Wetland ‘nature tourism’ gets a fillip

Wetland ‘nature tourism’ gets a fillip

Subject: Environment

Section: Ecosystem

In the news:

• The Central government has embarked on a mission to promote tourism at ecologically sensitive wetlands better known as Ramsar sites.

Details:

• The focus would be to shift these fragile wetlands from high-value tourism to nature tourism by directly supporting conservation action and letting local communities and economies take the lead.
  • The tourism industry identifies high-value travellers as those who are likely to spend more, stay longer, and disperse beyond tourist hotspots.
  • Nature tourism on the other hand is tourism based on the natural attractions of an area like birdwatching, photography, stargazing, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and visiting parks. These are experiential tourists who are interested in a diversity of natural and cultural resources.
• The initiative to develop these sites has been taken by the Union Tourism Ministry and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the ‘Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme’ 2023.
• As of now, 16 Ramsar sites have been identified out of which 5 have been taken up as a pilot project for skill development of the facilitators, tourism service providers, and stakeholders in and around these sites.
• These five wetlands are Sultanpur National Park (Haryana), Bhitarkanika Mangroves (Odisha), Chilika Lake (Odisha), Sirpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Yashwant Sagar (Madhya Pradesh).
• Participants are trained under the Alternative Livelihood Programme (ALP) and Paryatan Navik Certificate (boatman certification for tourism).

‘Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme’ 2023:

• Part of the 2023-24 budget announcement.
• Launched in June 2023 to promote the unique conservation values of the Ramsar Sites in the country while generating employment opportunities and supporting local livelihoods.
• The aim is to enhance livelihood opportunities for local communities through harnessing the nature-tourism potential of the Ramsar Sites across the country.
• The scheme is being implemented in convergence with various Central Government ministries and agencies, State wetland authorities, and a network of formal and informal institutions and individuals, working together for a common cause.

Ecological Significance of Wetlands

Natural wetlands have often been referred to as “earth’s kidneys” because of their high and long-term capacity to filter pollutants from the water that flows through them.

Ramsar sites:

• A Ramsar site is a wetland designated to be of international importance under an environmental treaty signed in February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran under the auspices of UNESCO.
• Ramsar identifies wetlands of international importance, especially those providing waterfowl habitat.
• It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources.
• India has 75 Ramsar sites.