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Three sanctuaries and a national park in Gujarat have been identified as sites for Ecotourism development, a forest authority said today.
“A basic low cost and low impact ecotourism facility will be developed under the Japanese aid project with the full involvement of the local communities in Gujarat,” Mr. Jagdish Prasad, Conservator of Forests, Gujarat Government Forest Department said.
Ecotourism will be developed at 91 villages in all of the seven protected areas, including Shoolpaneswar sanctuary, Ratanmahal sanctuary, Jessor sloth bear sanctuary and Vansda national park, he said adding that the wildlife wing of the Gujarat Forest Department will have the overall responsibility for the implementation of the ecotourism development.
According to Mr. Prasad, the site development includes construction and management of eco-lodge, provision for furnishing of the eco-lodge, development of nature trails, construction and management of information centre com gift shop, audio-visual equipment and brochures.
Also support from the Gujarat Government's Tourism Department and Gujarat State Tourism Development Corporation will be sought to market the sites to potential tourists, in addition to developing business relations with private tour operators.
"The eco-development activities will consist of helping the forest department in conserving the protected area concerned through awareness-building and overseeing community members to ensure they do not encroach, trespass, graze, steal, light fires or hunt, creation of community assets and household livelihood improvements," Mr. Prasad added.
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