I happened across this article on the net and thought that it was worth sharing. For once, it doesn’t speak of dwindling populations of animals and effects of pollution, but an astounding initiative.
Eco-tourism now includes adventure, anti-poaching - Newindpress.com
Eco-tourism now includes adventure, anti-poaching Wednesday April 9 2008 12:10 ISTBHUBANESWAR: The eco-tourism concept which, till recently, was the buzz word for nature lovers inside Chandaka Sanctuary, has incorporated new elements like hands-on experiences on anti-poaching activity, protection and adventure tourism.
While the visitors could now go with the forest staff on an anti-poaching drive to sensitise villagers on the importance of conservation of elephants — the flagship species of the reserved forest — they could also experience trekking along the odd forest paths along with forest staff and security agency like Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Even the sanctuary authorities have started a dialogue with the CISF officials at Mundali in this regard, says DFO Akshaya Pattanaik, adding for this visitors would be taken in groups or phases according to availability of accommodation and base camps within the sanctuary limits.
On the nature education front, to let the visitors know the various plant varieties, display boards are already in place at major tourist spots and boards on animals are in the pipeline, the DFO says.
‘‘A natural garden containing 30 medicinal plants and 30 herbal species is already commissioned near the main gate at Godibari. There is also a plan to start souvenir centres at Deras point and Godibari in future so that tourists can take some memory of Chandaka with them,’’ Pattanaik reveals.
The sanctuary has submitted a proposal of Rs 40 lakh for the information dissemination process which will also include a separate and dedicated vehicle to ferry visitors inside the forest area and to make the entrance point another major tourist hot-spot with state-of-the-art facilities for nature education, he adds.
What I enjoyed reading about this was the proactive feel of the whole thing. Most visitors to sanctuaries feel strongly about nature and being involved in safeguarding nature beats looking at it hands on. This move is brilliant because it achieves several admirable things at once.
- Really, I cannot say it often enough. Its a cheerful, proactive step that is far more tempting than forecasts of doom and entreaties to do some vague “something”.
- It delivers a far more real and intimate experience with nature to the visitors.
- It serves to further develop a sense of responsibility and pro-activeness in safeguarding the environment and creates a belief that it is not impossible to create our bit of impact.
- Makes people wiser about the natural life in the sanctuary, the local cultures that live in and around it and the role of the government on the scene.
- Its viral. I can imagine far more people hearing about this and wanting to do it themselves than ordinary trips. So it should result in a revenue, public support and awareness as well as regular vigilance in the sanctuary.
Folks at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, are ya’ll reading? Could this idea work to help get the park trash free?
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