Forest and wildlife tourism

Development of tourism in forest areas has often been a subject of considerabledebate. Quite clearly, all new tourist facilities should be created outside theprotected area boundaries. This would eliminate the prime cause for conflict.Also, operators of tourist facilities should be active participants in conservationand improvement activities, as they have a long term stake in the same.The Tiger Trail (guided trekking programme for tourists) in the Periyar TigerReserve is projected as a model success story in eco-tourism in forest areas.Here, local people organize trekking along designated forest routes. It is said thatpoaching and other illegal activities have reduced in the area due to the presenceof trekkers.Further encouragement of appropriate forms of forest & wildlife based tourismcould be considered in/adjoining Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary and theParambikulam, Wayanad (Muthanga) and Aralam Wildlife Sanctuaries inparticular, after due evaluation.Nonetheless, tourism in forest areas is prone to be ecologically sensitive, andone has to tread with caution, with continuous monitoring of the costs andbenefits. Further, forest and wildlife based tourism would have to be encouragedon a conservative level, and therefore cannot be expected to generate largescale employment and income generation.