Volume 10: Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism 69

Assessment of Ecotourism in Palamau Reserve: State of ,

D. K. Prasad Department of Forests and Environment, , India

Abstract

India is one of the seven mega biodiverse countries of the world with a rich and renowned cultural heritage. In 1992, the fourth World Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas had recognized that the protected areas cannot exist unless the interests of local communities are protected. Ecotourism is a potential strategy for reconciling biodiversity conservation with local development in ecologically fragile areas.

India has sought to protect its biodiversity through a network of Protected Areas. in the State of Jharkhand is among the country’s first nine Tiger Reserves notified in 1974 under . Despite having a wide range of biological diversity and substantial opportunities for developing eco-tourism, there is clearly some way before ecotourism is fully integrated into public and private sector strategies and activities in the Palamau Tiger Reserve.

The paper tries to assess the status of ecotourism in Palamau Tiger Reserve and investigate the opportunities and challenges faced in the Reserve based on field investigations, questionnaire surveys, meetings and discussions with the stakeholders. Experiences gained through earlier visits and study of other and of Germany and Czech Republic is also analyzed in the context of the Palamau Tiger Reserve.

The study concluded that even in the present bad law-and- order situation in the Palamau Tiger Reserve area, eco- tourism can prove a powerful method of generating resources

Proceedings of the FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World 17-20 November 2008, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand 70 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

for conservation and also for local communities. There is a need to involve all stakeholders in order to evolve a plan of action that ensures sustainable development and harnesses the potential of tourism for the economic development of local communities.

Keywords: ecotourism, local communities, Palamau Tiger Reserve, analysis, recommendations

Introduction

Tourism is a growing industry all over the world. With the advent of modern transport facilities and increasing demand for comfort, tourism in modern times is having many more negative impacts than the tourism that was carried out by our grandparents. World forums are thus forced to define terms like ‘sustainable tourism’ and ‘ecotourism’. Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism and has been promoted to complement and/or supplement development opportunities (Hvenegaard, 1994), as it has been considered to minimize negative impacts, maximize economic benefits for the local people and the natural environment, and provide a positive experience to visitors (Wall, 1997)

Ecotourism is a word that was first coined for responsible tourism in natural areas. However, the concept of ecotourism can be extended to tourism in any area. Ecotourism is any form of tourism that does not have any detrimental impact on the environment. The word ‘eco’ is believed to stem from the word ‘ecology’, in the sense that the ecology of an area should not be disturbed as a result of travel/tourism. Ecotourism is more significant in Protected Areas as these areas are ecologically fragile. The word ‘eco’ may also stand for economic. The economic conditions of the people living in and around the Protected Areas are much lower than those of the people living in cities. Ecotourism aims at harvesting tourism for the conservation of the area as well as for the economic benefit of the people. It is ecologically and culturally friendly tourism.

Ecotourism can be seen as an alternative income earner which is less destructive than other activities such as logging, resource (ore, oil) extraction, commercial fishing, cattle grazing or conventional mass tourism (Honey, 1999). Volume 10: Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism 71

This paper tries to investigate the opportunities and challenges faced in the Palamau Tiger Reserve, in the Indian state of Jharkhand, based on field investigations, questionnaire surveys, meetings and discussions with the stakeholders. The aim was to find the best practical approach to ecotourism in the Palamau Tiger Reserve, which would maximize the benefits to the people while preserving the protected area on a sustainable basis.

Background

India is one of the seven mega-biodiversity countries of the world, and a country with a rich and renowned cultural heritage having great potential for ecotourism. India represents a range of climatic, geomorphologic and geographic formations, harbouring rich biodiversity. Traditionally, India has sought to protect its biodiversity through a Protected Area (PA) network. The PA network covers about 20.42% of the forest area of the country, which amounts to about 4.8% of the geographical area of India (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Protected Areas and conservation by reserve type in India. Source: Envis of Wildlife Institute of India 72 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

Although in numerical terms, the PA network in India is reasonably large, only 22 PAs are larger than 1000 km2, whereas 31% of network is less than 10 km2. However, there is still tremendous potential for wilderness recreation. The Department of Tourism in 1998 issued operational guidelines for major stakeholders (tour operators, etc.) for sustainable tourism. The Ministry of Forests and Environment of India in 2000 recognized ecotourism in PAs and other forests as one of its 12 major thrust areas. The India Chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association formulated an action plan for a ‘National Tourism Policy’ which has been subsequently forwarded by the Ministry of Tourism to the State Government for review. States like , , , , and have formulated their own state-level ecotourism policies.

Jharkhand is one of the 29 states of the Union of India. It is a state, which in its native language means a state of jungles. A total of 29% of its area is covered with forests including 12 protected areas. Jharkhand is rich in biodiversity but lags behind the other states in ecotourism and there is clearly some way to go before ecotourism is fully integrated into public and private sector strategies and activities.

Betla National Park, together with the Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjoining Reserve Forests, constitute the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR). It was one of the first nine tiger reserves notified in India in 1974, with an area of 928 km2 that has now been extended to 1026 km2. PTR has a wide range of biological diversity, based on a stable ecosystem of diverse types of forests: Northern India moist deciduous forest; moist and dry peninsular sal forest; northern dry mixed deciduous forest; eagle forest; and dry bamboo brakes. These forest types support a significant population of wildlife species, especially: tiger, Indian , Indian , , mouse deer, python, pangolin, four horned antelope and the black necked crane, among others. PTR is the catchment of three rivers: North Koel, Auranga and Burha. More than 50% of the total population of the area is tribal which substantially depends on PTR. PTR with its aesthetic value and wilderness has an immense potential for ecotourism.

Methodology

The study was conducted between January and May 2008. The reason for choosing the Palamau Tiger Reserve was that this Reserve was one of the first Volume 10: Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism 73

nine Tiger Reserves notified in 1974 under ‘Project Tiger’ launched in India. Along with the focus on tiger conservation, the project also sought to elicit the support of local stakeholder communities with the development of the necessary infrastructure for protection and management. In 1934, PTR was the location for the country’s first census of through a pug mark identification technique, while in 1978, PTR won an award for its fire fighting system. The other initial and some of the recently declared ones are doing quite well with respect to ecotourism. The prominent examples are Jim Corbett National Park (NP), Ranthambore NP, Periyar NP, Bandipur NP, Mans NP, Dudhwa NP. However, containing the Palamau Tiger Reserve is missing from this list.

The study was hence carried out to find out the status of ecotourism in the Palamau Tiger Reserve and investigate the opportunities and challenges faced in the Reserve based on field investigations, questionnaire surveys, meetings and discussions with the stakeholders. Local communities, the Forest Department, the Tourism Department, the private sector, NGOs and academics were identified as the stakeholders. Visits to the villages in and around PTR were carried out to investigate the expectations and fears that the local communities associated with ecotourism. Discussions and interviews were carried out with the field directors and staff of the reserve (both the conservator for the core area and the conservator for the buffer area, the range officers, foresters and the caretakers of the tourist complex, including the cook among others). The local police administration was also interviewed. Not many NGOs were working in PTR. An academic who had carried out research in PTR was interviewed. While there were no large scale private sector activities in PTR, some small tea shops or hotels were run by the locals, so discussions were held with them. In the state’s capital city of Ranchi, the director of tourism, the principal chief conservator of forests for biodiversity (the chief wildlife warden) and the managing director of the Jharkhand Forest Development Corporation were interviewed.

Experiences from earlier visits and studies reported on other Protected Areas of India, Germany and the Czech Republic were also analyzed with regard to PTR.

74 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

Results and Discussion

Opportunities for Ecotourism in PTR

Ecotourism was an important aspect of management of the Palamau Tiger Reserve and had an important role in supporting the tiger conservation program along with wildlife and biodiversity conservation. In the present Management Plan of PTR (2001-2010), 53.78 km2 has been marked as a tourism zone, which overlaps with other habitat management and buffer zones. Some of the important management practices in the tourism zone were: cleaning and removal of weeds; development and maintenance of grasslands; maintenance of waterholes; fire protection; and maintenance of roads and buildings

Tourist Spots

There were various scenic spots in the PTR, where people could go to enjoy the wilderness. Animal hideouts and watch-towers were being maintained and improved by the PA management as prescribed in the Management Plan. Most of the spots had been developed but not maintained, whereas some of these areas had never been developed and in some areas development was being hindered due to bad laws and the general situation in the area (Table 1).

Transport and Roads

Access to PTR was by air to Ranchi (165 km), or by rail to (15 km) or Daltonganj (25 km). Road travel was then required from these places to either of the two entry points at Betla or Baresanr. The general condition of the roads was not very good. Vehicles of all types were allowed access up to the tourist lodges. At the time of the study, there were no conducted tours to the reserve, but the Tourism Department was intending to start these.

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Table 1 The status of tourist sites described in the Management Plan for the Palamau Tiger Reserve and study recommendations.

Sl. No. Tourist site Present status Proposals of the PA/ Recommendations by this study 1 Betla tourist zone The Tourist Maintenance of the forest Renovate the infrastructure with with govt. cottages, Complex is well rest houses, tree house, energy-efficient materials such as tree house, maintained. It is the tourist complex and solar water heaters and lamps. rides, nature trail, main Tourist the interpretation centre Improve the waste disposal system. interpretation centre. There are together with the elephant Have an efficient system of use of centre. Two private 4 pilkhanas but rides. Plans to create a water. Enforce eco-friendly systems owned hotels. only 2 elephants. children’s corner. in the privately owned hotels and canteens. Involve locals in maintaining the complex through partnership and as eco-guides. Increase the number of elephants to at least 4. Set up a local handicraft shop for economic benefit to the locals.

2 Palamau Fort An The remains of Has intentions to develop The PA manager, the tourism historical fort of the fort are not the area manager and the Archaeological Raja Medini Roy is preserved well survey of India can work together to just 2km from Betla make the fort an attractive tourist spot.

3 Kehr tourist complex Not in good Maintenance of the forest Develop a nature trail. The site can shape (burnt). rest house. be developed as a camping site. Maintenance was Encourage the villagers to take up given to the local home-stays. Organize occasional eco- fairs and dances during tribal development festivals for tourist. Involve the local committee but villagers as partners in the activities. was not Gradually develop the area as an successful. alternative to Betla Tourist Complex. Police/ military Have a separate law controlling personnel were station. staying to control law and order in the area. 4 Maromar forest rest The rest house is Maintenance of the Forest The tree house can be renovated for house, tree house. burnt and the rest house and the tree night stays. Encourage the tourists & tree house is in house the tribals to take up home-stays for bad condition. cultural exchange. A cluster of mud Earlier mud huts huts can be created as a resort. were given on Nature trail development. rent to tourists by Mrs. Anne Wright

76 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

Table 1 (Cont.)

Sl. No. Tourist site Present status Proposals of the PA/ Recommendations by this study 5 Kechki (confluence The guest house Develop the area as a As recommended by the of the rivers is in very bad tourist spot. Tourism dept. PA/Tourism manager in the previous Auranga and North shape. plans to involve local column. Koel) It has a people in the development railway station and and maintenance of this forest rest house. area. Some people are identified to work as tourist guides, for cleaning & maintenance, as musical groups, provide life saving facilities, etc

6Barwadih An No previously Proposed to build a tourist As above. important railway developed tourist complex at Barwadih with station, block facilities. New a four room tourist lodge headquarter and has tourist complex and a 20 bed dormitory. a police station with proposed. a hospital.

7 Chhipadohar also Rest house is in none Traditional carpenters are here who has railway station bad shape, The carve shapes of wild animals found and timber depots depots are non in the PTR (snake, gaur, tiger, deer, with a forest rest functional, etc.). They can be encouraged to house and a range Tourists not prepare souvenirs. Area can be headquarter. staying here. developed like Barwadih as an alternative site to Betla.

8 Kujrum Forest rest The rest house is none This is a village of ethnic tribal house confluence of burnt people amidst thick forest, which rivers Burha and can provide an excellent site for North Koel learning about ethnic tribes. Develop picnic spot.

9 Mirchaiya Falls, No facilities Intends to develop the The ethnic local tribal can be 10 Sugabandh Fall, available here area through awareness, engaged to develop and maintain the 11 Lodh Falls, all picnic timber board walk, facilities on their own. spot in earlier times. suspension bridge, paved pathway without disturbing natural surroundings using eco- friendly materials

12 Tatahapani hot No facilities none Locals can be encouraged to develop spring available here and maintain the area.

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Table 1 (Cont.)

Sl. No. Tourist site Present status Proposals of the PA/ Recommendations by this study 13 Mandal, Kutku dam, Guest house is none PA management can coordinate Irrigation guest abandoned since with the irrigation department to house 1989 develop the area

14 Kamaldah Water No facilities Intends to develop the Boating can be encouraged Locals pond available here area. can maintain the area and act as eco- guides.

15 Baresanr, Scenic No facilities Intends to develop the Encourage locals to maintain the 16 spot Lower available here area. area and act as eco-guides. Honey 17 Ghaghris, Scenic collectors of Garu village can be spot Garu range given bottles with the brand name of headquarter PTR and encouraged to sell honey in an organized way.

18 Mahuadahr No tourism Intends to develop the This area can be included in the Sanctuary, at the facilities area. interpretation & education center at fringe of the PTR Betla so that tourists visit the area for the area’s benefit.

As only battery-driven vehicles should be allowed inside the Reserve, PTR needed to acquire a number of such pollution-free vehicles and to make them easily available to the visitors by charging a fee, which could be included in the entry fee. Lessons from Kanha National Park could be applied, where pollution-free, open jeeps under Park management were given to the local youths who also acted as eco-guides.

Accommodation and Home-Stays

Accommodation was available in the tourist zones of Betla, Kerh and Maromar. As is evident from Table 1, only the tourist complex at Betla was used by the visitors, where accommodation was provided both by the Forest and the Tourist Departments. There were also two private hotels.

On the Betla National Park fringe, local private people were providing accommodation in huts either to individual tourists or to groups. At the time of the study, only lower middle class tourists were staying in these huts. With a little publicity and some incentive to the locals, these huts could be renovated into a resort and hence increase the income of the local communities.

78 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

At the time of the study, there was no concept of home stays in PTR. With three villages in the wilderness zone, 35 in the zone of influence and 161 in the multiple use zone within the PTR, there was scope for home stays. In some of these villages, promotion would be possible, as recommended in Table 1. Lessons from the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala in this regard could be incorporated by the PA management.

Sites of Nature Trails

A short walking trail existed near the Betla tourist lodge but there was no signage or boards. The existing trail could be improved and new ones could be developed:

x Since the Koel River in winter is almost dry, a trail on its sandy bed could be allowed during winter. x A trail from Betla to the Fort and back (about 18km) could be very interesting for long route trekkers. x A nature trail covering the village of Kujrum at the confluence of the Burha and North Koel rivers and the Mirchaiya falls could also be developed (Table 1).

Bird Watching Points

Bird watching points at Betla, Kamaldah, Maromar, Sugabandh, Aksi, Rud, Pandra Valley and Kechki also needed to be identified and developed. These points could again be left to the locals to manage after receiving training, as the locals know best about their birds and their behavior.

Nature Camps

The present Management Plan stressed the need to organize nature camps at Kechki, Betla and Palamau Fort. These camps should not be permanent because of the movement of herds of elephants (spots were identified in Table 1).

Volume 10: Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism 79

Signboards

Signboards were inadequate in PTR and therefore in the current plan it is intended to include the latest types of directional, cautioning, orientation and interpretative signboards.

Elephant Rides

Two elephants were available at Betla for tourists rides in the Reserve to sight wild animals. The present Management Plan envisaged that as the mahouts are the only guides for the tourists, they should be conversant in interpreting bird calls, pug marks, foot prints, behavior of animals, habitat and flora, etc.

Since there are four pilkhanas at Betla, there should be four elephants, so that most of the tourists can enjoy the Reserve on the ride, as elephant rides were the most attractive item of the Reserve.

Interpretation and Conservation Education

There was one nature interpretation centre at Betla (NIC). It consisted of a reception, display models, a museum, library and an auditorium. Recently Touch Screen information on PTR had been made available at the NIC.

The present Management Plan proposed to: improve the NIC with more displays that showed implements and art-crafts used by the local people with proper labelling and descriptions; and update the library.

More of current, advanced technology could be used in the displays, so that they were more interactive, allowing visitors to touch the objects and respond to questions. An amphitheatre could also be developed. The staff should be trained so they are capable of answering the queries of the visitors.

The present plan also envisaged a mobile interpretation centre for education and extension programs. This would include exhibits of models of: various animals and their habitat; the unique floral composition of the area; and an account on key issues of management, such as poaching, fire, grazing and illicit felling. This could be equipped with audio-visual publicity material to increase the awareness among the villagers in and around the PTR. This mobile centre could be displayed at the various tourist centres of the Reserve. 80 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

Year Round Tourist Visits to PTR

As is evident from Table 2, tourism numbers have declined from an average of 30 000 in the 1980s to 20 000 in the 1990s, to 10 000 in 2000. The reason cited in the Management Plan was the bad law and order situation in the area. However, records show that up until the time of the study, there had been no extreme incident involving tourists. Despite the continually worsening of law and order, there was a rise in tourism from 10 000 in 2000 to 17 000 in 2006. This suggests that besides insurgency, there are other reasons, such as deteriorating roads and tourist facilities and a lack of stakeholder interest at all levels. The facilities at Kehr and Maromar were in bad shape. Only the Betla tourist complex was maintained by the PA management.

Table 2 Summary of annual visitors to the Reserve

Year Indian Foreigner Total Year Indian Foreigner Total 1982 22 758 54 22 812 1995 25 409 15 25 424 1983 24 037 40 24 077 1996 23 050 57 23 107 1984 22 757 167 22 924 1997 22 347 33 22 380 1985 26 272 330 26 602 1998 16 071 41 16 112 1986 28 893 238 29 131 1999 14 097 90 14 187 1987 32 692 150 32 842 2000 10 861 59 10 920 1988 46 680 106 46 786 2001 13 148 69 13 217 1989 37 968 71 38 039 2002 16 883 8 16 891 1990 28 652 37 28 689 2003 14 979 19 14 998 1991 34 064 32 34 096 2004 12 456 0 12 456 1992 34 649 70 34 709 2005 13 755 50 13 805 1993 52 193 217 52 410 2006 17 821 98 17 919 1994 29 401 25 29 426 2007 16 852 86 16 938

Source: Management Plan of PTR

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Apart from the insurgencies in the area, other problems in the Reserve are described below.

Challenges for Ecotourism in PTR

Lack of Ecotourism Policy

Despite having substantial opportunities for developing eco-tourism, PTR is losing out because of the lacunae in the policy and planning framework at the state level. The state of Jharkhand does not have any policy for ecotourism. In the management of PTR, the term ecotourism appears for the first time in the current Management Plan.

There is a need to create a policy framework for eco-tourism. Creating such a policy will require vision and a long-term perspective at all levels. Similarly, an eco-tourism policy will have to empower local communities and stakeholders, while defining the Government's role in eco-tourism. The policy should be able to adopt a mix of voluntary and legislated regulations of eco-tourism activities. Eco-tourism planning should adopt sustainable strategies that are both spatial and sectoral.

Himachal Pradesh developed a ‘Policy on Development of Ecotourism’ in May 2001. Madhya Pradesh also created an ‘Eco and Adventure Tourism Policy’ in 2001-2002. In Kerala, there is the Thenmala Ecotourism Promotional Society to develop a model. Sikkim has come up with a similar body known as the ‘Ecotourism & Conservation Society of Sikkim’. Lessons from these states can be taken up by the state of Jharkhand.

Lack of Overall Planning

Ecotourism planning, actions and policies should be developed using an integrated approach. Stakeholder participation and training of industry participants must also be included in eco-tourism planning. In the absence of partnerships between the Forest and the Tourism Departments and other stakeholders, eco-tourism has been restrictive and largely government- controlled, with no understanding of the requirements of the modern tourist and with no linkages with tourism service providers. It is therefore important to consider the need to ensure cooperation and consultation between the Tourism and Forest Departments. 82 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

At present, the Director of Tourism in Jharkhand is an Indian Forest Service Officer who had earlier worked in the Daltonganj district where most part of PTR is located. Two comprehensive plans are being developed for PTR, with one at Kechki and the other at the Lodh Falls. The plan is to develop these two sites with the involvement of the local people. Some people have been identified who will maintain and clean the sites and perform as musical groups there. At the Lodh Falls, life saving facilities will be provided by the locals.

It is recommended that an integrated approach to ecotourism be used, involving all the stakeholders, especially the police department in case of PTR.

Lack of Recycling of Tourism Revenue

Eco-tourism is, in fact, a powerful method of generating resources for conservation and for local stakeholders. However, the present management system in PTR keeps environmental protection and tourism operating separately in terms of the economic flow. All partners in ecotourism should be combined to form a sustainable complex of ecology-society-economy, where some of the revenue is re-channelled for conservation of the reserve. Some states like Andhra Pradesh, , and have started recycling the entry fees. Lessons from these states can be learned and applied in PTR.

Lack of Qualified Staff for Ecotourism Development

The current level of competence of both officers and subordinate staff in PTR makes them unsuitable for their task of the development of ecotourism. The survey showed that none of them had been trained in ecotourism, eco- development or wildlife management. Moreover, existing posts for field staff were about 35% vacant.

It is recommended that training be provided to all the staff. Only trained and motivated staff can train or provide fruitful incentives to the local communities to work as eco-guides, hosts to tourists, etc. Since the Reserve is totally under the Department of Forests and Environment, it is the responsibility of the State Government to see to it that only trained and oriented staff are posted in PTR, and also the existing vacancies are filled Volume 10: Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism 83

with competent staff. The inability to attract qualified personnel to the Reserve is due to the remoteness of the area, poor working and living conditions and the bad law and order situation in the area.

Lack of Involvement of Local Communities in Ecotourism

Human settlements in and around the Reserve have put great pressure on resources. Under the India Eco-development Project, which aims at mitigating negative impacts of people on PA and of PA on people, 65 eco- development committees had been formed by 2001 in PTR. People’s dependence on the Reserve has reduced to some extent by creating alternative income generating facilities like pisci-culture, poultry, horticulture, etc. However, not much emphasis has been given to ecotourism. In 2001, tourist accommodation at Kehr was given to the eco-development committees to manage; but it did not work out and presently these accommodations are in bad shape. This probably failed due to a lack of training for the members of the eco-development committees and a lack of interest on part of the Reserve management. In Periyar Reserve, the concept of Service Eco-Development is working. These committees are not territorial in nature, rather they form a group of particular service people who may come from different villages. In Periyar, these committees help the tourists in meeting their needs such as of dry wood, etc. This has helped in providing gainful employment to the local people, and has decreased the incidence of petty robberies.

Recently the Jharkhand Forest Development Corporation invited an Expression of Interest from the private sector for the ‘Development of ecotourism through renovation, management and value added services in Forest Rest Houses in 7 potential tourism sites’. The Betla guesthouses of PTR were included in this. This example, together with the analysis of the interviews, shows that the concept of ecotourism and its components are quite new to the PA manager, and the stakeholders. The current situation of ecotourism in PTR is basically nature tourism. According to Goodwin, nature tourism includes mass tourism, adventure tourism, low-impact tourism and ecotourism (Goodwin, 1996). In his definition, ecotourism is seen as low impact, nature tourism with contributions to the maintenance of species through conservation and community development; which is not in practice in PTR.

84 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

It is therefore necessary to incorporate the principles of eco-development in ecotourism so that the local communities benefit and they see the Reserve as an asset and conserve it as source of income generation through tourism. Ecotourism can be seen as a non-timber product of the reserve, and it can be managed through the Forest Development Corporation by involving only the locals.

Little Dissemination of Information and Awareness

Transparency in a system can be ensured only with an effective dissemination strategy. The local people generally remain oblivious to the concerns of the PA. Stakeholders are mostly unaware of the value of the surrounding natural resources. They are ignorant of the impact they have on the biodiversity of the area. PTR has evolved a dissemination strategy to keep the different stakeholders informed about the management practices, Do’s and don’ts, legal provisions, their rights, etc.

There is a need to promote PTR as an attractive ecotourism site through suitable marketing of the natural and wildlife attractions. For a year or two there has been advertising of the Reserve by the tourism department. Lessons from Jim Corbett National Park can be taken into account.

Weak Scientific Research and Monitoring

Very few studies have been carried out. The three on record related to the ecology of elephants and some studies on grasses. This is because there is a poor attitude, a lack of research infrastructure, and most of all a lack of co- ordination among different institutes and universities and the PA management. The present Management Plan proposes to: establish a research officer with an office and other supporting infrastructure; establish field research stations; increase coordination with research institutes, universities, NGOs, etc. and fund research activities.

Close monitoring of the impacts of management interventions is necessary in PTR. Presently no monitoring of tourism impacts is carried out; though monitoring of wild animals through a census occurs. Lessons from should be considered.

Volume 10: Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism 85

Conclusions

Table 3 shows a comparative view of the issues associated with ecotourism development in various Protected Areas on a relative scale.

Table 3 indicates that the management of ecotourism in the Palamau Tiger Reserve ranks poorly compared to India’s well-known reserves and also to the Nature Reserves of Germany and the Czech Republic.

The Palamau Tiger Reserve is unique in the sense that the law and order situation here is the worst of all the Reserves in the country. Many areas of PTR have become almost inaccessible to the general public and also to the Reserve manager. Are these areas better conserved? Is there more biodiversity in these areas? These questions arise because it may be presumed that there is almost negligible negative impact by people in these areas; and the anti-social elements preserve these areas for hiding and shelter. Alternatively, it may be just the opposite, with the biodiversity being destroyed without any check on adverse interests. A study of the extent and impact of insurgencies inside the Reserve and their effect on biodiversity could be a topic for further research.

Despite insurgencies, tourism in the Reserve is gradually improving. Strategies for operating ecotourism in PTR should coincide with its overall objectives. Five principal areas for developing ecotourism in PTR could be: involvement, training, research, development and funding as shown in Figure 2.

The involvement of all stakeholders is necessary for efficient ecotourism in the PTR. Local communities need to be incorporated into the management of the reserve. Local youths could serve as eco-guides. The tourist spots could be managed in partnership with the locals, with local houses and huts used as home stays. A special program could be organized for local festivals associated with tribal dances and an ethnic food carnival. Handicrafts could be marketed in PTR stores, building on the weaving (beautiful palm leaves and bamboo baskets); carpentry and blacksmithing (souvenirs for the tourists); and honey and other non-timber products (branded with uniform packaging); along with other handicrafts and souvenirs.

86 FORTROP II: Tropical Forestry Change in a Changing World

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The Reserve should be able to meet the demands of tourists for information about local natural phenomena and ecosystems. Interpretation should be given in an enjoyable and easily understood manner, combined with local cultural folklore to illustrate the relationship between humans and nature locally.

Development of an ecotourism policy, action plan, ecotourism infrastructure, demonstration sites, roads, etc. constitutes the basis for ecotourism. The reserve planning should be integrated with the planning of local governments and other related departments. This development should include all the stakeholders, to improve the economic conditions of the local people while conserving the area. The biosphere reserve concept proposed by UNESCO encourages protected areas to contribute to local economic development by providing demonstrations of sustainable resource use while ensuring conservation.

Research by universities and institutes needs to be encouraged, as this provides an understanding of ecotourism concepts and principles, the solutions for technical issues and the establishment of models for ecotourism development. Scientific research should focus on both a long-term strategy and the urgent problems of management. Multidisciplinary methods should be emphasized, especially the integration of natural and social sciences. Funding for the various activities of the PTR is provided both by the state and by the Centre. Interviews with the managers suggest that funding was not a problem. There seemed to be a lack of vision. It would be better to: increase government funding in environmental protection; readjust the current policies for the distribution of tourism revenue; collect fees to generate revenue; and explore other funding channels, such as the establishment of foundation and donation mechanisms. In PTR, a Tiger Foundation Trust was created but it needs to be made functional.

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Even under the present conditions of poor law and order in the Palamau Tiger Reserve area, ecotourism can be a powerful means of generating resources for conservation and for the local communities. There is a need to involve all the stakeholders in order to evolve a plan of action that ensures sustainable development and harnesses the potential of tourism for the economic development of local communities.

References

Goodwin, H. 1996. In pursuit of ecotourism. Biodiversity and Conservation 5 (3): 277-91. Honey, M. 1999. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development. Island Press, Washington DC. Hummel, J. 1994. Ecotourism development in protected areas of developing countries. World Leisure and Recreation 36: 17-23. Hvenegaard, G. T. 1994. Ecotourism: A status report and conceptual framework. The Journal of Tourism Studies 5: 24-35. Kumar, D. 2001. Management Plan for Palamau Tiger Reserve (2001-02 to 2010-11). Palamau Tiger Reserve, Jharkhand. Lindberg, K. and D. Hawkins. 1999. Ecotourism a Guide for Planners and Managers. Volume 1. Natraj Publishers, Dehradun. Nyaupane, G. P. and B. Thapa. 2004. Evaluation of Ecotourism: A Comparative Assessment in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Nepal, Journal of Ecotourism 3: 20-45. Singh, M. 2008. Indicative Tiger Conservation Plan for Palamau Tiger Reserve. Palamau Tiger Reserve, Jharkhand. Wall, G. 1997. Is Ecotourism Sustainable?. Environmental Management 21: 484-491. WTO. 2000. WTO Tourism Highlights. Available Source: http://www.world- tourism.org.