“We need participation and governance by the local communities in order to legitimise their local knowledge while empowering them economically” – UN International Day for Biological Diversity (22nd of May)

There is very little evidence that ecotourism in its present form is sustainable  […] Tourism is inherently an exploitative industry, both ecologically and socially and we need to accept that. But the ill-effects of tourism on biodiversity conservation can be contained. What conservation needs today is a robust model, which restricts ecological and carbon footprint through a much more nuanced policy. We need participation and governance by the local communities in order to legitimise their local knowledge while empowering them economically. And we need wider discussion and debate about this among the general public.

Source: Smrity Ramavarapu in “Ecotourism-a yay or a nay for conservation?” | Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (Bangalore)
URL: https://www.atree.org/news/ecotourism-yay-or-nay-conservation
Date visited: 2 May 2020

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) is a global non-profit organisation which generates interdisciplinary knowledge to inform policy and practice towards conservation and sustainability.

For over two decades, ATREE has worked on social-environmental issues from local to global policy levels. ATREE envisions a society committed to environmental conservation and sustainable and socially just development.

Our mission is to generate rigorous interdisciplinary knowledge for achieving environmental conservation and sustainable development, to enable the use of this knowledge by policy makers and society, and to train the next generation of environmental leaders.

To deliver on our mission, we work across issues like biodiversity and conservation, climate change mitigation and development, land and water resources, forests and governance and ecosystem services and human well-being.

Source: Purpose | Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (Bangalore)
URL: https://www.atree.org/news/ecotourism-yay-or-nay-conservation
Date visited: 2 May 2020

[Bold typeface added above for emphasis]

Research the above issues with the help of Shodhganga: A reservoir of theses from universities all over India, made available under Open Access >>

Related posts

• Ashoka Trust (Atree.org)
• Biodiversity Act | Biodiversity hotspot
• Ecology and environment
• Eco tourism | Tourism | Wildlife tourism
• Environmental history and what makes for a civilization – Romila Thapar
• Equations blog
• Forest Rights Act (FRA)
• Indigenous knowledge systems
• Information provided by Indian government agencies and other organizations (FAQ)
• Man animal conflict
• Nature and wildlife | Crocodile | Elephant | Tiger | Mangrove forest | Trees
• PARI’s tales from tiger territory | People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI)
• Revival of traditions
• Sacred grove
• Shola Trust | Nilgiri biosphere
• Success story
• Water
• Western Ghats – tribal heritage & ecology
• Wildlife tourism
• What is the Forest Rights Act about?
  Who is a forest dweller under this law, and who gets rights?