Lok Sabha Question No. 1625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Sustainable Tourism in Biodiversity Heritage Sites
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1625

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2023

## Sustainable Tourism in Biodiversity Heritage Sites

## 1625.   SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote sustainable tourism in Biodiversity Heritage Sites in the State of Odisha;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps to promote local livelihood opportunities  while  preserving ecology of biodiversity heritage sites, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  creating  awareness  amongst  tourists and  encouraging  their  active  participation  in  the  preservation  of  biodiversity  heritage site?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (c) Government of Odisha has notified three Biodiversity Heritage Sites(BHS) i.e. Mandasaru Hills, Kandhamal district, Mahendragiri Hills, Gajpati  district  and  Gandhamardan  Hills  in  the  Bolangir  and  Bargarh district.

Community based eco-tourism is an alternate source of livelihood for the forest dependent communities. Surrounding communities are engaged in eco-tourism activities and benefits are shared among them to supplement their livelihood. A Nature Camp has been developed by the Government of Odisha  in  Mandasaru  Hills and Gandhamardan  Hill.  Activities including visit to the water falls, watch tower, cycling, children's park, plantation,  dining  hall,  nature walk, trekking, birding and visit to pilgrimage  place  at  Harishankar and  Nrusinghnath,  are  undertaken  in these eco-tourism destinations.

Eco  Development  Committees,  Vana  Sanrakshyana  Samities  and  Ecotourism groups have been formed in the villages for management of the Nature  Camps. 16 Eco-tourism Group members are engaged in Mandasaru Valley  Nature Camp whereas 06 Eco-tourism Group members  are  engaged  in  Nrusinghnath  Nature  Camp.  Local people have also been trained as eco-guides which generates alternate livelihood  for  them.  For  upgrading  their  skills  in  respect  of  various activities,  training  programmes  are  conducted  by  Institute of Hotel Management  and  Indian  Institute  of  Tourism  and  Travel Management for providing training, capacity building and exposure visit on hospitality,  housekeeping,  sanitation,  cleaning,  communication  skills, food  cuisine and check-in and check-out protocols.

The  Odisha  Biodiversity  Board  has  been  provided  with  funds  for providing training and capacity building of Eco Development Committees, Vana Sanrakshyana Samities , Eco-tourism Group members for  developing  eco-  guides  for  identification  of  rare  and  endangered species  of  flora  and  fauna,  conservation  of  indigenous species  and organising  trails  and  trekking  routes  for  better  awareness  of  the  ecotourists in that locality.

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