecotourism is a highly consumer-centered activity, and that environmental conservation is a means to further economic growth. Although ecotourism is intended for small groups, even a modest increase in population, however, temporary, puts extra pressure on the local environment and necessitates the development of additional infrastructure and amenities.
Threats to Indigenous Cultures is another Negative Impact:
Ecotourism often claims that it preserves and enhances local cultures. However in many areas, evidence shows that with the establishment of protected areas, local people have illegally lost their homes, and most often with no compensation.
Pushing people onto marginal lands with harsh climates, poor soils, lack of water, and infested with livestock and disease does little to enhance livelihoods even when a proportion of ecotourism profits are directed back into the community. The establishment of parks can create harsh survival realities and deprive the people of their traditional use of land and natural resources.
Mismanagement:
While governments are typically entrusted with the administration and enforcement of environmental protection, they often lack the commitment or capability to manage ecotourism sites effectively. The regulations for environmental protection may be vaguely defined, costly to implement, hard to enforce and uncertain in effectiveness.
Management of Ecotourism Sites by Private Ecotourism Companies:
Private management of tourism sites offers an alternative to the cost of regulation and deficiency of government agencies. It is believed that these companies have a self interest in revenue generation and less concerned about environmental conservation. Tourists will pay more for pristine environments, which translates to higher profit. However, theory indicates that this practice is not economically feasible and will fail to manage the environment.
Essay # 8. Ecotourism in Protected Areas:
Many of the protected areas in the world are also excellent ecotourism centres. Ecotourism activities have become prominent among the routine activities of the protected areas today. These activities have been planned and launched in a participatory manner which has benefitted the conservation efforts a lot.
The need of ecotourism activities in protected areas should mainly aim conservation effort through public awareness, assistance for other activities, monetary benefit for assisting conservation activities and assisting local people through employment opportunities.
Many environmentalists are against the practice of ecotourism in protected areas. They argue that the ecotourism activities will not bring anything other than the depletion of the natural resources, especially in wildlife areas. As the protected areas are very much sensitive to human disturbances, the activities in these areas have to be planned with more care.
Some of the facts we have to give special attention while designing an ecotourism package in protected areas are:
i. Carrying capacity of the area has to be studied and the planning has to be done accordingly.
ii. Care has to be given for packages in which the resources are used sustainably.
iii. Protection oriented packages have to be planned.
iv. Wildlife monitoring oriented packages has to be planned.
v. Local participation has to be ensured while planning the packages.
vi. Maximum employment opportunities to the local people have to be ensured.
Kerala popularly known as God’s Own country is gifted with greatest biodiversity wealth in the entire stretch of Western Ghats. Ecotourism is very popular in Kerala with the successful implementation of ecotourism programmes in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Ecotourism Experiences from Parambikulam Tiger Reserve:
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is the most protected ecological piece of Anamalai sub unit of Western Ghats, surrounded on all sides by protected areas and sanctuaries of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the sanctuary is endowed with a peninsular flora and fauna which are excellently conserved due to total protection and minimal human interferences. It has a total area of 285 Square Km. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is the 38th Tiger Reserve of India and second of Kerala. It is also well known for the sustainable ecotourism programmes.
Many innovative ecotourism programmes have been designed here with a view to give maximum visitor satisfaction and also to give maximum employment opportunities, but without affecting the ecological sustainability of the area. The emerging threat to this protected area was a huge number of unemployed tribal people and the pressure on forests for their livelihood activities.
Tourism was there but was not in a controlled and sustainable manner. Efforts have been taken to design effective sustainable ecotourism packages without affecting the healthiness of the wildlife habitat existing here.
Main objectives of the ecotourism project planned here are:
i. To give maximum employment opportunities to the local people.
ii. To give effective nature interpretation programmes to the visitors.
iii. To provide effective ecotourism facilities which will help the visitors to appreciate the nature and natural resources.
iv. To use ecotourism as a tool of eco-development and hence to attain local support for protection activities.
v. To make ecotourism as a tool of protection, wildlife monitoring, nature education, etc.
The packages designed here under the ecotourism projects are mainly protection and monitoring oriented. At the same time, attention has been given to have maximum income generating potential also.
Some of the important characteristics of the ecotourism projects launched in Parambikulam area as follows:
i. Strict Control on the Movement of Vehicles inside the Park:
Vehicle safari programme have been launched to attain this goal. Day visitors have been allowed to enter the park only through safari vehicles. Private vehicles are directed to park at the entrance itself. This effort has helped a lot to have effective control on the vehicles moving inside the park.
ii. Engaging Local Tribal as Guides/Naturalists:
Each visitor group has been provided with a guide or naturalist during their visit inside the park. This guide has been given direction to give proper guidelines to the visitors. At the same time, guide has the power to control on the visitors in violation of the rules and regulations of the park. Attention has also been given to give proper training to the guides, to provide reasonable wages, etc.
iii. Providing Sufficient Infrastructure to the Visitors:
Proper infrastructure and its maintenance have been given special care. Interpretation Centre, Information Centre, Accommodation facilities, Canteen, Toilet blocks, etc. have been made available to the visitors through proper timely actions. New constructions have been done without affecting the natural beauty of the area and also without affecting the wildlife habitats. Special attention has been given to maintain the facilities by engaging local tribal for up keeping and maintenance.
iv. Effective Ecotourism Packages:
The ecotourism packages have been designed with a view to have minimum disturbance to the environment, but maximum revenue and also maximum employment to the local people. At the same time, visitor satisfaction has also been taken care. For e.g., in “Tented Niche” programme, seven tents have been provided to the visitors in an undisturbed area.
They have also been provided food, safari, boating etc. under the same package and they will also be assisted by trained guides throughout the programme. For all these provisions under the package, they have to pay a fixed amount. The package shows an excellent example for conducting a variety of activities under a single programme, in a controlled manner, by gaining a reasonable fee and also by giving maximum employment to the local people.
v. Protection Oriented Ecotourism Packages:
Some packages are designed to make people presence in offense sensitive areas such as sandal regeneration areas, illicit felling areas, poaching sensitive areas, etc. This helped a lot to have a check on the entry of offenders to these areas. Similarly trekking in these areas have a check on the illegal activities in park.
vi. Monitoring Oriented Ecotourism Packages:
Some packages have given the chances to the visitors to put their effort in filling the wildlife monitoring datasheets during their visit. For e.g., “Full Moon Census” is an ecotourism package in which the visitors are allowed to stay in Machan near a vayal during full moon day. They are also directed to observe the animals in the vayal and to record the same in the data sheet provided. This data will be very valuable in wildlife monitoring.
vii. Nature Camps:
Systematically arranged and properly conducting nature camps are another feature of the ecotourism here. Nature education is the main objective behind this activity. The classes are taken by experts according to the target groups.
viii. Assistance through Proper Eco-Development Activities:
There are many eco-development units such as paper bag unit, plastic reduction unit, honey unit, Parambikulam dhara unit, etc. to aid the proper functioning of the ecotourism packages. For e.g., in Parambikulam dhara unit, a water filtering unit is functioning to produce pure bottled water for giving the visitors with the condition that they will not be allowed to use their plastic water bottles inside the park. This effort will help to check the menace of plastic bottles inside the park and help ecotourism. Similarly, paper bag unit will check the uncontrolled use of plastic bags inside the park.
ix. Ensuring People’s Participation:
All the activities are planned and controlled by a democratically constituted agency called Forest Development Agency (FDA). The Agency is the apex head of eco-development committees, which are the local committees formed in the area. All the decisions regarding ecotourism have been taken by FDA. People’s participation has thus been ensured throughout the running of a package.
x. Visitor Friendly Efforts:
Updating the facilities through new steps such as online booking, computerized billing, website services, etc. are also important characteristic of Parambikulam ecotourism.
Ecotourism Experiences from Periyar Tiger Reserve:
Periyar tiger Reserve, Thekkady, is an example of nature’s bounty, with great scenic charm, rich biodiversity and providing veritable visitor satisfaction. Sprawled over an area of 925 Square km, Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. Zealously guarded and efficiently managed reserve is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and Pamba. People oriented and park centered community based ecotourism is the hallmark of Periyar Tiger Reserve. These programmes are conducted by local people responsible for the surveillance of the vulnerable parts of the reserve.
a. Periyar Tiger Trail-Adventure Trekking and Camping:
There used to be a great threat to the Reserve from the illegal collection of Cinnamom bark from Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) from a group of smugglers. Lots of trees were getting killed because of these collections. In order to overcome this issue, PTR management had started an innovative ecotourism programme in order to rehabilitate these smugglers.
They were asked to leave their illegal style of livelihood and PTR offered them employment in a programme called “Periyar Tiger Trail’. PTR management has initiated this programme which is a trekking and camping programme inside the forest. One armed staff also accompanies a group of 5 tourists for this camping programme.
The guiding will be done by these ex-smugglers since they have an intimate knowledge of the forest terrain in the reserve. Now because of this ecotourism programmme, a unique experience is being given to the visitors; the livelihood of the local people is improved who once used to be the smugglers and extra protection to the park.
b. Bullock Cart Discoveries:
There were some poaching pressures from the people across the bordering areas of Tamil Nadu to Periyar Tiger Reserve. In order to bring them into the mainstream, an initiative was started in the form of an ecotourism programme called, “Bullock Cart Discoveries”.
These poachers were asked to stop the illegal activities in the PTR and management offered them a couple of bullock carts. Now the tourists coming to Periyar Tiger reserve are given the option of availing this interesting ecotourism programme by which one can have the feel of the grapevine farmyard, bird watching experiences on a bullock cart.
Now because of this ecotourism programme, all the poaching pressures have been reduced drastically as the livelihood of poachers has been ensured through this programme. Moreover, the tourists are now getting one of the very interesting ecotourism experiences.
c. Bamboo Rafting:
This is a dawn to dusk range hiking and rafting programme through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. A mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of bamboos. The forests are rich in bird life and arboreal animals like giant squirrel and Nilgiri langur.
The rafting is for about three hours and one gets a panoramic view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur and sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake. An armed guard and guides will accompany the tourists.
d. Nature Walk – The Guided Day Trek:
Different nature trails traversing diverse habitats form the trekking routes, generally 4 to 5 km in length. This is an interpretive programme offering excellent opportunity to watch birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The trails often pass through evergreen and moist deciduous forests interspersed with marshy grasslands.
e. Border Hiking:
This is a conservation oriented hard trek taking up a full day. The route passes through undulating terrains with altitudinal ranges of 900 – 1,300 meters and the trekkers could glimpse the lofty escarpments bordering the park watershed and the vast plains down below. Gaur, sloth bear, elephant, etc. are often sighted along this route apart from birds and butterflies. The trekkers will go with two guides and an armed forest guard.
f. Green Mansions/Jungle Inn:
A picturesque land is one of the off-the-track destinations ideal for a wilderness retreat replete with trekking, birding, canoeing and facilities for boarding. Hosted and accompanied by trained local people, the visitors can go for trekking and bird watching in the many trails around, paddle in still waters to cool off or perhaps settle down for watching sunset in this oasis of peace and tranquility. The tourists have the pleasure of staying in jungle during night in green mansions.
g. Bamboo Grove/Eco-Lodge:
A hotel that is truly an “eco-lodge” is one that makes efforts to conserve resources and limit waste. The islet of elevated ground studded with bamboo thickets is the eco-lodge for experiential learning. Here a miniature habitat is being recreated for man and nature to co-exist in the already available milieu of grassy downs, sedges and bamboos and stream fringed with screw pine.
Dwelling units made exclusively of natural materials like bamboo and grass and tents are slotted in the available spaces together with treetop huts to give the place an eco-friendly ambience. Experiential learning and nature sensitization camps are conducted for discerning aspirants. Lectures, discussions, audiovisual presentations, field visits etc. go with the programme.
h. Jungle Patrol:
This programme is part of the regular night patrolling in the fringe eco-development zones of the tiger reserve. By participating in this, one is actually helping in the protection of the forests of Periyar.
The trekking could be at any time between 7 pm and 4 am and could be taken by persons having proper physical and mental fitness to trek through the wilderness in the night. The maximum duration for a slot is 3 hours and protection watchers and armed forest guard accompany the tourists.