Rated as the best wildlife sanctuary in the entire North East, the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1981, is a protected area with diverse ecosystems and home to over 400 species of birds, including the endangered rufous-necked hornbill. But fears have been expressed with the government’s decision to focus on development of ecotourism infrastructure in and around the pristine sanctuary worth Rs 23.60 crore.
These infrastructures, according to a design and event management firm from Noida, Uttar Pradesh called E-Factor Experiences, will include the chalet-style resort, an interpretation centre, canopy-based skywalks, and a water sports zone. Though it promises sustainable tourism infrastructure, integrating local communities, preserving biodiversity, and promoting eco-friendly practices, an environmental conservation organization—the Green-Tech Foundation—has strongly objected to the move as they fear that the project would disrupt the sanctuary’s ecosystem and potentially lead to the extinction of unique species of flora and fauna in the 29 sq km eco-sensitive zone.
According to the International Ecotourism Society (2015), ecotourism refers to responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of the local people. . If these projects are to take off, the very definition of ecotourism is defeated because ecotourism means tourists travel to natural, unspoiled environments to enjoy nature. It is often associated with activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and nature photography, and is designed to minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and local communities.
For a State that has failed to maintain ecological integrity, with its rich biodiversity facing threats like forest degradation, mining, and urbanization, it is important that wildlife sanctuaries as special areas meant to protect animals, plants, and their habitat are safeguarded are not fiddled with since ecotourists are often more interested in visiting areas where there is minimal human impact on the environment.
While ecotourism can bring new jobs accompanied by a source of income for the community, educate tourists and local communities about the importance of preserving natural environments and offer unique experiences for nature enthusiasts, it can also have a negative impact on the environment if it is not managed properly. Tourism of any kind leads to development of some degree. The more popular destinations become, the more demand grows for appropriate accommodation.
Hence keeping a check on overcrowding is vital because it can lead to the destruction of resources important for wildlife preservation. Most importantly, harmful actions such as littering, destruction of wildlife, disruption in the food chain and others must be ensured with well planned dynamics and motives in order to be sustainable.
