Controlled eco-tourism mooted in 21 islands in Gulf of Mannar

‘Access must be designed to educate public on the rich diversity’

Scientists and other stakeholders of the coastal biodiversity have recommended conservation and livelihood oriented eco-tourism to the uninhabited islands in the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park in the Gulf of Mannar.

Promoting controlled eco-tourism to the National Park, comprising 21 uninhabited islands was one of the recommendations made by the scientists at the seminar on “Current status and future prospect of coastal and marine biodiversity in Gulf of Mannar,” organised here on Friday.

The one-day seminar, organised by the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) suggested that the islands in the protected area in the Indian Ocean could be thrown open to students and public for a better understanding of the ‘bio-paradise,’ Trust Director Amit Asthana said.

Stating that people had the right to visit the islands, he said public access to the park should be designed to educate them on the rich diversity of flora and fauna in the region and provide livelihood support to the fishing community living in the coastal hamlets.

The seminar also recommended more protection to areas based on prioritisation, continued sensitisation of people to accept ‘ownership’ of the coast and research on identified conservation issues besides capacity building of the local community.

Inaugurating the seminar, Dr. S. Balaji, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), said Tamil Nadu Forest department has always been sincere in its conservation efforts, which had resulted in the increase of Tiger population in the State.

Stressing the importance of minimising the negative impact and maximising conservation, he advocated initiatives to protect marine biodiversity for sustainable utilisation.

More than 80 delegates, including Y.S. Yadava, Director, Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental organisation, Lianchawii from UNDP, H. Basavaraju, Additional PCCF, Depass Jana, Conservator of Forests, Virudhunagar and N. Vasudevan, Chief Conservator of Forests, Mumbai attended the seminar.

This was the first gathering of all stakeholders after the activities of GOMBRT were taken over by the Tamil Nadu Government since January 2013 after the 10-year-long UNDP project ended.

Sustainable utilisation

The seminar was organised to encourage interdisciplinary scientific approach towards the management and sustainable utilisation of coastal biodiversity.