SYNTHESIS WORKSHOP ON ECO-TOURISM POLICIES
The National Workshop on Eco-tourism Policies in Gangtok, Sikkim was held on 28 March 2006 where
lessons from four consultation meetings that ATREE had hosted in Karnataka, Kerala, Darjeeling and
Sikkim, were brought together. The workshop mainly contributed to the preparation of white paper to
be presented to the Government of India.
Delegates from the Sikkim Forest Department, Eco-tourism Directorate Kerala, Kerala Forest Dept,
Karnataka Forest Dept, Gorkha Hill Council Tourism, West Bengal Forest Dept, Himachal Pradesh
University, Eco-tourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS), Travel Agents Association
of Sikkim (TAAS), The Mountain Institute (TMI), G.B Pant Institute and various other NGOs
participated in the analysis organised by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the
Environment (ATREE) at the Forest Conference Hall in Gangtok, Sikkim.
Dr. Suman Rai, Regional Director, ATREE, Eastern Himalaya Programme welcomed the gathering.
In his inaugural address the Hon. Minister for Forests and Wildlife, Shri Sher Bahadur Subedi
said that eco-tourism was on the highest agenda of the Government and that major priority is
now being given to this sector for its sustainability, development and employment generation
in the state. All efforts are being made to promote Sikkim as the "ultimate eco-tourism
destination" He also requested ATREE to set up a centre for Biodiversity studies in the state.
Prof. K.S. Bawa, President of ATREE addressed the workshop and emphasized on collaborative effort
to give a voice to the stewards of our natural endowment. T.R. Poudyal, PCCF, while deliberating
his presidential address reiterated willingness to join hands with NGOs and other Government
Departments in terms of conservation oriented works. Dr. Gladwin Joseph, Director, ATREE
presented the vision and mission of ATREE.
Session 1 was started with the presentation on "Evaluation and Monitoring of eco-tourism models"
by Jojo TD, ATREE, Bangalore. He presented a brief set of criteria and indicators developed based
on triple bottom line approach of environmental, social and economic sustainability. Few models
were evaluated based on the criteria and the results were presented. Mr. D. Manoj Kumar from
the eco-tourism directorate, Kerala presented a paper on "Linking practices and policies". He
explained how the eco-tourism directorate of Kerala is putting the eco-tourism policies brought
out by the state govt. in to practice. The presentations were followed by a discussion on linking
policies to practices in which the panel included Mr. M.L. Arawatia, Addl. PCCF, Sikkim,
Mr. D.A. Venkatesh, CCF, Karnataka Forest and J.P. Tamang, Sikkim Government College.
Session 2 was on Eco-tourism policy; gaps and recommendations. Dr. Seema P, ATREE presented the
lead paper detailing the various policies related to eco-tourism at the national and state level.
A SWOT analysis of policies from similar countries and several Indian states was also presented
to draw insights for policy restructuring. The presentation was followed with panel discussions
on eco-tourism policy with the panel being Mr. Gopinath, Chief wildlife warden, Kerala, Mr.P.D. Rai,
ECOSS and Dr. S.D Bansal, Himachal Pradesh University.
The concluding session was chaired by Dr. S.N. Rai (Retd. PCCF, Karnataka Forest Department).
Dr. Seema explained the timetable for the white paper preparation and the tentative dates by
which the draft paper would be circulated among the participants before reaching the decision
makers. Dr. Santosh, thanked the participants on behalf of ATREE.
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