ECO TOURISM PLAN, PENCH TIGER RESERVE, MP

Existence of wildlife is an indication of biological health of an area. The recognition

and understanding of inter relationship between flora and fauna by human beings is of
utmost importance for existence and well-being of all the three. This concept regulates
tourism in protected area.

Increasing tourism trends in wildlife areas bring about varieties of pressure

threatening the very bio-diversity of protected areas.

Therefore, a well thought well planned and disciplined tourism is the need of the time.

The protected areas can only become sustainable with presence of friendly host
communities around their periphery. The communities can become friendly if they are
gaining economically, socially and culturally through the Eco-development
programme and tourist activities.

The solution lies in promoting Eco-Tourism instead of wildlife tourism. As per Eco-
tourism society (ETS), Eco-Tourism means –

Responsible travel to natural area, which conserves the environment and sustains the
well being of local people.

WTO (World Tourism Organization) defined Eco-Tourisms as – tourism that involves

travelling to relatively undisturbed rural areas with the specified objective of studying,
admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any
cultural aspects (both of past and present) found in these areas. According to Rajesh
Gopal – Eco-Tourism is sustainable nature tourism involving indigenous stakeholders,
while forging partnership with the tourism industry.

Eco-tourism in context of Tiger Reserve is ecologically sustainable nature-tourism,

which is emerging as an important component of tourism industry. It is distinct from
mass tourism, having sustainable, equitable, community based effort for improving
the living standards of local host community living on the fringes of the Tiger
Reserve. Eco-tourism is proposed to be fostered with financial support to the host
community through soft loans from Eco-development committees, in accordance with
site-specific Eco-Tourism plan and carrying capacity of Tiger Reserve in the buffer
areas. The Core / Critical Tiger habitat would not be used for any form of tourism and
the ongoing tourism activities in such areas should be phased out in the fringe / buffer
areas, without affecting its corridor values. The development of tourism related
facilities within the buffer zones of Tiger Reserve would continue with inputs under
Project Tiger. The opportunities for stakeholders would include management of low
cost accommodation for tourists, organizing ethnic dances and the like.

In recent times, vast changes in eco-tourism policy of the State and Central
Government have taken place. The Supreme Court of India in its order dated 16th
October 2012 in Civil Appeal no. 21339/2011 directed State to prepare eco-tourism
plan for each Tiger Reserve as per National Tiger Conservation Authority's Eco-
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tourism Policy circulated vide no. F.No. 15-31/2012-NTCA dated 15th October 2012.
This eco-tourism plan is prepared taking into consideration NTCA's guideline and
State Govt. resolution.

1. Eco tourism values of Pench Tiger Reserve -

i. This area represents Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests in the Tiger
habitat. It has a viable population of 65 Tigers with high frequency of Tiger
sighting.
ii. It is a mega-biodiversity site with large surrounding forest area and thus has a
long term conservation value. It is gene bank of wild relatives of the cultivated
species for future use.

iii. Beside Tiger, it is abode to number of prominent wild denizens like Leopard,
Wild dog, Sloth bear, Gaur, Sambar, Barking deer, Cheetal, Chausinga, Nilgai,
Wild boar, Jackals, Fox's along with rare ones like Ratel, Flying squirrel,
Pangolin, Indian Civet Cat, Palm Civet Cats, Porcupines and Wild cat. The
continuity with forests of Pench Maharashtra, South Seoni (T) Division, East
Chhindwara (T) Division and South Chhindwara (T) Division enrich the
conservation prospects of these species. This Tiger Reserve is also connected
with the Pench-Kanha and Pench-Satpura corridor. Pench Tiger Reserve with
its Core and Buffer and Pench Maharashtra is very big conservation unit.

iv. Vast bird diversity is of great interest along with diverse vertebrate species.

v. The tree clad forests, rolling grasslands habituated with spotted dears afford
wonderful sights.

All these values make Pench Tiger Reserve M.P. a favourite area for Eco-tourism
interpretation and conservation education.

2. Management Zonation -

The management zonation of the area is as follows.

Zone Legal Status Total Area sq.km.

Core Pench Tiger Reserve 411.330
Buffer Area of South Seoni (T), East Chhindwara (T) and South 768.300
Chhindwara (T)
Total 1179.630

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3. Organization Set-up and Management (Existing Eco-tourism
Scenario)

Tourism in Pench its modest beginnings in the beginning of this Century. Which
received an impetus with the improved facilities under Project Tiger. In tune with the
objectives of Project Tiger and Wildlife Conservation, tourism is allowed on a limited
and regulated basis in the National Park. Pench has launched a full-fledged park
interpretation programme.

The average, annual tourist influx of last three year amounts to 56,642 of which
almost 9.5% are foreigners. At times, nine to ten thousands tourists visit the park in a
month (November/ December), and on holidays the number sometimes goes upto
eight hundred per day.

Apart from the limited departmental accommodation at Karmajhiri, boarding and

lodging facilities of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.
(MPSTDC) and private entrepreneurs also exist at Turia and near by villages. The
total lodging facilities (Governmental/ Non-Governmental) amount to 844 beds per
night.

The park has a set of rules for regulating the tourism. The Park Management provides
elephants and route guides, apart from the interpretation facilities to the tourists at a
nominal charge. Entry on foot and night driving are prohibited inside the park. Only
light vehicles are allowed with a route guide. Viewing ungulates amidst meadows
from a vehicle and spotting tiger from an elephant back are star attractions for the
tourists.

Number of tourists in last 5 years in Pench Tiger Reserve is given below –

Number of Tourist
Year Revenue
Indian Foreigner Total
2007-08 50857 3309 54206 8597598
2008-09 59303 5168 64471 11256880
2009-10 47758 4796 52554 10398096
2010-11 60038 5421 65459 18080606
2011-12 63802 6282 70084 19238430

3.1 Organizational Set-up :-

i. Tourism Zone

Tourism is carried out in Karmajhiri and Gumtara ranges of Indira Priyadarshini

Pench National Park. The tourism zone is shown in the map. The total tourism area
consists of 44 compartments having an area of 150 sq. km, which is almost 37% of the
total Protected Area. The size of Protected Area is very less, so the tourism should be
restricted only to this area to minimize adverse impact of tourism on wildlife. The
details of the tourism zone is given in Annexure No. – 1.
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Karmajhiri is the main tourism zone having two main gates i.e. Karmajhiri and Turia
gates. Roads are very well laid out. The total length of roads in Karmajhiri zone is 113
km. The Jamtara tourism zone is very small and have only one gate i.e. at Jamtara.
The area is 42 sq. km. and the road length for tourism is 32 km. The Karmajhiri zone
is divided in many sub zones for the purpose of tourism regulation. The detail of
tourism road is given in Annexure No. – 2.

ii. Administrative set-up -

For the management of tourism there is no separate tourism range in PTR. The
tourism is looked after by the concerning Range officers and ACFs. There are very
limited staff for tourism regulation. At Turia and Karmajhiri gates Foresters/Dy
Rangers are posted for issuing tickets and checking the entry. At Turia gate some
Foresters and Forest Guards are deployed for the checking of tourist vehicles and
Interpretation centre. At Alikatta one Forester is posted to look after the elephants and
regulate the tiger show by elephants.

At Turia and Karmajhiri gates Computerised Advance booking and Current booking
system is operational. Online booking facility is also available.

iii. Staff Requirement:-

There is an urgent need of Eco-Tourism officer, who will look after all Boarding,
Lodging, Tourism operation, Interpretation and Tourism planning. The Eco-tourism
officer may be helped by one Eco–tourism Range officer. At Each gate two foresters
to issue tickets and regulate the tourist entry are essential. There should a squad of 5-6
Eco-Traffic personals, to look after guided movement of vehicles and tourists. One
very knowledgeable person should be employed for Interpretation.

iv. Infra structure requirement: -

Following infrastructures are urgently required for the proper Eco-tourism and
Interpretation.

Tourism Complex at Khawasa having one Information Centre, low cost staying
facilities, nature's shop for souvenir and outlet for host community product, open air
theatre, office of Interpretation officer and range officer are required for proper
interpretation programme.

The old facility may be renovated / modified as per the new requirement.

3.2 Eco-tourism Management

Eco-tourism is a recent name for “nature tourism”, which varies in accordance with
the ecological setting and seasonal attributes of the site. Essentially, as stated earlier,
it aims at the enjoyment of nature and an understanding of the ecology, without
causing the least destruction to its support system, leading to economic benefits for the
indigenous masses.
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Eco-tourism is clearly distinct from mass tourism. Apart from being multi-faceted, it
also has various intricate linkages with different forms of human activity, with
domestic, regional and international characters. There are many countries where eco-
tourism plays an important role in their national economies. Furthermore, the socio-
economic and ecological impact of eco-tourism is relevant to a developing country
like India, and it is evolving over the vicissitudes of time with new concepts and ideas.

Mass Tourism vis-a-vis Eco-tourism:

Mass tourism, both national as well as international, is an important, multi disciplinary

economic activity. It is a symbiosis of various departments, organisations and
individuals, and is an employment sector, which is economically important as it
provides considerable income. Development of mass tourism necessitates
infrastructural interventions and may thereby contribute to the overall development of
the area. In our country, it is one of the important net earners of foreign exchange,
having the potential for contribution to the balance of international payments.

Eco-tourism is highly esoteric and is distinct from mass tourism, though it may be a
component of the latter. ATEC (the Talamanca Association for Eco-tourism and
Conservation in Costa Rica) defines eco-tourism as “Eco-tourism means more than
bird books and binoculars ... more than native art hanging on hotel walls or ethnic
dishes on the restaurant menu. Eco-tourism is not mass tourism behind a green mask.
Eco-tourism means a constant struggle to defend the earth and to protect and sustain
traditional communities. Eco-tourism is a cooperative relationship between the non-
wealthy local community and those sincere, open minded tourists who want to enjoy
themselves in Third World setting...”.

In the present scenario of our country, mainland eco-tourism largely connotes to

wildlife tourism. Eco-tourism provides the necessary impetus for wildlife
conservation and helps in eliciting the much needed public support. It can be
expressed as a function of human interventions for eco-tourism (weighted
ecologically) added to biodiversity:

ET : f [(HI x EP) + (BD)]

where, ET : Eco-tourism
f : Function
HI : Human interventions for eco-tourism
EP : Ecological principles
BD : Biodiversity (wild plants/ animals in their natural habitat)

Any eco-tourism venture - domestic, intra-regional or international - has to be

weighted and audited ecologically before it is embarked, to avoid ecological
dislocation.

Numerous terminologies are in-vogue to identify a class of tourism other than mass
tourism:

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Eco-tourism (ecological tourism), sustainable tourism, environmentally friendly
tourism, nature tourism, green tourism, scientific tourism, cottage tourism, wildlife
tourism, wilderness tourism, safari tourism, designer tourism, hard tourism, risk
tourism and adventure tourism.

The degree of involvement of the indigenous host communities is also emphasised:

• Indigenous communities having full control of planning and development of eco-

tourism in their area

• Indigenous communities merely getting employment in activities planned and

managed by the Govt. agencies, tour operators or planners

Eco-Tourists:

Martin Mowforth, a visiting research fellow in human geography at the University of

Plymouth has categorised the eco-tourist types as below:

• The Rough Eco-tourist

(Young - middle aged, travelling individually or in small groups, independent, staying

in cheap hotels, using buses for transport, eating locally and preferring sport and
adventure tourism).

• The Smooth Eco-tourist

(Middle - aged-old, travelling in groups, tour operated, staying in 3-5 star hotels,
travelling by taxis, eating in luxury restaurants and preferring safari and nature
tourism).

• The Specialist Eco-tourist

(Young - old, travelling individually, independent or specialist tours, staying in a wide

range of hotels, using various transports and eating places in pursuit of interest or
scientific investigation).

The above categories, by and large, accommodate most of the eco-tourists in the
Indian context also. However, we can add one more category - viz. the “fun seekers”,
conforming to the young - middle age groups who travel solely for the sake of fun.

4. Objectives -

The main objective of managing this Tiger Reserve is in situ conservation of Tiger
and its habitat. Tourism is only a by product of conservation goals.

The tourism in its traditional form is not acceptable in wildlife areas. So eco-tourism
concept is put forth for wildlife conservation areas.

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According to the definition and principles of eco-tourism as established by the
International Eco-tourism Society (TIES) is "Responsible travel to natural areas that
conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people". So the Eco-
tourism activities should follow the following principles.

• Encourage conservation.

• Minimize impact.

• Exposure to natural heritage and conservation benefits.

• Understanding of ecology.

• Build environment and cultural awareness and respect.

• Provide positive experience for both visitors and hosts.

• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.

• Raise sensitivity to host countries political, environmental and social climate.

This Eco-tourism plan provides for the strategy to achieve the above principal in letter
and spirit.

5. Selection Criteria for Tourism Area -

Backdrops in mind -

• The requirement /necessities of the wild life should be given priority in PA.

• Ecologically and socio – culturally sustainable.

• Least disturbance to wildlife and its habitat.

• Minimal adverse impact.

• Well thought, well planned and disciplined tourism.

• Responsible travel to natural area.

• Limited and regulated basis.

• Friendly host community around periphery.

• Feeling of wilderness to be provided.

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Selection Criteria

• The part of the buffer zone should be included in the tourism area.

• Breeding areas of the important species should be excluded from the tourism area.

• Environmentally vulnerable areas like riparian zones, biological hotspots , caves

and dens, cliffs and over hangs , magic sites, saltlicks, seepage springs etc. should
be excluded from the tourism area.

• Residence areas of bigger sizes should be excluded from the tourism areas to
create feeling of tranquillity.

• 70 % of the habitat of the most endangered species. should be excluded from the
tourism area.

• 50% of most thickly wild animal populated areas should be kept out of tourism
area.

• Different types of topography like plateaus, rolling slopes, valley, etc. should be
included for variety in animal species sighting and good experience.

• Different types of habitats like Teak/Sal forests, misc. forests, grasslands, etc.
should be included for variety in species.

• Village areas should be excluded.

• If unnecessary changes in the wild life habitat is observed /noticed, the tourism
should be stopped in the area.

• Carrying capacity of the tourism area should be scientifically determined.

• Tourism plan should be prepared as per the carrying capacity of the PAs.

• At last but not the least, to make the criteria for the selection of tourism areas, a
matrix can be prepared as the tourism and conservation contradict each other. The
rows can be used for different components of conservation where as columns can
be used for the different components of tourism. The judgement values can be used
for the different components. Management can get the guidance from WII
Dehradun and site specific matrix can be prepared for each PA.

6. Local Advisory Committee -

A local Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred as LAC) shall be constituted by
Govt. of MP. as per Comprehensive Guidelines issued by NTCA order F.No. 15-
31/2012-NTCA dated 15th October 2012 for tiger conservation and tourism as
provided under section 38(O) (1) (c) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

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The LAC will have the following functions namely –

a) To review the tourism strategy with respect to the tiger reserve and make
recommendation to the state government.

b) To ensure computation of reserve specific carrying capacity and its

implementation through periodic review.

c) To ensure site specific norms on buildings and infrastructures in areas inside

and close to tigers reserve, keeping in view the corridor value and ecological
aesthetics;

d) To advice local self government and state government on issues relating to

development of tourism in and around tiger reserve.

e) Monitor half yearly all tourist facilities in and around tiger reserve vis-à-vis
environmental clearance, area of coverage, ownership, type of construction,
number of employees etc. for suggesting mitigation and retrofitting measures in
needed.

f) Monitor regularly activities of tour operators to ensure that they do not cause
disturbance to animals, while taking visitors in to the tiger reserves;

g) To encourage tourism industry to augment employment opportunities for

members of local communities.

7. Constitution of Eco-tourism Zone in Core of PTR -

As per para 2.2.2, 2.2.4 (IV), 2.2.6, 2.2.7 and 2.2.8 of the guide lines of National Tiger
Conservation Authority dated 15.10.2012 conservation of Tiger is the paramount
objective of tiger reserve and generating public support through regulated tourism is
an invaluable tool for harnessing public and community support for tiger conservation.
Regulated tourism result in enhanced awareness and is of educational value especially
for the younger generations. Non consumptive, regulated, low impact tourism could
be permitted within core or critical tiger habitat for tiger conservation. With this
importance of tourism in tiger conservation maximum of 20% of core or critical tiger
habitat usage for regulated, low impact tourist visitation is permitted.

The usage of core or critical tiger habitat of Pench Tiger Reserve for tourism before
The Supreme Court of India order dated 16th October 2012 was 150 sq.km. It came to
36% of the core critical tiger habitat. The area now recommended to be kept open for
regulated tourism on the basis of objective and scientific criteria is restricted to 84.76
sq.km. It comes to almost 20% of the core area. The road length is reduced to 116 km.
from 145 km. Previously 44 compartments with road lengths of 145 km. were being
used for eco-tourism purpose in the core area and total 130 vehicles, 65 in the morning
and 65 in the evening were allowed from 3 entry gates Turia, Karmajhiri and Jamtara.
Now only 20% of the core area will be opened for eco-tourism and 80% area in block
will remain inviolate.
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7.1 Regulation of Tourism in Eco-tourism zone of core of PTR

Though 20% area of core is permitted for low impact eco-tourism following
regulations should be implemented.

• Core Management should not manipulate habitat to inflate animal abundance for
tourism purpose.

• The water holes, cement-troughs should not be constructed near tourist routes but
should be constructed away from road. The existing such cement troughs should
also be abandoned within next 2 years and new cement troughs if needed should
be constructed away from tourist routes.

• Visitor shall keep a minimum distance of more than 20 meter from all wildlife

• Cordoning, luring or feeding of any wildlife in eco-tourism zone by any person is

prohibited.

7.2 Determination of Carrying Capacity:

Carrying capacity of each entry gate based on length of tourism roads and
infrastructure in that area have been computed as per model given in the NTCA guide
lines. The distribution of vehicle for each gate and for morning and afternoon safari
will be decided by Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve M.P. Amalgamation of
carrying capacity of Turia, Karmajhiri and Jamtara, if interconnectivity is allowed will
be done by Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve M.P. Number of vehicle permitted to
enter core area can be reduced or increased with the management capacity reduced or
enhanced.

7.3 Carrying Capacity as per NTCA Guidelines -

Estimation of visitor carrying capacity as per Guidelines for preparation of Tiger

Conservation plan (issued by NTCA) is as following -

(a) Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC)

This is the "maximum number of visitors that can physically fit into a space, over a
particular time". It is expressed as following –

PCC = A x v/a x Rf
Where A = Available area for public use
v/a = one visitor / M2
Rf = rotation factor (number of visitor per day)

In order to measure the PCC the following criteria must be taken into account :

• Only vehicular movements on forest roads are permitted, hence road length is
more relevant than area.
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• "Standing area" is not relevant, but closeness between vehicles is important.

• There is a required distance of at least 500 m (1/2 km) between two vehicles to
avoid dust (2 vehicles / km.)

• At least 3 hours are needed for a single park excursion.

• The PA is open for tourist for 9 months in a year and almost 9 hours per day.

• Linear road length (for tourists) = 116 km.

Opening period
Rotation Factor (Rf) = -------------------------------
Average time of one visit

9 hours
= ------------- = 3
3 hours

PCC = 116 km. x 2 vehicles / km. x 3

= 696 visits / day

(b) Real Carrying Capacity (RCC)

RCC is the maximum permissible number of visits to a site, once the "reductive
factors" (corrective) derived from particular characteristics of the biophysical,
environmental, ecological, social and management variables.

RCC = PCC – Cf1 – Cf2 ------------------ Cfns

Where Cf is a corrective factor expressed as a percentage. Thus, the formula for

calculation RCC is :

RCC = PCC x 100 – Cf1 x 100 – Cf2 x ................100 - Cfn

100 100
Corrective factors are "site-specific", and are expressed in percentage as below :

Cf = M1 x 100
Mt

Where Cf = Corrective factor; M1 = limiting magnitude of the variable

Mt = total magnitude of the variable

(i) Road erosion : Here the susceptibility of the site is taken into account.

Total road length = 116 km. (Mt)

Medium erosion risk = 20 km. (weightage factor = 2)
High erosion risk = 10 km. (weightage factor = 3)
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 M1 = (20 x 2) + (10 x 3) = 40 + 30 = 70 km.

70
Cfe = --------- x 100 = 60 %
116

(ii) Disturbance to Wildlife :

Here, species which are prone to disturbance owing to visitation are considered. The
peak courtship activity for spotted deer lasts for three months before the onset of
regular monsoon. As far as tigers are concerned, newborns are seen between March
and May are also during the rains, hence an average value of two months in a year can
be considered as the matter phase.

Corrective Factor (Cf) = Limiting months / year x 100

12 months/ year
3
Samber, Chital = Cfw1 = ------ x 100 = 33.3%
(3 months) 9

2
Tiger = Cfw2 = ----- x 100 = 22.2 %
(2 months) 9

Overall corrective factor for disturbance for wildlife in Indira Priyadarshini Pench
National Park -
Cfw = Cfw1 + Cfw2 = 33.3 + 22.2 = 55.5 % or 55 %

(iii) Temporary closing of sites

5 limiting week / year

Cf1 = --------------------------- x 100 = 14%
36 week / year
(iv) Computation of RCC

100-Cfe 100-Cfw 100 – Cf1

RCC = PCC x --------- x ---------- x -----------
100 100 100

100-60 100-55 100 – 14

= 696 x ----------- x ------------ x ------------
100 100 100

= 696 x 0.40 x 0.45 x 0.86

= 108 visit / day

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(v) Effective Permissible Carrying Capacity –

The EPCC is the maximum number of visitors that a site can sustain, given the
management capacity (MC) available. EPCC is obtained by multiplying the real
carrying capacity (RCC) with the management capacity (MC) MC is defined as the
sum of conditions that PA administration requires if it is to carry out the functions at
the optimum level. Limitations in management like lack of staff and infrastructure
limit the RCC.

For Pench owing to the paucity of staff the MC is around 60%

(MC = Managerial Capacity = 60 %)

Hence EPCC = RCC x MC

= 108x 0.60 = 64.8 or 65 vehicles / day

At present, tourism in Pench Tiger Reserve is closed on wednesday. Due to this,

temporary closing of sites has increased from 2 to 5 limiting weeks per year. If state
government allows eco-tourism on wednesday the limiting week will come to 2 again.
Then RCC will come to 118 visits per day. With increase in management capacity
upto 75%, the effective permissible carrying capacity will come to 89 vehicles per
day. And also if the management capacity is made to 100%, then 118 vehicles per day
can be allowed from all 3 entry gates in a day.

7.4 Research need for Eco-tourism activities & carrying capacity -

The primary objective of wildlife management is to protect and conserve the wildlife
and its habitats. For environmental education and environmental awareness activities
tourism is promoted in Protected Area. More tourism may adversely affect the
conservation of wildlife. So well thought eco-tourism programme is necessary to
improve the financial condition of surrounding host communities and raising fund for
wildlife management without cause in adverse impact on wildlife and its habitat. The
Core area of Pench Tiger Reserve is very small so a scientific research is necessary to
propose eco-tourism activities in the Protected Area.

7.5 Implementation of Eco-tourism guidelines -

For the proper regulation of tourism in nature Govt. of India has formulated Eco-
tourism: Policy & Guidelines (2002). Which is given in Annexure No. – 51. Further
NTCA has issued circular for proper regulation of eco-tourism – dated 14 December
2007 is Annexed as Annexure No. – 52.

PCCF (WL) through there letter no./ Prabandha/4005 dated 29-09-03 prescribed
instruction for healthy tourism, is annexed as Annexure No. – 53.

The Supreme Court of India in its order dated 16th October 2012 in Civil Appeal no.
21339/2011 directed State to prepare Eco-tourism Plan for each Tiger Reserve as per
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National Tiger Conservation Authority's Eco-tourism policy circulated vide no. F. No.
15-31/2012 NTCA dated 15th October 2012, is annexed as Annexure No. 53 A &
53B.

Following regulation are prescribed for different categories of stakeholders

7.5.1 For the Park Management

The following operational guidelines are proposed:

• The eco-tourism planning should be flexible, site-specific and participatory, and

should form part of a larger eco-development/ eco-regional plan for the area

• Assessment of existing infrastructure, surface transportation, air service, road,

electricity, water supply, law and order situation

• The eco-tourism package should invariably include :

Simple, adequate boarding and lodging facilities, in tune with the environment
and the general setting of the landscape

Road network within the identified tourism zone

Self - guided Nature trails

Transportation options

Interpretive Centres

Way-side exhibits

Signages

Observation towers

Public conveniences

garbage disposal facility

Living quarters for staff/ personnel

• Structures with an exotic look causing visual pollution and non-compatible and
unaesthetic architecture should be avoided

• Site-specific micro - planning for community based eco-tourism should be

resorted to

• Providing soft-loans from the “Vikas Nidhis” to identified beneficiaries

• Temporary housing structures blending with the surrounding should be

encouraged

• Establishing building codes in consultation with the Panchayats apart from other
regulations to ensure pollution free environment, with the concurrence of the
respective "Local Area Committee" constituted for the Tiger Reserve.

• Environmental, physical & social carrying capacities to limit the various

developmental activities in the fringe area to be identified for eco-tourism
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• Mechanism to ensure continuous monitoring of adverse effects of tourism for
quick redressal should be devised

• Recognize eco-tourism operators, provide incentives to deserving cases and award

quality labels

• Provide visitor information & interpretation services (bilingual) covering:

“Do's” and “Don’ts”

What to see?

Where to see?
(Brochures, leaflets, guide service, visitor centres)

• Periodic training programmes on eco-tourism should be conducted for tourism

administration, planners, operators, guides, drivers and general public

• Ensuring training programme to the host community in:

Lodge ownership/ management

Basic education and awareness

Health and sanitation

Skill development for preparation of local souvenirs as appropriate

Codes of conduct

Forest and wildlife conservation

Litter control

Forging partnerships with tourists & tourism industry

Environmental management

• To evolve and implement eco-tourism package in a few selected sites initially as

pilot projects

7.5.2 For Tour Operators/ Developers

• To abide by the planning restrictions, codes and standards prescribed by the

authorities

• Implementation of desired environmental principles through regulation

• Conducting EIA/ environmental audits for new/ ongoing eco-tourism projects

• Being sensitive to the conservation of endangered species & corridor value of the
area

• To ensure construction of structures blending with the environment as per the

prescribed building code

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• To take into consideration the carrying capacity and sociological use-limits of the
site while creating tourist facilities, and ensuring safety & convenience of
tourists

• To use local material and design as far as possible, while avoiding over
construction

• The planning, architectural design and construction of tourist facilities should use
eco-friendly techniques viz., solar energy, recycling of garbage, harvesting of rain
water, natural cross-ventilation instead of AC, self-sufficiency in food through
kitchen garden & farming

• Energy & water saving devices should be used apart from controlled sewage
disposal

• Control of noise pollution, chemical pollution and air emissions

• Use of signages/ boards as per the standard prescriptions in the code

• Reduced use of environmentally unfriendly items like asbestos, CIS, pesticides,

inflammable material

• Respecting the historic and religious sites in the area

• Providing appropriate interpretive service to visitors for communication with

nature & local culture

• Ensuring proper marketing of eco-tourism products

• Ensuring training of staff on environmental issues

• Ensuring safety and security of visitors

• Respecting local inhabitants, culture & involving them in various activities and
vocations as far as possible

• Barbed wire fencing around tourist premises is to be avoided.

7.5.3 For the Visitors

• Abiding by the code of conduct, “Do's” & “Don’ts”

• Helping conservation, apart from protecting any site natural or cultural, which may
be adversely affected by tourism
• Avoiding wastage of resources
• Avoiding littering & carrying back all non - degradable litter
• Leaving the camp sites clean before departing
• Avoiding removal of plants, seeds, drift - wood from the site
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• Respecting local culture/ customs
• Respecting holy places
• Strictly adhering to the safety precautions

7.5.4 Park Rules and Important Information for Tourism

• Abide by the Park rules

• Don’t enter the Park with fire arms / explosives
• Obtain a Permit before entering the Park
• Don’t carry cigarette & match box.
• Don’t carry transistor & tape recorder.
• Take official guide with you.
• Drive slow. Recommended speed 20 km/h
• Obey the park guide.
• Don’t blow horn.
• Don’t litter with cans, bottles, etc.
• Always carry drinking water.
• Wait for your turn to ride elephant.
• Don’t get down, unless told by the guide.
• Don’t remove any forest property.
• Obey the mahout.
• Maintain silence & discipline during excursions.
• Don’t chase or tease animals.
• Don’t smoke or lit fire, it can cause forest fire.
• Animals have the first right of the way.
• Don't enter the park in intoxication state.
• Use of polythene inside the park is strictly prohibited.
• No pets are allowed inside the park.
• Do not get down from your vehicle except at designated places.
• Overtaking is strictly prohibited.
• Use of mobile phone inside park is prohibited.
• Maintain minimum distance 30 meters while viewing wildlife.
• Park guide will be paid Rs. 250/- additional amount if not dropped on the same
gate.
• Unregistered vehicle carrying tourists will be charged at double rate.
• Don’t Carry Mobile phone inside Park it is prohibited.

7.5.5 For the Host Community

• Respect the value of environment and cultural heritage

• Avoid overusing the area
• Co-operate with the authorities in ensuring healthy eco-tourism
• Realize and react to the threat of investors who see opportunities and exploit the
locals
• Be friendly with the visitors as effective “nature guides” & “conservationists”

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8. Park Interpretation programme -

Development of PA-level Participatory Eco-tourism & Visitor Strategy

Action Points for Planning

• The development of an over-all eco-tourism strategy will incorporate the

following:

Local participation

Sound environmental design

Visitor management

Conservation education

Training

Financial sustainability

Monitoring & evaluation

• To assess:

The existing tourism situation and potential

The desirable tourism situation and identify steps to attain the same

• To prepare a Participatory Community Based Eco-tourism strategy for the project

area, involving the stakeholders through meetings & workshops

• The eco-tourism strategy should also address the following:

Potential PA attributes vis-à-vis eco-tourism

Identification of sites

Development of monitoring mechanisms for ecological impact of eco-tourism

Visitor information & levels

Identify marketing opportunities

Development of guidelines for visitors/ staff viz., visitor centre, orientation
centre, brochures, handbook, signages

Development of mechanisms to collate visitation data for management

Development of guidelines/ building code for environmentally acceptable and
culturally appropriate designs

Identification of: staffing levels for tourism, future requirements & training
needs

Identifying: institutional arrangement for eco-tourism management,
mechanisms to increase long-term local participation in benefit - sharing and
decision-making, local training needs

Developing, monitoring & evaluation of plans to assess local participation &
benefit sharing

Evolving legal framework for eco-tourism activities

Establishing administration and legal requirements for: Zoning, entry fees,
revenue-sharing with indigenous people

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Need for Regulating the Tourism:

At present 20% of the PA is used for tourists and the average annual tourist influx is
around 70,000 (Annexure No. – 3) which may increase with the improvement of
highways. Since the entire National Park is a core, which is visualised as a tranquil
zone free from any disturbance whatsoever, it becomes essential to carve out separate
tourist zones in buffer especially near both the entry points. In a phased manner, the
infrastructural facilities need to be created at these points so as to keep the core
undisturbed.

Identifying Ecological Sensitive area Surrounding Tiger Reserve -

As per NTCA guide lines para 2.2.4(i) identification and monitoring of ecologically
sensitive areas surrounding tiger reserve is to be done to ensure ecological integrity of
corridor and buffer area and to prevent encroachment of corridor by tourism facilities.
For Pench Tiger Reserve, M.P., an area of 2 kms. from the boundary of Core area will
be treated as Eco-sensitive Zone. In this zone, the existing tourist infrastructure will
remain as it is without any extension but no new tourist infrastructure except small
home stays by local villages or community stay facility by EDS's/Panchayat will be
allowed in these villages.

Regulation of Tourism Infrastructure in Core and Buffer

Core:

No new tourist infrastructure (i.e. places for stay of tourists, canteen/restaurants) will
be constructed in Core. The existing infrastructure present in the core will be used
only for wildlife management and protection purpose.

Buffer:

The regulation of tourism infrastructures in buffer will be governed by following

rules–
• No new tourism infrastructure should be set up by any person or any
organisation in the village boundary of Buffer area falling within 2 kms. from
the boundary of Core Critical Tiger Habitat and the Eco-sensitive Zone. Only
small low impact community stay/home stay by local villagers, local
community, and village Eco-development Committee or Gram Panchayat can
be set up.

• New infrastructure like gates, check posts, protection huts and signage's can be
set up on forest land in notified buffer area.

• The existing tourist infrastructure present in eco-sensitive zone should be made

confirm to environment friendly low impact, aesthetic including solar energy,
waste recycling, and rainwater harvesting, natural cross ventilation, proper
sewage disposal and merging with the surrounding habitat. The infrastructures
and activities there must adhere to all environmental clearances, noise pollution
19
 norms and non-polluting, blending with surroundings. District Revenue and
Tiger Reserve authorities shall ensure that all tourist facilities in the eco-
sensitive zone should comply with the guidelines of NTCA, otherwise all type
of permission/license should be cancelled.

• All new tourist infrastructure set up in the Buffer other than Eco-sensitive zone
should have maximum height of twenty-five feet (concrete structure only),
environment friendly, low impact, aesthetic architecture, 50% of their energy
consumption should be met from solar and biogas resources. Waste recycling
and rainwater harvesting arrangement should be made in each facility. The
facilities set up should have natural cross ventilation, proper sewage disposal
arrangement the structure should merge with surrounding habitat. Tourism
facilities shall adhere to pollution norms (noise, solid waste, air and water etc.)
under the respective laws or rules for time being in force. Outdoor high
intensity illumination should not be installed. Lights outside the buildings
should be at the height below 15 feet and should be covered on top so that it
well not illuminate upside. No music systems or sound systems above 50
decibels should be permitted in open area of any tourist facility. The tourist
facilities should not be set up unless all environmental clearances, No objection
Certificate from all authorities including Field Director, PTR and received.
District Revenue and Tiger Reserve authority shall ensure that above
mentioned guidelines are followed by each and everyone. Any violation should
be referred to the appropriate authority under intimation to NTCA for taking
action in accordance to the relevant provision of the law.

• There shall be a complete ban on burying, burning or otherwise disposing non-

bio-degradable or toxic waste in the buffer area of Tiger Reserve proper plan
for disposal of degradable waste shall be developed and strictly implemented.

• Asbestos should not be used in any tourism facility set up in buffer. Existing
Asbestos should be replaced by suitable material.

• Barbed wire fencing should not be erected around any tourism facilities.
Existing barbed wire fencing should be replaced by suitable material.

• All the tourism complexes, resorts, canteens, restaurants should not use wood
as fuel for any purpose other than for small camp fire. For camp fire wood
should be legally purchased with proper receipt. The receipt should be
produced at the time of inspection by authorities.

• All tourist facilities falling within buffer zone of tiger reserve shall be reviewed
regularly by Local Advisory Committee for environment clearance, area of
coverage, ownership, type of construction number of employee etc. LAC
should take appropriate action for non compliance and suggest mitigation and
retrofitting measures if needed. The LAC or its duly authorised member,
Collector, Field Director PTR, Deputy Director should have right to access any
tourist facility as and when required.

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• Existing tourism facility in core/buffer run by Forest Department will be
renovated, landscaped and refurnished as per eco friendly plan.

• Tourist facilities and tour operators shall not cause any disturbance to animals
in buffer.

• All resorts or operator at tourism facilities in buffer of Pench Tiger Reserve

(M.P.) should employ 100% non skilled and semi skilled worker from the same
village where facility is situated or from neighbouring Buffer villages. The
resort management/tourism facility management should impart training to local
villagers in skill development within one year of sanction of this eco-tourism
plan and then employ 75% of skilled workers form same village or
neighbouring village failing which penalty should be imposed by LAC.

9. Conservation Fee

As per provision contained in para 2.1.6 of NTCA guide lines dated 15.10.2012 the
levy of "Conservation fee" from tourism facilities situated in and around tiger reserve.
Conservation fee will be decided by state government on the recommendation of
LAC. The proposed fee structure is given below –

S. Type of Facility Conservation Fee Conservation Fee

No. (Non A/C) (A/C)
1 Home stay by local villagers in their Nil Nil
house
2 Community stays by Eco-development Nil Nil
committee or Gram Panchayat.
3 Any private resorts up to 10 suits. Rs. 250 per suit Rs. 500 per suit per
per month month
4 Private resorts above 10 suits. Rs. 500 per suit Rs. 750 per suit per
per month month

The list of all existing resorts with details of suits in each resort in notified buffer
should be prepared by Deputy Director and should be published for calling any
objection. The objection submission time limit should be given. After receiving and
deciding objection, the final list should be published. The levy of conservation fee will
be made effective after receiving State Govt. order on this issue. A register to that
effect should be opened in the office of Range Forest Officer. Deputy Director should
raise demand in writing to the management of individual resort 10 days before the
completing of the quarter. The resort owner / management should remit the fee by
demand draft in the name of Field Director, Pench Tiger Foundation Society, Seoni,
M.P. and should be payable at Seoni and submit to Deputy Director before 15th of
ensuing month. Failing to remit Conservation Fee in time will attract penalty that will
be 2% of total fee per late month or its part.

The Conservation Fee so collected should be deposited in Foundation account but

independent account of such fee should be kept. Independent budget of expenditure
should be prepared by Field Director for conservation fee and should be sanctioned
along with general budget of foundation by Chief Wildlife Warden M.P.
21
The fund collected as "Conservation Fee" should be earmarked to address local
livelihood development, human wildlife conflict management and conservation
through eco-development. A sub committee in the Foundation at the District level
having representatives of EDC, Village Panchayat, Resorts, should be constituted by
Field Director to administer the fund received as Conservation Fee. A transparent
mechanism for utilization of these funds should be formed by Field Director Pench
Tiger Foundation Society.
10. Present Entry Fee and Other Fee

Rate Chart of Tourism Activates, Pench Tiger Reserve Seoni (M. P.)
No. Purpose of Entry Indian Foreigners Remarks
1 Viewing wildlife in vehicles
A Light vehicle, per round 1000 2000 Rates for foreigners shall be
B Mini bus, per round 1600 12000 applicable if persons of mixed
nationalities travel in a vehicle.
Minibus carrying in excess Unregistered vehicles carrying
of 32 tourists shall be
C 50 500 tourists in national park shall be
charged per person per charged at double the rate .
round
Visiting a specific spot on
2 15 150 Per person.
foot.
Trekking / Cycling (on Per day per person (On specified
3 100 1000
Specified route). route)
The rate includes trekking/
cycling on designated routes.
Camping (Per person per
4 300 3000 Arrival at and departure from the
night).
camp site shall be allowed only
during normal tourism hours.
Management can limit the
Wildlife Viewing from
number of persons at any spot
5 Hide/ Machan/Watch 150 1500
according to the sensitivity of the
towers
site.
Wildlife viewing from
6 100 500 Per person. Per round.
Govt. vehicle (Minibus).
7 Elephant Rides
Maximum time 10 minutes. Only
4 Persons shall be allowed to sit
Tiger/Leopard show (per
A 200 600 on a elephant.
person)
Kids below 5 year age shall be
allowed free along with adult.
Maximum time 1.00 hour. Only 4
Persons shall be allowed to sit on
B Elephant safari 500 1500 a elephant. Kids below 5 year age
shall be allowed free along with
adult.
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 Maximum 5.00 hours.
Elephant for filming and
C 5000 15000 Permission for filming /
photography
photography shall be required
8 Filming and Photography
Per day. Permission is required
Filming including still
a 15000 40000 for filming / photography beyond
photography
the time and away from the route.
b Still photography 5000 15000
Video
9 Photography by tourists Free
camera
Still
Free
camera
10 Fees for Naturalists / Guides
Excursion in vehicle per Trekking / Cycling per Camping (2 day and 1
SN Category
round day Night)
1 N-1 500 900 2000
2 N-2 400 600 1000
3 G-1 300 500 8000
4 G-2 200 300 500
5 Porter - 200 350

Vehicle / Guide Availabilities :

• There are around 85 private gypsies registered at Turia gate.

o List of registered gypsies and their contact mobile numbers is available at Turia
Entry Gate

• 05 private gypsies are registered at Karmajhiri gate.

o List of registered gypsies and their contact mobile numbers is available at

Karmajhri Entry Gate

• Registered Park Guides are also available at Turia, Karmajiri & Jamtara Gates.
o List of registered Park Guides is available at all entry gates.

Boating

S. No. Details Indian Foreigners

1 Boating
(i) Paddle Boat (2 and 4 Person)
2 Seater ½ hr. (Per Boat) 60 Rs. 200 Rs.
4 Seater ½ hr. (Per Boat) 120 Rs. 400 Rs.

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Inspection of Private Vehicles Used for Park Excursion:

Private vehicles are allowed entry inside the park with a compulsory route guide. To
ascertain the overall condition and exhaust levels of these vehicles, a committee has
been specially constituted as below:

Committee for Inspecting Private Vehicles Routinely Used for Park Excursions

Chairman: Dy. Director

Member: A.E. (PWD)
Member: RTO or his representative
Member: Range Officer
Member Secretary: Assistant Director

11. Pench Tiger Reserve Interpretation Programme-

Following interpretation programmes will be implemented in Pench Tiger Reserve –

1. Interpretation Centre – An excellent interpretation centre is established at Turia

Gate.

2. Park safari

3. Elephant ride

4. Boating

5. Rafting in buffer area

6. Natures trails in Core and Buffer area

7. Publications – A brochure for PTR is prepared, one book on Fauna of Pench was
published in 2005.

12. Eco-tourism Package for the Buffer Zone:

Community based eco-tourism is important in the present context. The host
community should be actively involved in conservation and eco-tourism planning.
Professional and technical training should be imparted to the local people which
would ensure them a sustained income from eco-tourism initiatives, apart from
according a priority status. At present, in Pench, the involvement of local people in
eco-tourism is as below:
• as route guides
• as vehicle owners/ operators and drivers of park excursions
• as small cafeteria owners
• as petty shop keepers
• as small scale lodge owners
• misc. works in tourist lodges.
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There is more scope for involving the host community in several activities, viz.
owners of modest tourist accommodation, catering (ethnic dishes), souvenir making,
cultural events and the like. There are several examples of local community
involvement in eco-tourism, viz., Nepal (Annapurna Conservation Area, Sagarmatha
National Park), Canada and South Pacific (Fiji group).

An eco-tourism package has been proposed for the Buffer Zone, which would
complement the tourism inputs already existing in the National Park (Core Zone).
The proposals form a part the site-specific ecodevelopment programme evolved in a
participatory manner with the indigenous people from villages peripheral to the park.
Eco-tourism is visualised here as an important source of income for the host
communities living close to the Protected Area, compensating for the curtailment of
their access to the PA, and as an incentive for wildlife conservation. The Govt. of
Madhya Pradesh have laid down the guiding principles for constituting
Ecodevelopment Committees (EDC), apart from microplanning through these
committees, to ensure the active participation of the local people for forest protection
and rehabilitation. The package addresses both to the indigenous host communities
and the visitors (urban/ rural).

• For the Indigenous Host Communities:

Providing Soft loan to village beneficiaries from “Villagers Contributory

Fund" for fostering eco-tourism

In accordance with the directives from the Government, a fund has been created to
ensure cycling of gate and tariff receipts to support Park Management/ eco-tourism
(“Project Tiger – Pench- Vikas Nidhi”). The beneficiaries drawn from the peripheral
villages would be provided loan from the Nidhi for eco-tourism infrastructure
development:

 Low cost accommodation for tourists, home stays, tents, etc.

 Procurement of cycles, canoes/ boats
 Setting up of cafeteria
 Angling facilities
 Facilities for souvenir making, fostering folk dance

The identified beneficiaries would be imparted free training in public relation, visitor
management and guide service also.

• For the Visitors

The following facilities would be provided to the visitors in the buffer zone, as a part
of the buffer zone eco-tourism package:

Nature Trail

Four nature trails of almost 2 – 8 kms. has been designed near the Karmajhiri entry
point. This trail would enable the visitors to feel the forest by trekking and closely
25
observing the trees and birds, which are found inside the park. A field brochure
highlighting the interpretive points would be provided to the visitors. Similarly other
potentials areas near Rukhad and Kumbhapani are being developed for nature walk,
cycling, camping, boating, machans etc.

Vehicular Excursions

A network of forest roads would be available to the tourists for vehicular excursions
with a route guide, as in the core in the buffer forest of Rukhad, Karmajhiri,
Kumbhapani etc.

Rafting / Boating / Canoeing

From 15th of the September to mid of November Rafting facilities are developed in
Pench River just outside the Protected Area. The identified beneficiaries from host
communities would be provided loan for proper arrangement. Boating facilities is
available in back water of Pench River, near Alikatta and Chhindimatta.

Elephant Rides

Four departmental elephants would be made available to the tourists near Alikatta for
joy rides. The identified local youths would be trained in housekeeping and care of
elephants.

Angling

“Pench River” near Tikadi is a good spot for angling, since it is rich in many species
of fresh water fishes. Trained local villagers would be entrusted with task of visitor
management.

Bullock cart Rides

Bullock cart would be made available to identified beneficiaries by providing loan

from the Vikas Nidhi. The beneficiaries would be trained in the housekeeping and
maintenance of the Bullock cart rides.

Ethnic Art/ Folk Dances

Talented beneficiaries would be provided loan for skill development and to foster
talent, which would serve as added attractions to the visitors in the area, apart from
generating income.

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