Environmental Sustainability By Means Of Ecotourism

 

 Environmental Sustainability By Means Of Ecotourism

Debojit Bharali

 

What ecotourism referred is the nature based travel or travelling to the natural areas responsibly to conserve sustainability of environment along with improvement of welfare of the local people. It’s a form of tourism based on the idea of sustainability.

Ecotourism is about uniting conservation as well as communities and of course sustainable travel. This means that who implement, participate and market ecotourism activities should follow the ecotourism principles like minimize physical, social, behavioural impacts, build environmental and cultural awareness and respect, Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts, Provide direct financial benefits for conservation, Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry, Recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of the Indigenous people in your community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment, Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities.

Adhering to the above principles, it can easily be understood that ecotourism is in its positive way, minimises the odd risks or impacts to environment and nature as one should be aware that not to harm the beauty of nature while visiting it. Ecotourism focuses on unadulterated, pristine natural beauty of environment. The impact of ecotourism is positive and beneficial for hosts, travellers, as well as the world in general. Ecotourism as a carrier, presently professional with the opportunity of looking at the world with a different perspective, and working towards achieving 'better environment' to live in.

 

Anyhow, let us focus on how ecotourism works towards environmental sustainability. Why it is necessary to have such coexistence..! well, Ecotourism, as an alternative tourism, involves visiting natural areas in order to learn, to study, or to carry out activities environmentally friendly, that is, a tourism based on the nature experience, which enables the economic and social development of local communities. It focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature, its landscape, flora, fauna and their habitats, as well as cultural artefacts from the locality. Ecotourism helps in involving local community for the conservation of the ecology and biodiversity of the area that biodiversity in return provides the economic incentives to the local community. Eco-tourism contributes to conservation of biodiversity; sustains the well-being of local people; involves responsible action on the part of tourist and the tourism industry; promotes small and medium tourism enterprises; requires lowest possible consumption of natural resources; stresses local participation, ownership, and business opportunities, particularly for rural people; and above all includes the learning experiences.

Ecotourism tries to raise the environmental consciousness among people by exploring ecology and ecosystems of a particular nature based destination by providing environmental type experiences.

It is largely scrutinized to safeguard natural areas and thereby to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. It focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature, its landscape, flora, fauna and their habitats, as well as cultural artefacts from the locality.

 

As far as ecotourism in Assam & northeast context, Government of India has formulated certain policy guidelines for ecotourism, as identified six ecotourism circuits of India, northeast is one of them. When we name northeast, it appears as the Land of seven sisters surrounded by hills & mountains of all the sides. A picturesque landscape with such vast green cover along with blended ethnic groups that creates a cultural melting pot as well. Particularly the land “Assam” has its unique beauty of nature and too famous for its unparalleled natural biodiversity. The awesome landscape of Assam painted with the lush green tea gardens along with the roads, the hillocks, the beautiful flora and fauna, the dark green forest, lakes, blue hills, flowing streams, rivers, the rich bouquet of cuisine of the different community etc., will never fail to be gesture tourists to this beautiful region throughout the year. The places like Guwahati, Kaziranga, Majuli, Sivasagar, Tezpur, Tinsukia in Assam, Kohima in Nagaland, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, Shillong, Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya  has enough potentialities for the development of ecotourism. For instance, Majuli- the world famous riverine island is a heritage site of vaishnavite culture along with its rich natural ornaments. The local tribes of Majuli has their own crafts, handloom occupations. Moreover fishing, dairying, pottery, boat making, musk making are the other important economic activities of this island. Hence we can say doubtlessly that the island has the tremendous option for its vast development in terms of ecotourism. With the fastest globalization and rapid changes in time, ecotourism is a kind of gaining wind. The Assam has its full prospect with its natural flora-fauna, biodiversity and its rich culture provides an efficient degree of possibility for development.

 

Let’s get back to the main subject, natural and cultural landscape values ​​form the basis of ecotourism. These values ​​are geographical location, water availability, natural beauty, natural flora, wildlife, local food, festivals and competitions, traditional agricultural structures, local handicrafts, regional culture. Events and people, the appeal of tradition, diversity of architecture, traditional music and folk dance, artistic activity and much more. However, ecotourism can play a key role for solving many of the environmental as well as economic problems of particular destination. Similarly, such tourism activities can cause of various negative impacts on the surrounding environment. It is purely depends on human behaviour. Odd humanitarian interference in ecologically fragile areas can cause irreversible changes on existing ecosystem. Therefore it should be the major area of concern.

 

A symbiotic and complex relationship between the environment and tourist activities is possible when this philosophy can be translated into appropriate policy, careful planning and tactful practicum. Carefully planned and operated ecotourism sites, especially if it is village-based and includes local participation, is able to provide direct benefits that might offset pressure from other less sustainable activities that make use of natural and cultural resources. Nevertheless, Ecotourism helps in community development by providing the alternate source of livelihood to local community which is more sustainable. Its aim is to conserve resources, especially biological diversity, and maintain sustainable use of resources, which can bring ecological experience to travellers, conserve the ecological environment and gain economic benefit. However, achieving the aims in ecotourism depends on whether they are environmentally and ecologically sustainable and economically applicable.

 

Ecotourism as a component of the green economy is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry, and focuses on environmental conservation, socioeconomic development and capitalist development. With an objective to identify and quantify impacts of ecotourism on environmental conservation, social and cultural heritage preservation, economic development and enhancement of livelihoods. Thus, in a constructive way ecotourism cannot be ignored towards building of a sustainable environment. 

 

 

Phone: 9854539061

E-mail: dbharali83@gmail.com

(Tour consultant by profession, Freelance writer on tourism, IT, various social aspects. Add:- Kahilipara,  Guwahati)