Western Ghats are perhaps South Asia’s only remaining rainforests, natural areas and the asylum of indigenous populations. These pristine forests have evoked the need for responsible tourism to conserve and protect. The need is to have tourism that shares the splendor of Western Ghats – its culture, ecology and landscape in perfect symbiotic relationship. There should be focus on special interest tours around nature, culture, livelihood and adventure experiences.
A view of the Khandala ghat and the Mumbai-Pune expressway at Rajmachi point in Khandala. (@ Ekabhishek)
The endeavour should reflect the sentiments of the famous Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom in the sense that although the world’s land, forests , water and fisheries are finite, it is possible to share them, care for them and enjoy them in a harmonious relationship with nature and with each other creating infinite experiences of joy, worthwhile tourism and a sustainable environment.
Western Ghats, Karnataka (@ Jelmer Rijkes)
UNESCO which aims towards conservation of world heritage sites has inscribed Western Ghats in its World Heritage list comprising a cluster of 39 sites spread over 7,953 sq kms in the Western Ghats. These include tiger reserves, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved forests in the states ofMaharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Kerala leads with 20 sites finding a place in the heritage list followed by Karnataka with 10, Tamil Nadu with 5 and Maharashtra with 4. In Maharashtra, the Kas plateau, the Koyna wildlife sanctuary, the Chandoli national park and the Radhanagari Wildlife sanctuary in the Sahyadri range have been tagged as world heritage sites.
Western Ghats are home to important populations of Asian elephants and other rare species. (© Haroldo Castro)
India had submitted the nomination dossier to the Unesco World Heritage Centre, Paris, in February 2010. This was rigorously pushed by the Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh who rallied for their inclusion and set up the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel to study and provide recommendations regarding the protection of Ghats. As a result these were added to UNESCO’s list of iconic places after a persistent campaign for world heritage status by the Indian government which took a stand “Mountains, rainforests, rivers and waterfalls are all part of the 160,000 sq km area, recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. The Western Ghats are home to a number of flagship mammals including the endangered endemic lion-tailed Macaque, the endangered Asian elephant and the tiger’’.
View from Tiger point, Lonavala (@ Vibhu Rishi)
What it means for us as a country is recognition of a treasure trove to be conserved, loved and enjoyed. Western Ghats with eternal favourite places such a Lonavala and Khandala, the upcoming favourites such as Coorg (Kodagu) and the little known favourites along the Konkan coast such as Kundapur is part of our national heritage that the world now recognizes and around which value needs to be built in a way that minimizes the possibility of environmental degradation. Micro tourism built around homestays, village tourism and nature walks and treks is perhaps the need of the hour. The other Home is committed to just this conceptualization of expanding India’s tourism potential and protecting its heritage in a mutually beneficial manner.
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