Eco-tourism – Destination West Bengal

Atanu Kumar Raha, IFS, 
Addl Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & 

A few facts on W.Bengal

•Total geographical area of W.Bengal =
•Population as per 2001 census =
•Capital Kolkata is connected with outside by Airport, Port and Railway Station
•The State has an extremely rich cultural diversity•W.Bengal has the unique characteristics of its topography stretching from the Himalayan mountain range, through the Gangetic alluvium plains to the Sundarban mangroves at the coast of Bay of Bengal 
•The widely varying topology has provided the State with an extremely rich Biodiversity
•The total recorded Forest land is 11879 sq km which is nearly 13.4% of the gegraphical area
•Through the innovative practice of Joint Forest Management, involving peoples’ participation, the
Forest cover has increased to 15.68% over a period of 25 years
•The natural forests are concentrated mostly in 3 regions, namely North, South west
Bengal and Sundarban in the extreme South

The natural beauty of the State, its snow-clad mountains, lush green forest, the rolling Tea gardens, ripe agricultural fields in North Bengal, the red lateritic tracts and the pure sal forests in the South West Bengal, and the world’s largest mangrove delta in Sundarban make the State potential paradise for Eco-tourism

What is Eco-tourism
•Eco-tourism means sustainable, equitable, community based endeavour for improving living standard of indigenous host communities.
•WTO defines Eco-tourism as “tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specified objectives of studying, admiring and enjoying the sceneries and its wild plants and animals, as well as in existing cultural aspects found in this areas.  Eco-tourism differs from Resort tourism or mass tourism by requiring lesser infrastructure development and lower impact on the environment.

Key elements of Eco-tourism are
•Existence of NP/Sanctuary/Nature as prime attraction.
•Should be ecologically, socially, culturally, and economically sustainable.
•Should have participation of the local stakeholders.
•Should be a low profile venture.
•Should be capable of forging partnership with the existing tourism industry.

National Eco-tourism Policy and guidelines (1998)
•It should involve local community and lead to economic development of the area.
•It should identify the likely conflicts between resource use for tourism and livelihood of local inhabitants and attempt to minimise such conflicts.
•The type and scale of tourism development should be compatible with the environment and socio-cultural characteristics of the local community
•It should be planned as part of the overall area development strategy, ensuring sectoral integrations. 

 The eco-tourism package should include

•Simple, adequate board and lodging facilities, ethnic in nature.
•Self guided nature trails.
•Nature Interpretation Centres.
•Way-side exhibits and signages.
•Observation towers.
•Public conveniences and garbage disposal facility.

Periodic training programmes on eco-tourism to the host community will include
•Lodge management.
•Basic education and awareness.
•Health and sanitations.
•Skill development for preparation of local souvenirs.
•Code of conducts.
•Forests and Wildlife Conservation.
•Garbage and pollution control.
•Forging partnership with tourists and tourism industry Possible inputs for community based eco-tourism
•Creation and management of ethnic cottage.
•Guide service to the visitors.
•Sale outlet for local products / souvenirs.
•Facilities like boating, angling, folk dance, picnic spots, nature trail, visit to a host village and guided bird watching. Is eco-tourism against conservation

•Access of outsiders to the P.As may endanger the Biodiversity of the P.A.s

•There may be a tendency to use
Forest
Land for building up infrastructure for tourism

•Ecotourism is not F.D’s business – the field staff get diverted from normal forestry works

Benefits of Eco-tourism
•Brings the conservation efforts to public view
•Increased awareness about P.A.s creates peer pressure for their conservtion
•Helps in mobilization of resources for P.A. management
•Strengthens interface between eco-tourists and local people

Zoning of Biosphere Reserve/ Protected Areas 
•Core Zone
•Buffer Zone
•Transition Area

Core Zone
Securely Protected Site for conserving Biological Diversity and undertaking non-destructive research and Education etc

Well-defined Buffer Zone
Usually surrounding or adjoining the Core Zone, and is used for cooperative activities compatible with sound ecological practices which includes Eco-tourism

Flexible Transition Area
May contain a variety of agricultural activities, settlements and other uses and in which local communities, management agencies and Scientists, NGOs and other stakeholders work together to manage and sustainably develop the Area’s resources. May include establishment of Eco-tourism resorts

Eco-tourism routes
•Canning/Sonakhali, Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Dobanki, Netidhopani, Sonakhali
•Sonakhali, Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Dobanki, Bonie, Kalas, Lothian, Namkhana
•Dhamakhali, Burirdabri, Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Sonakhali•Raidighi, Bonie, Kalas, Patharpratima
•Namkhana, Bhagabatpur, Lothian, Bonie, Kalas, Patharpratima 

ECO-TOURISM DESTINATIONS
•STR
•Sajnekhali•Sudhanyakhali•Netidhopani•Dobanki•Burirdabri
•South 24 Parganas Dn
•Bhagabatpur C.B.C
•Bonie Camp
•Kalash camp
•Lothian Tower 

Eco-tourism initiatives in Sunderban
•The Eco-tourism Centres are located at Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Dobanki, Netidhopani and Burir Dabri in STR, and at Bonie camp(Sundarikati), Bhagabatpore Crocodile Project, Lothian Island sanctuary  and Kalash beach in South 24 Parganas RF.
•There are two Nature Interpretation Centres located at Sajnekhali and Bhagabatpore, and one Eco museum at Sudarikati.
•The Canopy walk at Dobanki, the mangrove trail at Burirdabri, the Watch
Tower at Bonie camp and Banapath at Lothian are tremendous attractions for the Eco-tourists. •Handicrafts like Boutique printed scarves/hankys, Zari-works sarees, created by local EDC/FPC members after training by FD and forming SHGs, are available for sale to the tourists from different Eco-tourism centres 

Eco-torism in North Bengal
•The entry points are Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri Railway station, in the foothill of the
Himalayas (known as Terai region)
•The forest extends from Sandakphu, at an altitude of 13000 feet, to the Terai plain Sal forests to the moist evergreen miscellaneus forest of Dooars bordering Assam
•There are four National Parks, namely Singhalila, Neora Valley, Gorumara and Buxa
•The Sanctuaries include Senchal near Darjeeling, Mahananda in the Terai and Chapramari, Jaldapara and Buxa in the Dooars 

Where to visit and stay
•All the National Parks and Sanctuaries in North Bengal are well connected by National Highways/ roads
•There are a large no of limited accommodation forest lodges at or near almost all the Protected areas
•Eco-tourism spots have been developed in all the N.P.s and Sanctuaries
•W.B.Forest Development Corporation efficiently manages a large number of such Eco-tourism lodges, including their bookings through their website
•A few other Forest lodges are booked and managed by Forest Deptt Singhalila National Park is in riot of colours  with the blooming rhododendrons in the month of April – May
A trek from Manebhanjang to Sandakfu/ Phalut is another attraction
It is the home of the highly endangered Red Panda
Neora Valley N.P. has some of the pristine forests and a small population of Bengal tiger and a rich avifauna
Senchal wildlife sanctuary near Darjeeling has a dense montane temperate forest with a rich bird population
Tourists can stay at WBFDC nature resorts of Lepcha Jagat, Kalimpong, Rongpo, Lava, Luleygaon, Suntaleykhola, Jaldhaka, Samsing and Mongpong
 
Foresters are the custodians of our magnificent flora, fauna and their habitat. But it does not mean, they have the monopoly on the aesthetic beauty of the nature. The people have a equal right to enjoy the same provided the beauty is preserved. Ecologically sustainable economy  tourism-
Also a tool for Joint Forest Management