The Himalayas offer tourists a variety of scenic beauty. To them it is a paradise, its gushing rivers are laden without and the varieties of fish. To trekkers and hikers it is a challenges, its canyons, deep valleys and escarpments are eye-catcher. The snow-peaked mountains, gliding glaciers, grass meadows and hot springs invite tourists from remote corners of the world. The ever-increasing tourist influx is creating great impact on ecology and environment. The problem of litter, noise pollution and damage to natural assets is causing great anxiety to environmentalists. The unmanaged influx of tourists destroys the natural architecture of the rocks and natural surroundings. The development and construction of new hotels involves the destruction of vegetation, feelings of trees and erosion of the environment. Tourism should be considered as on alloy and not an adversary in conserving the ecology in the Himalayas. It should be in the fitness of the things if master plans are prepared and new areas are developed to meet the unending demand of tourists’ resorts. There should be a close coordination among the planners and the promoters of ecology and environment of the Himalayas.
Land Resources and Tourism
The construction of roads and other infrastructure are indispensable for efficient transport and communication system for tourism development, but these unavoidable activities are mainly responsible for destruction of Himalayan land resource along its vegetation and animal wealth. A careful study shows that the construction of 44,000 km. Long roads in Himalayan region produced 2,650 million cubic metres of debris and each kilometer of already constructed roads generates; 550 cubic metres of debris by landslides and rock falls. Thus nearly 24 million cubic metres of debris slide down damaging vegetation and chocking the springs etc. (Valdiya 1985). These activities accelerate hill slope instability deforestation, soil erosion, pollution of water and air, etc, especially along the road sides and around the most of the Himalayan tourist resort like Nainital, Simla, and Mussoorie etc.
The use of powerful explosives like dynamite and frequent heavy traffic create vibrations which cause cracks on rocks and earth which in turn lead to land slides and erosion along with adverse impact of the flora and fauna. The construction of roads etc. along geologically active zones like at Kaliasur Satpuli (Garhwal) is also responsible for degradation of land. The construction for accommodation facilities like rest houses, tourist bungalows, buildings and seasonal accommodation units, recreation centres, etc., have posed the most serious menace to the land resources of the region; not only does it accelerate soil erosion but it also causes damage to crops, animals and plants, housing and public properties. It is also a contributory factor in causing floods with heavy siltation in valleys and adjacent areas. In Chamoli district alone from 1971 to 1978, 48 human lives, 949 heads of cattle, 601 houses, costing nearly about 173 lakhs of rupees, as also the crops, were destroyed by mass movements. In the year 1972 owing to the landslides, the Gohna Lake was formed and its breaching has resulted in a large scale destruction in the Alaknanda valley and the plains of U.P. The flash flood engulfed 2000 sq .k. m. paddy crop, 10 k.m. roads, 6 motor bridges and 24 buses, 366 houses while 138 villages were effected; by landslides along in the year 1979.
Agricultural & Tourism
Agriculture is one of the main occupations of the Himalayan inhabitants, but it does not give quick and heavy economic gains like tourism. At present during the tourist season (mainly May-June) tourism has become the main source of income, as a result of which agricultural system has miserably regressed. Enormous agricultural land is being occupied for development of infrastructure facilities. These activities create dependence system in addition to adverse impacts on economy and ecology of the area. These activities create dependence system in addition to adverse impacts on economy and ecology of the area. The farmers who are living in the vicinity of these tourist resorts leave their traditional farming and either work or conduct different types of business for prompt and easy economic benefits. In many such developing and well-developed tourist places, tourism has almost overlapped agriculture. Fields around the famous tourist places like Mussories, Nainital, Simla, Darjeeling, etc. are the result of this type of tourism impact.
Forest Wealth and Tourism
The beauty of the Himalayan forest, alpine meadows and peaks is the main sources of tourist attraction. The Continual flow of tourists, mountaineers, trekkers, etc. is likely to have positive as well as negative impacts on these natural resources to a certain extent. Mythological beliefs and tradition which are prevalent in the Himalayan region are also responsible for adverse effect on the flora, specially in those localities adjoining the shrines. Religious tourists habitually collect flowers and colourful herbs to offer to temples like Gangotri, Yamnotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath, etc. Consequently, many species which are part of our cultural and religious heritage are beginning to get wiped out. It was noticed by the authors during the Roopkund trekking in Chamoli district that at the Bedney Bugayal and Roopkund (places of mythological importance along the trek) thousands of Brahmakamal flowers (Saussurea obvollata) were offered which were plucked from vicinity area. A recent sample study of Surkanda Devi (a place about 25 km. From Mussorie towards Tehri), which is situated at a most picturesque spot in the highest (2750m) peak of outer Himalayan range, indicates that about 10,000 people gather there for a week on the occasion of Dashera (celebrated festival of Hindu) and practically every one offers few flowers with twigs of Ronsli (Abies Pindrow) to Goddess Surkanda along with their other fights. Every visitor roughly plucks ten flowers and two twigs. In this way about 10,000 flowers and 20,000 twigs are lost annually, as a result of which a virgin Abies pindrow forest and densely grown different colourful flowers which we have seen during childhood (about 23 years back) have nearly disappeared now, and in their place scrub forest and flowers like Primula denticulata, Anemone vitifolia, etc. are sparsely found. In addition to this, severe trampling by visitors is also responsible for damage.
A recent field survey of the world famous valley of flowers also shows that its flora and fauna was under major attack and influenced adversely after 1975 when this area was opened to visitors. De to increasing rate of tourism traffic and direct (like trampling and plucking etc.) and indirect activities of tourists, many important and charming species of flowers like blue-scented Primulas (most beautiful), red Potentilla spp., creamy Anemone spp., blue Meconopsis spp., etc. are now found in reduced abundance along the treks, road sides and other easily accessible areas. This degradation will definitely occur in the entire area with increasing number of tourists. In addition to this, other factors like overgrazing, low grazing etc. are also responsible for ecological imbalance. Overgrazing prevents plants from flowering and fruiting willow orgngrazing accelerate the growth of unnecessary weeds and grasses, which create hindrance in growth and blooming. The growth of unwanted grass and weed has become a major problem of the valley after the ban imposed on grazing by the government and it seems to be only one reason for low flowers occurrence n the valley even in peak season (August-September) in comparison with the situation obtaining some years ago.
This fact leads to the conclusion that a scientific and controlled grass cutting or grazing is necessary for maintaining the importance of the valley of flowers. If the sensitive ecosystem of the valley will not be given proper importance and attentions along with the promotion of tourism, Smyth’s silent valley of Garhwal Himalaya may one day cease to show its visual spectrum, of nature’s beauty. The damage in the Himalayan environment has reached a critical level and beyond the carrying capacity; therefore, in order to overcome this problem, it is the need of time that certain more landscapes with unique type of vegetation and wildlife should be conserved as “Biosphere Reserves”.
The tourist concentration in the Himalayan alpine pastures is increasing day by day, more than the carrying capacity, while the area under vegetation is decreasing due to accelerated human activities.
A considerable area of virgin forest is also being replaced for providing necessary amenities to visitors for tourism promotion. It has been estimated that 234.25 sq.k.m. Forest area has been destroyed only by road construction from 1951 to 1979 in the U.P. hills (forest statistics 1981). Deforestation not only result into resource depletion but also deteriorates fresh and underground water, wildlife and other related resources along with acceleration of disastrous phenomena like heavy soil; erosion and landslides etc., which mainly provoke flash floods.
Wild Life and Tourism
The forest provides the best shelter and source of food for most of the wild animals; hence the quality of forest affected by vast tourism directly influences the wildlife of the respected area. The ever-increasing influx of tourists exerts an adverse impact on the unique Himalayan wildlife.
Tourist activities like invasion in wildlife habitat, close view watching and photography, hunting, plundering, and other disturbances etc. have created a problem for wild animals. Mammals and birds are affected in large extent more than reptiles, insects and other small animals. Owing to the large interference of man in the habitat and life style of animals specially in national parks, wild life sanctuaries etc., the ferocity of animals is being lost which is the only quality of wildness that differentiate them from domestic animals. The act of providing bate to tiger or lion for close view in national part etc., spoil the quality of wild life and is destruction of wild animals in the name of tourism. These activities further affect the feeding and breeding habits and ultimately the entire life cycle. The small animals die due to heavy and frequent traffic which affect the food chain in wild life system.
The habit of tourists to provide ready-made food to wild animals is also responsible for loss of ferocity. During the year 1975 in the Corbett National Park a wild boar popularly known as Buddha (innocent) had become a purely domestic one. Owing to the availability of ready made food like bread, biscuits, chapati, etc. from tourists he had later on developed the habit of stealing edible items like lunch packets, chocolates, jam butter, even tinned meat and fish, sauce and drink bottles, etc., from tourist tents, kitchen, or even open car, jeep etc. thereby a purely herbivorous wild animal had changed his wild habits. Recently in the year 1987 is has been observed by the authors in Corbett National Park that young chittal (spotted deer) is also frequently visiting the Dhikala complex of the park to eat cooked food material like bread, etc., from the hand of tourists and officials.
It is also noticed that during night time; few wild animals like wild boar (Susscrofa), fox (Vulpeseulpes), chital or spotted deer (Axis) etc. reach close to the Dhikala complex and feed on thrown away ready made food or ga5rbage etc. sometime even together also. So it is necessary to protect these animal habits and habitat along with their natural ferocity to maintain the wildness and ecosystem balance of natural food chain system between predator and the prey or between the herbivorous and herbs for total ecological system. The crowded gathering of people religious places and resorts bring marked change to ecosystem as a whole. The direct and side products of tourists like litter, polythene bags and wrappers, garbage piles and related materials attract rodents and crow, which in turn draw bigger animals and birds, thus changing the entire habit and habitat.
The increasing tourist’s craze for the Himalayan wild life and their products is also responsible for its destruction as it increases the demand of stuffed animals, ivory ornaments, furs, tails, quills, feathers, horns, skins, musk and wild-life souvenirs, etc. This demand provokes the curio trade, resulting into poaching and slaughtering of animals. The musk deer, (Moschus moschiferus), blackbear (Selenaretos thivetanus), snow leopard (Panthera unica) leopard (P. pardus), bharal (Pseudois nayar) monal (Lophophorus impejanus), etc. are few well known animal species which are in great danger due to poaching.
To prevent or reduce degradation of the Himalayan natural resources, there should be scientific and well planned growth of tourism in which experts of different disciplines like geology, botany, geography wildlife, environment, etc., and technocrats like engineers, architect etc. along with local people should have close involvement in planning. There should be recreation between natural resources and tourism development, which should be according to the carrying capacity of particular resorts, so that space action does not affect their ecosystems and ecological balance. If these protective measures are not given due importance in tourism planning and development, the Himalayan would be damaged beyond the limit of repair of regeneration.
Industrialization
Industrial development in the Himalayas is slow but the rapid population explosion and urbanizations has changed the trend. In the Kashmir Himalayan, the Himachal Himalaya, the Kumaon Himalaya, the Assam Himalaya and in many other parts of the Himalayas fruit processing, wool processing cottage industries, cement industry, paper and pulp industries, resin processing and other forest based industries, such as watch factories, tool factories, television factories etc., with pollution control devices would be vital for the rapid economic growth of the Himalayan belt.
Measures to Preserve the Ecology
The Himalayas provides a variety of natural resources to the sub-continent of India, including the life-giving water. These resources have been threatened largely by human negligence and activities. In order to improve and regenerate degraded hill environment, scientific approach involving hazard zone mapping and banning engineering development activities in such zones, drainage control and dewatering measures, protection of slopes through vegetation, modification slopes where necessary, application of engineering technology and improved agronomic practices should be carried on priority basis.
The ecological balance can be maintained and improved by reforestation, by checking the illegal felling for tree, controlling the course of floods by construction bounds, retaining walls, checking landslides, rocketry’s, sinking of the soils, protecting the watersheds, etc.
Laws should be enacted to stop indiscriminate timber trade, installation of new cement factories, stone crushers, state factories, industries, etc which in turn cause air, water and noise pollution. The mining operations should be done using modern methods and techniques to minimize the pollution of atmosphere, the ruthless and haphazard mining activities greatly affect the health of the workers and also create ecological imbalance by rock debris, dumps and quarries wastes. The greenery of the soils is lost and fertility of lands is decreased. Constructional and developmental works also destroy the natural setting of the scenery and landscape.
Soil and land use inventories need to be taken up on priority basis and the Himalayan belt may be divided into viable seacoast for the purpose of land use, planning and management. Modern techniques of remote sensing and aerial photo interpretations are very vital ion conserving the soil and soil programme. Soil maps may be employed to carry out the forestation programmes and proper land use. Aerial seeding should be carried out to reclaim the barren lands.
To prevent or reduce degradation of the Himalayan natural resources, there should be scientific and well planned growth of tourism in which experts of different disciplines like geology, botany, geography, wildlife environment, etc and technocrats like engineers, architect etc. Along with local people should have close involvement in planning. There should be correlation between natural resources and tourism development which should be according to the carrying capacity of particular resorts, so that the space action does not affect their eco-system and ecological balance.
If these protective measures are not given due importance in tourism planning and development, the prosperous heritage and environment of the Himalaya would be damaged beyond the repair of regeneration.
To protect our environment we have to protect our wildlife, rare birds and unique plants. Proper education on environmental rehabilitation and conservation must be initiated at the grass root level. Rehabilitation and conservation programmes should include such measures as finding alternative sources of energy, self employment, agriculture sericulture, horticulture, social forestry, cottage industries, small scale industries, etc. The human and animal husbandry programmes should also be taken up to improve the lot of the Indian village folks. Women are the backbone of human ecosystem in the Himalayan hills. It is, therefore, necessary to improve their lot. An all-out effort should be made to maintain the enchanting beauty of the Himalaya.
No comments:
Post a Comment