India: People who once destroyed their forests now zealously defend it because of ecotourism

The people who now zealously protect the trees and every treasure of
nature in the Dibru-Saikhowa reserve forest had at one time earned
notoriety for illegal activities there. Now these people – Hiren
Senapati, Dhaneswar Neog and others – have not only earned the respect
of people, they have also become role models.

This change in the
people who once ravaged the greenery has come owing to the concept of
ecotourism of some local youths desirous of bringing economic uplift
in the villages in the fringe areas of the forest as well as save the
forest from human depredation. Under the leadership of a local youth
Niranta Gohain, a project was launched in 2007 under the banner of
Wave Ecotourism, its headquarters located at Rangagora, adjacent to
the Dibru-Saikhowa forest which has been recognized as a national park
and a biosphere reserve. Niranta could convince six people involved in
illegal tree felling and poaching in the forest to join his group.
Hiren Senapati was one of them.Within a very short span of time, the
group could generate an enthusiasm beyond expectation among the
villagers regarding the concept of ecotourism.

Now 100 local people,
many again involved in illegal activities inside the forest are
indirectly benefiting from the project. What is most encouraging for
the members of Wave Ecotourism is that the people have realized the
importance of safeguarding their invaluable natural treasures. “We
have trained up a number of local people and they are now competent
guides for the tourists,” said Niranta. Niranta’s group have a eco
camp at Rangagora with food and lodging accommodation for 15 tourists
at a time, and provision of food for 150 tourists at a time. Apart
from taking the tourists to selected spots in the forest, the group
also arranges for the tourists to enjoy the unique cultural mosaic of
the State by taking them to historical and traditional places of the
various ethnic tribes. Two forest villages, Laika and Dodhia inhabited
by the Mising tribe have emerged as major attractions for the
tourists. The ethnic diversity, lifestyle and cultural tradition of
the Mottocks, Morans, the Sonowal Kacharis and the Nepalis have
stunned the foreign tourists.
http://ne.icrindia.org/2008/12/20/eco-tourism-project-kindles-love-for-nature/

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