The community-based eco-tourism now being practised at the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve with the active involvement of 234 members of six tribal settlements within the reserve has become a model to emulate in tiger conservation, said B.N. Anjan Kumar, deputy director of the reserve.
In an interaction with The Hindu , he said the initiative was launched six years ago. The reserve, which shares its borders with Tamil Nadu’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve, was able to make rapid strides in initiatives relating to eco-tourism as well effective forest management through the involvement of tribals, who earlier found it tough to live in a forest environment cut off from the world outside.
The tribespeople, who were forced to sell their cattle and forgo other means of livelihood after the sanctuary attained a tiger reserve status, are now employed as tourist guides, forest watchers and helping hands for eco-tourism initiatives. They are paid salary by the Parambikulam Tiger Foundation.
Endemic flora varieties
“The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve has many firsts to its credit, made possible through participation of tribespeople. Being a most protected forest area, the reserve has nearly five endemic flora varieties. It had 29 direct sightings of tigers,” he said. Ever since Joint Forest and Participatory Management was introduced, there have been no incidents of poaching in the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. Also, there had been no incident of forest fire. It is now ‘the first domestic cattle-free protected forest area.’
Tribespeople have become part of the Social Tiger Protection Force and are effectively combating forest and wildlife-related offences. There are seven eco-development committees serving the restricted and regulated eco-tourism needs and looking after the livelihood of tribal people. There are 13 eco-tourism packages oprated by the department through tribal people. Plastic waste has reduced drastically and the remaining waste is recycled and made into key chains, embedded with PTR-related images and slogans. They are sold as souvenir to tourists. Tourism activities are regulated in such a way as to not cause disturbance to wildlife. Entry of private vehicles to the reserve has been banned.
Four new 18-seater vehicles have been bought to take tourists around the reserve.
Farming activities
Referring to the farming activity in Poopara hamlet, Mr.Anjan Kumar said banana cultivation earlier had led to man–animal conflict. Now, with inputs from Forest Department, they have switched over to ginger, coffee, pepper and turmeric cultivation. Organic certification and good prices have benefited them, he added. In order to address alcoholism prevalent among the local community, the Excise Department would soon start a de-addiction centre in Parambikulam, , which is otherwise a no-liquor zone. An ambulance was sanctioned for the local community by A K Antony, MP, from his local area development fund for meeting immediate medical needs.
