Recommendations

Ecologically Sensitive Regions - ESRs 1 and 2 need to be conserved on priority without any detrimental activities. These regions are to be protected by regulatory authorities and managed involving all stakeholders as well as VFCs (Village forest committees). ESR 2 represents a zone of higher conservation and forms a transition for highest conservation and moderate conservation regions. ESR 3 represents moderate conservation region and only regulated development is to be allowed in these areas. ESR 4 represents least diversity areas and the developments are allowed as per the requirement by strict vigilance from regulatory authorities. It is recommended that these regions also have a scope for further enrichment / improvement of environment by the local stakeholders and forest department. In ESR 3, further developments are allowed only with the critical review from regulatory authorities in consultations with the local stakeholders. Small-scale tourism should be encouraged adopting benefit sharing with local communities such as homestay, spice farms, eco-friendly boating etc. The uncontrolled development should be discouraged in and around of pristine lakes, primeval forest patches, perennial water bodies. The site-specific (clustered base) sustainable developments can be taken up at each panchayat, which least affect the ecosystem. The forest department should refrain from raising mo-noculture plantations and replace existing exotics in the stages (phased manner) with endemic species. Promote decentralized electricity, use of renewable energy sources such as (solar, wind, bioenergy, etc.). The region should promote agro processing industries to synthesize local resourc-es while providing employment. Adapt only environmentally sound development projects and implementation by involving local community in decision making, social impact assessment and post-project environmental monitoring. No new major roads, widening of existing roads, rail way lines are allowed, except when highly essential and subject to EIA, by imposing strict regulation and social audit. Tourism Master Plan should be based on MoEFCC, GoI regulations (after taking into account social and environ-mental costs) . Controlled activities are to be allowed based on socio-economic importance, while activities leading to degradation of wetlands, natural forests or the introduction of alien invasive species are prohibited in eco-sensitive regions.