Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

Foreword
The Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve in general, and the Blue Mountains in
particular, is slowly but steadily losing its pristine glory due to unplanned
development and insensitive development plans and projects. The common
property resources are put at great risk by the current usage patterns and
this leads to plundering of resources in the name of development.
Ecological implications, apart from social implications, have been
constantly disregarded. Ecotourism is the newest vehicle for tourism
promoters to promote tourism despite its impacts on social and
environmental aspects of the community.
To urism practices currently perpetuated in this ecologically sensitive area,
including its protected areas, invariably show a trend of 'development at
any cost'. There is an all out effort to exploit current spaces in tourism zones
and further encroach onto additional spaces in other zones.
In one fell swoop, subsistence needs of local communities and their access
to traditional livelihood resources are negated and neglected by tourismrelated
development that opens up more and more spaces for the pleasures
of tourists and profits of tourism industries. Everywhere in this biosphere
there is little concern about longer-term implications of such trends that
siphon off resources and natural endowments of the local people, is
happening who use these resources rationally and sustainably.
Among the various protected areas present in the Nilgiris Biosphere
Reserve, the following four the Waynad Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bandipura
National Park, the Nagarahole National Park and the Mudumalai Wildlife
Sanctuary are receiving maximum attention for the development of
ecotourism. In Tamilnadu, vast forest areas come under the focus for
tourism development. In Karnataka the broad specifications of wildlife
circuit and hill resort circuit within the vast spectrum of tourism
development circuits is a case in point to expose the real intent of the State
Government in tourism promotion. In Kerala too all national parks and
protected areas are being opened up for tourism purpose, a case in point
being the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary. When each state is vying for its share
in the tourism cake, their environmentally sensitive regions are put at
maximum risk.
This dossier is attempting to raise pressing concerns and priorities from the
ground and seeks interventions to redeem the glory of Nilgiris Biosphere
Reserve.
EQUATIONS TEAM