Eco-tourism Revisited
The Eco-complex Concept
The Pelicans and Storks collectively would be found in Kokkarebellur only for 5-6 months (January to
June) in a year, which implies that during rest of the months (July to December) the facilities provided
and the kiosks opened would rust until the birds return. This would not only rob the employment and
create an unbalanced economic activity round the year, but would also be appalling due to the huge
sum of money spent over the initial setup. For a sustainable system, the employment opportunities
need to prevail all round the year for uninterrupted economic generation for the villagers.
Observations have revealed that these birds even during their stay in Kokkarebellur, feed mainly from
the nearby water bodies. The concept of creating an Eco-complex is best suited here. The ideology
behind this would be to broaden the focus from a single place such as Kokkarebellur to the nearby
places of interest. Visiting Kokkarebellur alone would be less than half a day's activity, but by extending
the visit to nearby water bodies would be a more educative and enjoyable experience, absorbing an
entire day. The creation of an Eco-complex has involved identification of some of the important tanks in
the vicinity such as, Tailur Kere, Maddur Kere and Sole Kere, known to harbour the winged visitors.
An outline map of the proposed Eco-complex is shown in the
figure. The tanks identified are also known to support a wide variety of aquatic life and would be of interest to tourists to enjoy its salubrious setting.
All these tanks are within a radius of ten kilometers. Thus if the tourists could be taken to
these tanks in the proposed jeeps or vans to give a glimpse of their fishing activity, along with the
numerous and diverse local and migrant birds in these tanks, the envisioned eco-tourism would last for
the whole year instead of 5-6 months and hence will be a successful activity achieving the targeted
goals. Further to ensure year round tourism activity, the Shimsha river close by, could also be promoted
as another tourist destination during July to December (monsoon and post-monsoon), on the similar
lines that is developed at Srirangapatna on the banks of river Cauvery.
The Eco-complex center, located centrally as mentioned earlier provides access to the
above-mentioned tanks along with Kokkarebellur. The center about 10 minutes drive from Kokkarebellur
can have the information kiosk, recreation center, restaurant and rest houses. In having an
Eco-complex center close to the bird habitat along with its important fishing centers nearby offers
variety to the tourists. In spite of the absence of the winged visitors (Pelicans and Painted Storks) the
resident birds in these water bodies would attract tourists in a similar manner providing recreational and
educational activities throughout the year. Such an approach would be economically viable, attracting
tourists all round the year, peaking during the breeding season of the birds. The implementation of such
a concept would be exemplary in creating a sustainable tourism activity, ensuring adequate precautions
for the fragile bird habitat and improving the quality of life of the local villagers too. Thus the rationale of
improving the quality of life of the local villagers, enhancing tourism with revenue generation to the
government and finally living in harmony with the ecology would suffice with the creation of an
Eco-complex. This Eco-complex approach would offer excellent potential for developing tourism while
striking an ecological and economical balance.
Recommendations:
Tourism should not be promoted in any ecologically sensitive region in future, and also in breeding places of species classified under Schedule - I of the Indian constitution
If tourism really needs to be set up due to variety of reasons, then:
1. Strict rules must be enforced with regard to the movement of tourists within the sensitive region.
2. Tourist vehicles must never be allowed and as an alternative the Forest Department or the Tourism
Department must arrange for a van or a jeep to ply inside.
3. Any developmental activities for promoting tourism must be kept at least at a distance of 10 minute
drive away from the village.
4. Machans or watchtowers should not be set up anywhere close to the nesting trees of the birds, as
their construction would be economically unfeasible (no monetary benefits) and would also harm the
birds. This would eventually result in absence of birds and in turn affect the tourism setup.
5. Rest houses or kiosk (even information kiosks) need to be placed away from the region.
6. Symbiotic relationship between the locals and the birds over the last 500 years that has aided in
conserving the region, should be given due credit. The economically poor villagers need to be roped into
any activity (employment opportunities) that has been envisioned for tourism.
7. The proposed tourism at Kokkarebellur which would have survived only for half an year can now be
successful all throughout the year by setting up a Eco-complex, comprising of the major tanks such as
Tailur Kere, Maddur Kere and Sole Kere that are at 10 km distance from
Kokkarebellur.
8. This centrally located Eco-complex must provide the necessary requirements of a tourist, (including transportation facilities within the sensitive region, rest houses, kiosks etc,) which had earlier been planned within Kokkarebellur.
9. This would thus reduce the pressure exerted by tourism drastically over Kokkarebellur and also would result in the revenue generation for the government.
10. It is very important to realize that this "eco-tourism" would flourish if and only if the birds visit regularly, and hence habitat must be made more amicable for the birds.
Last Updated 31st July 2004 - Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560 012, India