In a move to give boost to eco-tourism and generate new employment opportunities in the State, Haryana Government has proposed to allow construction works like permanent buildings for camps, helipads, new roads, tourist bungalows, commercial lodges among other facilities for eco-tourism purpose within forest areas after obtaining requisite environmental clearance.

The draft eco-tourism policy released by the state’s Forest Department, envisages district level eco-tourism plans, creation of such sites in public private partnership in identified areas, development of eco-tourism circuit, involvement of local communities besides conserving the existing biodiversity and ecosystem in Haryana.

Spelling out guiding principles for development, management and promotion of eco-tourism in the state, the draft policy said, “Construction works like permanent buildings for camps, camping complexes with lodging or boarding structures, helipads, new roads, tourist bungalows or commercial lodges etc. for eco-tourism purpose within forest areas shall be allowed after getting clearance under Forest (Conservation) Act. Apart from this, infrastructure outside protected areas will also be developed in an eco-friendly manner so that those merge with the surroundings.”

The policy will be applicable to all types of notified forest lands in the State and areas covered under Punjab Land Preservation Act wherever the owners of such lands become partners in the eco-tourism projects.

Around 3.5 per cent Haryana’s land is under the administrative control of the Forest Department, with two national parks, seven wildlife sanctuaries, two Ramsar sites, two conservation reserves, five community reserves and many faunal habitats in addition to the old Aravalli hill range, Shivalik hills and host of water bodies.

As per the India State of Forest Report 2019, the recorded forest area (RFA) in Haryana is 1,559 sq km of which 249 sq km is reserved forests, 1,158 sq km is protected forests and 152 sq km is unclassed forests.

The eco-tourism activities included in the State’s policy are nature camps, eco-friendly accommodation, trekking and nature walks, wildlife viewing, adventure sports, angling, educational tours and excursions, herbal eco-tourism, medical and health activities, religious and cultural eco-tourism, visitor interpretation centres and conservation education among others.

For the development of eco-tourism sites in the state, the draft policy stated, “Infrastructure for eco-tourism will be so designed that it merges with the ambient environment. The construction will utilise local resources and minimise use of cement concrete as far as possible. Temporary tents, wooden structures, removable prefabricated structures having cement and tile flooring without deep foundation would be desirable. Considering that the local livelihood improvement is one of the expected outcomes of eco-tourism, home stay based hospitality enterprises will be encouraged.”

Under the policy, potential sites will be identified jointly by the Department of Forests and Wildlife and Department of Tourism and will be prioritised for phased development. An eco-tourism circuit will also be created which will allow the visitors to access the existing infrastructures related to eco-tourism in the State.

As far as institutional mechanism is concerned, Haryana Eco-Tourism Development Society is proposed to be constituted at the State level to act as an Apex body to advice in achieving the vision, mission and objectives of eco-tourism policy with regard to forests, protected areas and other natural areas not directly under the control of the Forest Department. The Society shall be headed by the Forest Minister. At the district level, a district level eco-tourism committee (DLEC) shall be constituted.

For promotion of eco-tourism in a big way, an eco-tourism management plan for each district (including the wildlife and non-wildlife areas) is planned to be prepared at the district level by the district level eco-tourism committees. It will be a prospective plan of five years and will give details of interventions such as requirement of infrastructure, development of activities such as eco-lodges, eco-sports, nature trails, trekking, safaris, home-stays etc.

The draft policy also emphasises on securing partnership of private sector enterprise for development of eco-tourism sites. “Wherever feasible, the Haryana Eco-Tourism Development Society shall facilitate selection of partners for eco-tourism sites in public private partnership with due approvals and adherence to applicable law. A revenue sharing mechanism would be implemented for eco-tourism sites which have been developed or are managed in partnership with private entities,” it said.

Recognising the local communities as a key stakeholders, the policy stated, “It is essential that management of eco-tourism facilitates primarily vests on the local communities as the principal stakeholders. The benefits flowing from the visitation in the area must also accrue to the local communities by way of livelihood opportunities arising from eco-tourism. Staff and local persons, especially youth may be appropriately trained to act as nature guides and naturalists so as to assist visitors during wildlife viewing and trekking.”

On the sensitive issue of impact assessment and monitoring of eco-tourism activities, the policy said that impact assessment studies and feedback from tourists would be carried out at periodic intervals so as to ascertain impacts of eco-tourism activities on environment and local communities. Based on these studies appropriate measures would be taken, it added.