Team Herald
PANJIM: The National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) has proposed de-notification or rationalisation of boundaries of the protected areas across all the States for better conservation of wildlife and so also to promote eco-tourism.
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During the recently held standing committee meeting of the NBWL, the members held a detail discussion on the “Guidelines on Ecotourism in Forest and Wildlife Areas 2021”, wherein the Member Secretary stated that these guidelines are aimed at promoting better understanding of nature and wildlife conservation while generating income and opportunities for the local communities in an ecologically, culturally and economically sustainable manner.
NBWL Member Dr HS Singh proposed the need for de-notification or rationalisation of boundaries of protected areas.
He said that the same should be done for conservation of wildlife and consolidation of boundaries should not be done without field investigation.
Singh further proposed that the field investigation should be undertaken by a committee headed by the Member of the NBWL.
“Legal opinion may be sought from the Legal Department to know the competent authority for taking decision regarding rationalisation of boundaries of protected area,” he said.
Goa has five wildlife sanctuaries — Mhadei, Bondla Zoo, Bhagwan Mahaveer, Netravali and Cotigao while one national park at Mollem.
Earlier, the NBWL member secretary said that the objective of the guidelines on eco tourism include promotion of low impact nature tourism, traditional ecological knowledge and heritage values of India’s wilderness, engagement of local communities in nature tourism, partnerships amongst various stakeholders and finally enhancing potential of India as a global eco-tourism destination.
The Forest Conservation Division of the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is currently examining the guidelines with respect to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
