Thenmala Ecotourism Project

A detailed analysis of Thenmala Ecotourism Project in Kerala

1. THENMALA ECO TOURISM PROJECT BY HAMSA.E MOHAMMED ASHARAF B.A CHANDRAKALA

2. Thenmala Eco Tourism Located in K ollam district of Kerala ‘Then’ means H oney and ‘Mala’ means H illock Thenmala is a small village at the foothills of Western Ghats and for the most part, a forest area with a lot of human interventions at the edge Peppara dam of Kallada irrigation projects of the State is located here. The water spread area of this basin is 22 sq . km with in the famous Shenduruni Wildlife Sanctuary, Thenmala ecotourism project is established around this water body . It is the first planned Eco Tourism in the country

3. Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society ( TEPS ) Organizing body of the project Established in 1998 1 st phase – 1999 2 nd phase – 2000 Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society (TEPS) is a society registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary Scientific and Charitable Societies Act 1955 TEPS adopted a strategy to co-ordinate with Forest Department, the Irrigation Department and Tourism Department TEPS measured Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI ) at the early stage

4. Vana Samrakshna Samithi ensuring protection of nature and local benefits from ecotourism MoT chairs the society while Vice Chairman is Secretary to Tourism of Govt. of Kerala General body members consists of Secretary to Forestry & Irrigation, Director of DoT , District Collector, Local MP, MLA, Panchayat President etc. Currently there are about hundred workers under TEPS, 90 % of them are local people

5. Attractions and Activities Vacation seekers paradise Lush green forest Park Adventure Park Children’s Park Butterfly Safari Musical Dancing Fountain Boating Trekking Hiking Night Camping Ayurvedic Centres etc.

6. Project Background A separate ecotourism directorate has been created Developed awareness about ecotourism through medias, seminars and workshops T he cooperation of departments such as Forest, Irrigation and Tourism It is about 100 sq. km and harbors of large varieties of flora and fauna within Shenduruni WLS Eco friendly General Tourism is planned in the periphery of WLS to avoid the pressure of huge crowd The real eco tourism is take place within the sanctuary – only for eco tourists Facilities such as boating in the Sanctuary reservoir, boardwalk, sculpture garden, amphitheatre, Musical Dancing Fountain, etc. are also provided at Thenmala for soft eco tourists.

7. Objectives To develop Thenmala dam and its surroundings as a major tourist destination To promote ecotourism on the basis of the principles of ecological sustainability in the area surrounding Thenmala To have a well planned tourism destination with the emphasis on sustainable tourism development as a model for other destination development programs.

8. Components Eco friendly General Tourism – Gardens, pathways, fountains, statues, ropeways, artificial waterfall, Ayurvedic centre etc. ( Zoning into three )` Culture – Amphitheatre, Musical Dancing Fountains, Shop Court, Restaurant Leisure – Pathways, Gardens, Suspension Bridge, Sculptures Adventure – Bike Shop, Lotus Pond, Elevated Walkway, Rock Climb etc. Eco Tourism – 20 acres forestry areas for trekking, Environmental Education Study Centres, Boating, Kallada Dam, Zoological park, Deer Rehabilitation Centre, Palaruvi etc. Pilgrimage Tourism – ‘Eco Pilgrim Tourist Circuit’ including Mangrove Study Centre and Accommodation facilities

9. Why Thenmala is an Eco Tourism Destination ? An eco tourism destination should be : Nature based Ecologically sustainable Local community participation Education and Research oriented

10. Awards National Tourism awards 2001-2002 - the most Eco Friendly    Tourism Organisation award for Kerala tourism National Tourism awards 2003-2004 - the category of Best Ecotourism Practices UNWTO selected as one of the 64 best practice from 47 countries for the sustainable development of Ecotourism Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold award for 2003-04 - the category Environmental Ecotourism /Travel related

11. WEBSITE www.thenmalaecotourism.com

12. Important Issues

13. Source (Journal) : Thanal – Towards Zero Waste Thenmala

14. Important Issues Graveyard issue Migration of fauna Degradation of environment by throwing waste materials Deforestation Lack of coordination between the departments Minimum Job opportunities for local people Overnight program (Camp Fire)

15. Suggestions Ensure full participation from the local community Needs to be a focused efforts towards the preservation of the environment and the prevention of ecological degradation Limits the number of visitors in each ecotourism spots Ensure an efficient coordination between the governing bodies Create awareness regarding the need of protection of environment among the tourist and host For the economic development of the region, the Government and Panchayat should take initiative to share profit and invest in the region Garbage wastes can be transformed to Bio Gas plants

16. Sum up…….. It was a significant initiative taken by Kerala Govt. Zoning of destination became a model for other ecotourism destinations But, Thenmala fails to qualify as a major ecotourism destination due to some weakness – Local participation, employment participation, political involvement, lack of proper waste management etc.