Wildlife and Nature Conservation - Centre for Ecological Sciences

There are some well-managed PAs (e.g. Corbett, Kaziranga, Periyar, etc) where data onmajor vertebrate fauna have been collected for many decades. Many PA managers alsokeep scientific information. Each DFO/RFO/Forester keeps a daily diary, sometimes withvaluable information on sightings of larger animals, forest fires, poaching cases, etc butunfortunately, there is no system where this valuable information is also made availableto researchers. Forest officials are required to submit their diaries/records to theirsuperiors, but these records disappear in the office files or are thrown out after some time.If a researcher or an institute sends copies of a report/paper to the Forest Department,they are often not available after some time.India is one of the largest producers and consumers of fertilizers and pesticides. Exceptfor some academic research in universities and government institutes, there is no longtermresearch on the harmful and persistent effect of pesticides on wildlife, particularlybirds, fish and amphibians. Many apparently common bird species are no more common,especially in farmlands, and many amphibians and fish have declined due to pesticidepollution of the water systems.9.9 EcotourismThe cardinal principle when considering tourism, and all other issues, in National Parks,Sanctuaries and other protected areas is that in all such areas the conservation interests ofwildlife, both fauna and flora and of their habitats, must be considered paramount. Allother interests must be secondary to this prime and over-riding consideration.Protected areas are essential for the long-term health of the country as they form whatmay well be the only remaining nucleus of biodiversity and an invaluable gene pool.They must be conserved with that objective in mind. Pristine eco-systems, unmodified byhuman efforts are the aim and not creating reservoirs of animals in manicured settings!Protected Areas should not be viewed as a mere facility for recreation but rather as a sitefor preserving an area of natural diversity, including both fauna and flora, that in additionaffords nature lovers an opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural state and to havecommunion with nature.The temptation to develop tourism at the cost of wildlife interests must be firmly resisted.While it is true that tourism can generate valuable and needed financial inputs to nationalparks, wildlife sanctuaries and other protected areas, this must never be at the cost of theinterests of wildlife.Tourism in PAs has the potential to prevent illegal activities such as illegal felling oftrees, poaching, encroachments, etc. However uncontrolled tourism disturbs wildlife andeven hinders their breeding behavior. Tourism properly regulated can be force forconservation, and create amongst the visitors on empathy for nature and particularly forthe PA in question, while it is also true that indiscriminate unregulated tourism candestroy PAs.In most areas, with only a very few exceptions, all the revenues from tourism go to theconsolidated fund of the State Government and are not available directly to the PA. Inany case the earnings from wildlife tourism are insignificant compared to the amountspent in maintaining the PAs. Mechanism should be set up for ploughing back therevenues earned and the PAs should also be in a position to receive donations and129