36 JSSCWM

JSSCWM QUEST QUEST

Journal Journal
Vol 3.1 ISSN 2321-0052

Biodiversity Conservation Problems And Their Consequences On Sustainable

Ecotourism: A Case Study Of Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India
Nichola A. Ramchurjee and Suresha S.

Abstract
Ecotourism is often viewed as effective for promoting the conservation of endangered species and habitats in developing countries.
By creating economic incentives for impoverished villagers or their communities, ecotourism is thought to encourage local guardianship of
biological resources. The study investigated the prevalence of conservation and management problems affecting biodiversity and their
implications on ecotourism activities carried out in the peaked tourism season at the Bandipur National Park, Karnataka India. Data were
collected from the local people and protection staff of the park using questionnaires. The study revealed that livestock grazing and poaching
are the major problems affecting biodiversity in the park. In addition, insufficient funding and poor salary for protection staff are the major
management problems affecting conservation of biodiversity. It was suggested that to reduce the spate of illegal activities, conservation
awareness aimed at changing the local peoples' attitudes, the provision of essential infrastructural facilities and improvement in peoples'
living conditions should be embarked upon by the management of the park and government.
Keywords: biodiversity, ecotourism, Bandipur National Park, conservation, local peoples' attitudes

Introduction not only provide essential goods (food, water, fiber,

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the term
given to the variety of life on Earth. It is the
combination of life forms and their interactions with
one another, and with the physical environment that
has made Earth habitable for humans. Ecosystems
provide the basic necessities of life, offering
protection from natural disasters and diseases, and
are the foundation for human culture. Biodiversity
loss is rapid and ongoing. Over the last 50 years,
humans have changed ecosystems faster and more
extensively than in any comparable period of time in
human history. Tropical forests, many wetlands and
other natural habitats are shrinking in size. Species
are going extinct at rates of 1,000 times the
background rates typical of Earth's past. The direct
causes of biodiversity loss are habitat changes,
overexploitation, the introduction of invasive alien
species, nutrient loading and climate change which
show no signs of abating.
As biodiversity loss proceeds, our knowledge
of its importance is growing. Biodiverse ecosystems
Department of Environmental Science,
Yuvaraja's College,
University of Mysore,
Mysore, 570 005, Karnataka, India
nichola_ramchurjee@yahoo.com
medicines) but also irreplaceable services, including
regulation of diseases and soil erosion, purification
of air and water, and opportunities for spiritual
reflection. Furthermore, the contributions of
ecosystems to human societies promise to become
all the more apparent as environmental change
accelerates. Biodiverse ecosystems tend to be more
resilient, and can therefore better cope with an
increasingly unpredictable world. The rural poor rely
on ecosystems for their daily needs, and to see them
through times of trouble. When the services provided
from ecosystems are disrupted, the disadvantaged
lack the means to replace them on a global scale.
Biodiversity is being lost at a rate many times higher
than that of natural extinction. This is caused by land
conversion, climate change, pollution, unsustainable
harvesting of natural resources and introduction of
invasive species (Christ et al., 2003). However, with
proper management, ecosystems could offer a path
out of poverty.
Tourism as a tool for conservation
The role of tourism is an effective method of
conservation that promotes biodiversity preservation
through habitat protection while contributing to the
socio-economic development of a highly diverse
landscape (Al-Sayed & Al-langawi, 2003; Blangy &
Mehta, 2006; Bookbinder, et al., 1998; Burger, 2000;
 Biodiversity Conservation Problems And Their Consequences On Sustainable Ecotourism: 37
A Case Study Of Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India

Gössling, 1999; Ross & Wall, 1999; van der Duim &
Caalders, 2002). Through ecotourism practices, the
goal to maintain and protect biodiversity is possible.
Ecotourism offers the opportunity to enhance
protection and conservation practices in an area by
contributing to the economic base of regions, while
tourists influence the protection of land and
biodiversity on a landscape scale (Burger, 2000).
Ecotourism also facilitates outside awareness to an
area's biodiversity while promoting education and
conservation (Ross & Wall, 1999). Ecotourism has
the potential to contribute to the conservation of Figure 1: Map showing Bandipur National Park
biodiversity and education of all humans living within and Tiger Reserves
an ecosystem. Al-Sayed & Al-langawi (2003) affirm
successful tourism objectives combined with
ecologically derived management techniques, such
as ecosystems identification, wildlife resources
identification, geological aspects of land use, and
environmental feasibility of conservation and
rehabilitation, prevent the continual deterioration of
areas where biodiversity is most prominent.
History of Bandipur National Park
Bandipur National Park is situated in Mysore
(Nanjungud and H.D. Kote taluks) and
Chamarajanagar (Gundlupet taluk) districts of
Karnataka state and lies between the North Latitudes
Figure 2: Map of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve,
of 110 35' 34" and 110 55' 02" and between the East
showing Bandipur National Park in relation to
Longitudes of 760 12' 17" and 760 51' 32" (Figure
multiple contiguous protected areas
1). It was established by the Maharaja of Mysore in
1931 with an area of 90 sq km. Later, it was expanded Materials and Method
to 800 sq km. and was named the Venugopala Wildlife
Park. The Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary was expanded Method
in 1941 to adjoin the Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary This study involved two types of questionnaire
of Tamil Nadu in the South, the Wayanad Sanctuary surveys (1) survey for villagers and (2) survey for
of Kerala in the Southwest and the Nagarhole park officals. The villagers and park officals were
National Park in the North to create India's biggest briefed on the study objectives and purposes and those
biosphere reserve popularly known as the 'Nilgiri who agreed to participate in the survey, were given
Biosphere Reserve' (Figure 2). The park was re- questionnaires. The study was conducted between
named in 1973 by the Government of India, January, 2013 to July 2013. A total of 145 villagers
establishing it as a Tiger Reserve. In 1974, under the and 15 park officials were randomly selected for the
Wildlife Protection Act, the sanctuary attained the administration of the questionnaire for data
status of a National Park. collection.
38 JSSCWM QUEST Journal

Study Area Table 1: Demographic Factors of the Villagers

Interviewed (n=145)
The park is located at the foot of the Nilgiri Hills.
Bandipur is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in Variable Frequency %
India. Bandipur National Park is 680-1454 meters Gender
above sea level and is located south of the Kabini
Male 125 86.2
River in the foothills of the Western Ghats. It is also
known as the "connecting link" as it connects the Female 20 13.8
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, and the Occupation
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Farming 80 55.2
forming a long stretch of natural beauty. It is now
Fishing 42 30.0
under consideration for selection as a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO. Civil servant 8 5.5
Herbalist 7 4.8
The main perennial rivers of the Reserve are
Nugu, Kabini and Moyar. The Nugu river flows in Driving 5 3.4
the middle of the Reserve, whereas, the Moyar river Source of meat
forms the southern boundary between this reserve Livestock 129 89.0
and Madhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kabini
Bushmeat 23 15.9
river, across which a major irrigation dam has been
constructed at Beechanahalli, forms the boundary Fish 25 17.2
between this Reserve and Rajiv Gandhi National
Park. From table 2, it can be seen, the illegal activi-
ties being carried out by the villagers surrounding
Results and Discussion
the park. 95.9% of the villagers have carried out ille-
Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics gal livestock grazing, 97.2% practice farming on park
of the villagers interviewed. It revealed that 86.2% land, 72.4% extracted fuelwood from the park, 93.1%
of the villagers were male while 13.8% were female. carried out fishing activities, 72.4% collected fod-
Furthermore, 55.2% of them are farmers while 30.0% ders, 59.3% carried out logging for local use, 44.3%
are fishermen. This is an indication that the dominant collect other non-timber forest products, 44.9% were
involved in bushmeat hunting, and 39.3% were in-
occupations in the study area are farming and fishing.
volved in illegal bush burning. The least activities
The main source of meat for the respondents are
carried out by the villagers were trophy hunting
livestock (89%), this is because many of the villagers (10.3%), and settlement on park land (26.2%). None
keep domestic livestock such as goat, sheep, cattle of the villagers however were involved in timber log-
and chickens. This, to a certain extent, will reduce ging and migration into the park. These results re-
the tendency of hunting of wild animals for their vealed that livestock grazing, farming on parkland,
protein's needs, even though personal experience has fishing, fuelwood collection, fodder collection, fod-
shown that wild meats form part of their delicacies. der collection and logging are the main threats being
Studies worldwide show that where humans depend faced by the park from the villages surrounding it.
exclusively on wildlife for meat, tropical forests This is not surprising since most of these villagers
cannot support much more than one person per square own livestock and the only place where vegetation
kilometre, even under the most productive exists during the dry season is the park. Also, most
of them are farmers putting pressures on park land
circumstances (Gubbi, 2003).
for their farming activities. Aside from these,
fuelwood extraction and charcoal production are
 Biodiversity Conservation Problems And Their Consequences On Sustainable Ecotourism: 39
A Case Study Of Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India

prominent activities in the study area because most as one of the major problems affecting biodiversity
of the inhabitants depend on fuelwood and charcoal conservation in the park; this was followed by
as household energy sources. In addition, fishing is poaching (14.3%) which was ranked second. Illegal
also a major occupation apart from farming among fishing had the least number of respondents with 2.9%
the people; villages along the course of the main pe- and was ranked 6th.
rennial rivers Nugu, Kabini and Moyar are mostly Overgrazing and deforestation over time have
anglers whose daily subsistence rests on fishing ac- denied most of the reserves in India of their natural
tivities in the rivers. Illegal settlements are on the flora. With the increase in livestock and human
increase in the park despite laws prohibiting it, and population, more deforestation and overgrazing
this is accompanied by increase in population of the would be expected. The degradation caused by illegal
settlers; putting undue pressures on the resources of grazing has caused some animals to migrate to the
the park thereby thwarting conservation efforts. neighbouring states (Salami, 1979). Furthermore,
poaching activities in and around the park, as well as
Table 2: Table showing Illegal Activities carried the unwise use of natural resources have been the
out by the villagers (n=145) major problems facing the park and have led to the
Variable Frequency % extinction of some fauna species. Local traditional
Bushmeat hunting 65 44.9 hunting has led to the extinction of some species of
Fishing 135 93.1 wildlife and pushing several others to critical levels
(Gubbi, 2003). According to WWF (2007), putting
Migration 0 0
representative protected area networks in place and
Non-timber forest products collection 86 59.3 managing them requires money. Few countries have
Livestock grazing 139 95.9 managed to define and establish ways to provide long-
Illegal setting of fire or bush burning 15 10.3 term, sustainable financing and this funding gap is
Agriculture (farming) 141 97.2
particularly acute in developing countries. Also,
annual expenditure of protected areas in many
Timber logging 0 0
developing countries is extremely low (James et al.,
Settlement on parkland 38 26.2 1999) and protected areas in tropical regions are
Fodder collection 105 72.4 under-funded even though they require resources for
Trophy hunting 18 12.4 annual operating budgets, capital investment, staff
training, community development and public
awareness among a wide range of other activities
The results of the survey of the park officials
(James et al., 1999). Ogunjinmi et al (in press)
are reflected in Table 3. The results revealed that
reported low pay as one the variables hindering
57.1% of the park officials ranked livestock grazing
rangers (park officials).
Table 3: Problems affecting Biodiversity Conservation in Bandipur National Park as identified
by Park Officials (n=35)
Variable Frequency % Rank
Livestock grazing 20 57.1 1st
Increase in the population of the villages surrounding the park 4 11.4 3rd
Uncontrolled burning 3 8.6 4th
Logging 2 5.7 5th
Poaching 5 14.3 2nd
Illegal fishing 1 2.9 6th
40 JSSCWM QUEST Journal
Table 4, revealed that insufficient funding was
adjudged first by 40.0% of the staff as management
problems affecting biodiversity conservation in the
park and was followed by poor salary for protection
Table 4: Management Problems affecting Biodiversity Conservation in Bandipur
National Park identified by Park Officials (n=35)
Variable
Lack of equipment
Poor salary for protection staff
Insufficient funding
Low level of communication between the park and surrounding villages
Inadequate staffing
Impacts of Biodiversity Conservation
Problems on Sustanable Ecotourism in Bandipur
National Park
The major casualty of biodiversity conservation
problems in Bandipur National Park is tourist inflow.
Tourist inflow to a destination is determined by site
attractions in the form of fauna and flora, cultural
and historical materials as well as morphological and
geo-morphological features. An average tourist to
India is interested in observing wild animals in their
natural state particularly the big game such as Asian
elephant, Bonner Macaque, Jungle Cat, Wild Boar
(Elringham, 1984). For example, Eagles (1992)
reported that the travel motives of Canadian
ecotourists are attraction-oriented, with tropical
forests, wilderness, and wildlife highly ranked. Many
tourists prefer to see and interact with wild species
in their habitats and experience a much more intimate
closeness to authentic habitat (Shackley, 1996).
Disturbance caused to the habitat by the ever-
increasing number of tourists and week-end holiday
makers who flock to the park, forces the wildlife to
retreat (Kumar, 2006). The ecotourist industry
according to Eagles (n.d.) is critically dependent upon
the long-term viability of the management of the
natural environment by government agencies. Since
visitation thrives on tourists' experience, and income
on the other hand relies on visitations, Bandipur
staff (25.7%); which was also ranked second. Low
level of communication between the park and sur-
rounding villages which was ranked 5th was the least
management problem facing conservation by 5.7%
of the staff.
Frequency % Rank
6 17.1 3rd
9 25.7 2nd
14 40.0 1st
2 5.7 5th
4 11.4 4th
National Park has not enjoyed high income or revenue
from ecotourism activities; thus depends solely on
annual subventions from government for
conservation activities which are always inadequate
and insufficient.
Conclusion
Ultimately, operationalizing sustainable
ecotourism within protected areas depends on
management and operations that optimize the
potential positive benefits while minimizing the
negative costs associated with the industry.
National Parks management agencies require new
strategies to curb illegal activities in the parks. It is
obvious that the traditional measures such as arrest
and prosecution of poachers have failed; conservation
awareness aimed at changing local attitudes will go
a long way in reducing incessant attack on the
integrity of biological systems in the Park. However,
improvement in living conditions of the local people
is paramount to long-term sustainability of
biodiversity; thus, provision of essential.
infrastructural facilities such as motorable roads,
clean water, affordable primary healthcare system,
electricity and affordable prices of energy (kerosene
in particular) is highly desirable.
Continuous study and research sharpen our
understanding of the pathways and mechanisms
 Biodiversity Conservation Problems And Their Consequences On Sustainable Ecotourism:
A Case Study Of Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India
through which well-planned ecotourism experiences
can build conservation support, improve tourists'
connectivity to the natural world, and ultimately
improve the sustainability of tourism to protected
areas worldwide.
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