Aligning religious tourism with ecology: A green pilgrimage model for sustainable management
India's religious geography often overlaps with ecologically sensitive areas, creating conflict between faith and conservation. Rising visitor numbers and commercialisation of pilgrimage routes are intensely pressuring forest ecosystems. A recent case involving a religious establishment expansion in a Gujarat sanctuary highlighted this tension. The article advocates for a 'green pilgrimage model' with a clear no-expansion principle for new constructions in core forest areas. It emphasizes recognizing long-standing sites subject to strict, impact-based regulation, including caps on pilgrim numbers and robust controls on waste and water use. Multi-stakeholder governance and mandatory settlement of forest rights are crucial for sustainable management.
Key Points
- Religious sites and pilgrimage routes in India frequently coincide with ecologically sensitive protected areas, leading to environmental pressure from mass tourism.
- The Forest (Conservation) Act and Wildlife (Protection) Act generally treat new constructions on forest land as encroachment, highlighting the legal conflict.
- A 'green pilgrimage model' is proposed, advocating a strict no-expansion principle for new structures in core forest areas.
- The model suggests regulating existing long-standing sites with pilgrim caps, waste management, and restrictions on transport.
- Effective governance requires multi-stakeholder involvement and mandatory recognition of forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Exam Facts
- The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 and the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 are key legal frameworks.
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) norms are relevant for protected areas.
- The Forest Rights Act, 2006 mandates recognition of rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
- Guidelines on religious tourism within tiger reserves were published in 2023 by ATREE and WWF.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.