COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ECOTOURISM SPOTS OF NETARHAT PLATEAU
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Date
2013
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Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Abstract
relief from the hustle bustle and rushing life of the metros and
cities. The temperature at Netarhat tends to be lesser and the atmosphere remains cool
throughout the year. Tourists come to Netarhat to see the nature at its best. Amazing
landscape of the hill has attracted a number of tourists including the British over the years.
Some of the popular attractions of Netarhat are as follows: Sunrise view, Upper Ghaghri
water Falls, Lower Ghaghri water Falls, Koyal River View, Magnolia Point, etc.
The historical data for the study have been collected from secondary sources. So
far as primary data are concerned, it is collected through cross section interaction through
discussion and interviews with domestic tourists, foreign tourists and entrepreneurs of the
study area. The primary data have been collected during the period from November to
April in 2011. The data was collected both on vegetation as well as on ecotourism
activities being held at each selected spots. Questionnaires were prepared for analysis of
human activity with respect to tourism and effect on vegetation due to tourism.
Pertaining to the ecotourism activity being held at a different spots, the parameters
like identification of off season for each selected spot, person visiting on spots during the
peak season and off season, infrastructure available at each spot like motarable road, hotel,
canteen etc., nature of stay at each spot, activities done by tourist at each spots like
camping, tracking, birthday celebration, anniversary celebration etc., facilities available at
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each sport like boarding, lodging, etc., and financial turn out at each spot during season
were collected.
For study of biodiversity of the study area, the study areas was surveyed and
collected the data through quadrate using stratified random sampling. All individuals of
each plant species in each quadrate was counted and recorded. The parameters like listing
of different tree species, number of trees present of each species, measurement of
diameter, measurement of tree height, basal area and total volume was collected and
systematically analyzed. From the numerical data obtained, the quantitative characters
such as frequency, density, abundance, relative frequency, relative density, relative
dominance and important value index were calculated on the basis of respective formula.
Five ecotourism spots have been identified at Netarhat plateau. Out of which,
Sunrise View, Lower Ghaghri and Mongolia Point are mainly hilly but some part of them
area plain in nature whereas Upper Ghaghri and Koyal View River was hilly. The Sunrise
View and Mongolia Point (Sunset View) are the most popular spot at Netarhat plateau
among male, female and children. Mostly they stayed there for 2 to 3 days but in some
cases they may stay more than 3 days. Tourists stayed at Sunrise View point mainly due to
availability of hotel, lodges, etc. Other facilities such shop, restaurant, etc are found at
Sunrise View point. At Netarhat, ecotourism spot have very limited number of
hotels/lodges. Most of the tourists were visited for recreation purpose. Beside that tourist
were also visit for birth day party, marriage anniversaries, bone fire, tracking, camping,
etc. At Sunrise View point, maximum activities were seen whereas other point has limited
activities.
To measure the effect of ecotourism on plant biodiversity, entire study area has
been thoroughly surveyed to identify the tree species including shrubs and grasses present
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there. Total number of tree species, shrubs and grasses were 23, 12, and 9 respectively.
Almost all tree species were present at all the study sites. Total number of trees present in
the study site was varied from site to site and also from species to species. Total trees
present in the sample area were 2879, out of which Shorea robusta was found maximum
(223 trees) followed by Pinus roxburgii (188 trees) and least was Zizyphus xylopyra (90
trees).
Maximum height among the tree species was recorded for Shorea robusta (21.22
m) followed by Pinus roxburghii (20.24 m) whereas minimum height was recorded for
Lagerostroemia parviflora (13.56 m). Maximum basal area was observed for Pinus
roxburghii followed by Shorea robusta which was 2.02 sq.m and 1.99 sq.m respectively,
whereas minimum basal area was obtained for Dalbergia sissoo which was 0.17 sq.m.
Maximum volume was observed for Shorea robusta (42.13 cu.m) followed by Pinus
roxburghii (40.96 cu.m) whereas minimum volume was obtained for Dalbergia sissoo
which was 2.43 cu.m. Maximum Important Value Index among the tree species was
recorded for Shorea robusta (28.26) followed by Pinus roxburgii (24.19) whereas
minimum Important Value Index was recorded for Adina cordifolia (9.13).
Description
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ECOTOURISM SPOTS OF NETARHAT PLATEAU
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