Date:20/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/20/stories/2008052051990300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Response to community eco-tourism project good

Staff Reporter

The quantum leap in revenues proving their viability

CBET projects are a sustainable source of income for VSS, says forest officer
Stress on participatory approach to protecting forests

Kakinada: The Forest Department has laid renewed emphasis on Community-based Eco-Tourism (CBET) Project in agency areas and parts of the coastal belt, enthused by the good response to them. CBET projects are successfully running at Maredumilli, Rampa, Masanithippa and Balusuthippa with the active involvement of Vana Samrakshana Samitis (VSS), according to District Forest Officer Anand Mohan.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Mr. Anand said CBET projects were a sustainable source of income for VSS and more people were evincing interest in eco-tourism, which also helped in spreading awareness about the importance of protecting the forests.

The quantum leap in revenues garnered by CBET in the last two years proved the financial viability of such projects. For instance, the net revenue of CBET project at Maredumilli went up from Rs 13,000 in 2005-06 to Rs 1,78,710 in 2006-07 and Rs 3,38,032 last year (2007-08). The number of visitors was 2,600, 16,353 and 32,377 respectively.

Mr. Anand Mohan said the Kakinada forest division which was spread over 3,380 hectares out of 10,000 plus hectares in the district, had a rich variety of flora and fauna thriving in semi evergreen and riparian forests and mangroves that straddle the district’s entire coast. Ten teams of the Forest Department were vested with the responsibility of checking smuggling of non-timber forest produce and they have been doing a good job with helpfrom the VSS.

The DFO said the Forest Department was concentrating on protecting the forests in a participatory approach and has been achieving commendable results. The objective was to help forest dwellers generate regular income by adding value to forest produce and serve as guardians of the forest wealth.

Value addition

The department’s initiatives aimed at providing livelihood security to the forest dwelling communities through VSS have been yielding good results. A large number of VSS were making plates from adda leaves and vermi-compost and were able to generate appreciable levels of income by adding value to the raw material after being trained in the respective vocations. Similarly, several VSS have undertaken bamboo furniture making and tasted success.