ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES IN MID HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2018-10
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UHF, NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Environmental Impact Assessment of ecotourism
activities in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during 2017-2018 in the
Department of EnvironmentalScience, College of Forestry, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Solan H.P. Five ecotourism sites in the mid hill region were
purposefully selected for the assessment. The study aimed at understanding the effect of the
ecotourism activities on the natural resource quality, carrying capacity of the sites and assessing the
sustainability by using indicators like consumption of water and energy, waste management,
community involvement and employment and infrastructure building material. Study of sustainability
of the sites was done on a comparative basis. Comparisons were made between the sites and the
impacts of the above selected indicators on sustainability were ranked accordingly. The quality of
natural resources was fairly good in all the sites. The physical and chemical properties of the two
basic natural resources i.e. soil and water of the ecotourism sites were at par with the properties of
control site. The carrying capacity ranged from 204 – 116 visitors per day, a maximum carrying
capacity was for Nature’s Treat followed by Sanawar Nature Camp, Aamod, Park Woods andPine
Hills Eco-Camp with respective values of 204, 186, 154, 131 and 116 visitors per day. The actual
number of tourists visiting the sites per day was well within the carrying capacity limits. The study
indicated that, with the current rate of tourists, the carrying capacity of the ecotourism sites is
projected to exhaust in the next 12-15 yearsbecause of limitations of water availability, increasing
visitor frequency, energy consumption and infrastructure which is incompatible with the ecosystem.
Accordingly, Aamod, Shoghi will exhaust its carrying capacity by the year 2021.Pine Hills Eco
Camp, Chewa was the most sustainable site whereas Aamod, Shoghi was least sustainable site in the
mid hills of HP. It can be concluded that though there is a good quality of natural resources, the sites
are approaching their carrying capacities and hence are a threat to their sustainability. In order to
increase the sustainability of ecotourism sites, the stakeholders should man
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