Aligning religious tourism with ecology: A call for sustainable pilgrimage and conservation
India's religious geography is deeply intertwined with its ecological one, with sacred sites often located in sensitive habitats. Rising visitor numbers and commercialization are pressuring forest ecosystems, transforming seasonal rituals into mass tourism. The challenge is to govern this intersection without undermining ecological integrity or forest-dwelling communities' rights. A recent debate in the SCNBWL regarding religious structures in sanctuaries highlighted this tension. A clear no-expansion principle for core forest areas is recommended, while allowing for recognition of long-standing sites under strict, impact-based regulation. Guidelines from ATREE and WWF propose a "green pilgrimage model" focusing on caps on pilgrim numbers, transport restrictions, waste management, and multi-stakeholder governance to integrate ecological protection with cultural continuity.
Key Points
- Religious sites in India are often located in ecologically sensitive areas, facing pressure from increasing religious tourism.
- The debate in the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) highlights the tension between religious expansion and conservation.
- A "no-expansion principle" is recommended for new constructions or enlargement of existing structures within core forest areas.
- Long-standing religious sites pre-dating protected area notifications should be regulated strictly, with caps on pilgrim numbers and robust waste management.
- Effective governance requires multi-stakeholder mechanisms involving forest departments, temple authorities, local governments, and communities.
Exam Facts
- The Forest (Conservation) Act (post-1980) treats construction/expansion on forest land as encroachment.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and National Tiger Conservation Authority norms govern interventions in protected areas.
- The Forest Rights Act, 2006 mandates recognition of rights of Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers.
- Ashoka Trust for Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) published guidelines on religious tourism in tiger reserves in 2023.
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