Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
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Environment and Forests on Eco tourism, clearly enunciates the principle<br />
that tourism activities is permissible with an understanding that these areas<br />
are primarily meant for conservation.<br />
Learnings<br />
The Nagarhole legal interventions was the first of its kind in India and it set a<br />
precedence for the use of protected areas and national parks for eco-tourism<br />
development. A struggle of this kind was possible because of regular coordination<br />
among the groups and also by the transparency maintained in<br />
relation to the happenings.<br />
The entire struggle at the Nagarhole National Park was two-pronged. On the<br />
one hand, there was the optimal usage ofthe existing systems (legal, media)<br />
and on the other the optimistic spirit with which the struggle were kept alive<br />
on the ground.<br />
The struggle on the ground by the tribal community and simultaneously the<br />
usage of systems, hand in hand had positive impacts on both fronts. The<br />
reports in the media about the struggle and presence of large number of<br />
community members in the court while the hearing of the case was on had<br />
contributed to raising the emotions in favour of the community and the<br />
struggle. While, even a small positive verdict from the legal sphere became<br />
an inspiration to the people to emphasise that their struggle was just and in<br />
accordance with the larger systems.<br />
The verdict of the court was able to bring out certain crucial aspects to the<br />
notice of agencies and departments such as the Ministry of Environment and<br />
Forests (MoE F) both at the central and state level and the Forest<br />
Department, Karnataka. Among them were the validity of the laws, its<br />
violations and the abuse of powers that are vested with officials that deal with<br />
projects of this magnitude, which have much larger implications.<br />
2.9 International covenants<br />
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)<br />
The Convention on Biological Diversity was negotiated between 1987 and<br />
1992 under the supervision of the United Nations Environment Program.<br />
The preparatory work for formulating the Convention was done by IUCN<br />
The World Conservation Union and the Food and Agricultural<br />
45 Nilagiris : Fading Glory <br />
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