BENGALURU: Days after witnessing a mad rush of thousands of trekkers at Kumara Parvatha peak in Dakshina Kannada and conservationists slamming the state government for allowing such a large number of people into an ecologically sensitive area, Forest minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday ordered a temporary ban on trekking activities in forest areas other than those trekking routes that can be booked online.Communicating the decision, the forest minister has written to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) for effective implementation of the decision.
Noting that allowing such a large number of trekkers into forest areas especially those located along the eco-sensitive regions of the Western Ghats would result in severe damage to the endemic flora and fauna. “If the same trend continues every week, this would not only damage the environment but also pollute the waterbodies and river origin places in the region. Hence, activities such as trekking be regulated,” the minister said in his letter. Currently, the forest department is allowing only 150 trekkers in each of the trekking locations managed by the Karnataka Eco Tourism Board.
Acknowledging that more youngsters are getting into adventure activities in recent times, minister Eshwar Khandre said, “Their passion and enthusiasm should not damage the forest or ecosystem. Unregulated entry of trekkers is resulting in an increased density of people at these locations. Also, several trekkers’ teams were seen dumping plastic waste, leftover food, bottles and other solid waste around villages located on the fringes of these forest areas. This would jeopardise the lives of wildlife in the region. Also, the forest department faces an uphill task in screening and checking all these trekkers. Hence, we are imposing a temporary ban on trekking activities in all forest areas where there is no online booking provision currently. This includes Kumaraparvata, Moorkannu Gudda and other areas.”
The forest department said that trekkers can book trekking activities in selected forest areas by visiting the website of the Karnataka Eco Tourism Board
Noting that allowing such a large number of trekkers into forest areas especially those located along the eco-sensitive regions of the Western Ghats would result in severe damage to the endemic flora and fauna. “If the same trend continues every week, this would not only damage the environment but also pollute the waterbodies and river origin places in the region. Hence, activities such as trekking be regulated,” the minister said in his letter. Currently, the forest department is allowing only 150 trekkers in each of the trekking locations managed by the Karnataka Eco Tourism Board.
Acknowledging that more youngsters are getting into adventure activities in recent times, minister Eshwar Khandre said, “Their passion and enthusiasm should not damage the forest or ecosystem. Unregulated entry of trekkers is resulting in an increased density of people at these locations. Also, several trekkers’ teams were seen dumping plastic waste, leftover food, bottles and other solid waste around villages located on the fringes of these forest areas. This would jeopardise the lives of wildlife in the region. Also, the forest department faces an uphill task in screening and checking all these trekkers. Hence, we are imposing a temporary ban on trekking activities in all forest areas where there is no online booking provision currently. This includes Kumaraparvata, Moorkannu Gudda and other areas.”
The forest department said that trekkers can book trekking activities in selected forest areas by visiting the website of the Karnataka Eco Tourism Board
