PATHANAMTHITTA: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has issued new guidelines for eco-tourism projects located in forest areas with the overall objective of preservation and management of evergreen forests.The Union Environment Ministry had issued the directive to the states to prepare and sent the new set of policy guidelines based on the new norms to the Centre before December 31, 2011, reliable sources said.The new guidelines empower the Forest Department with the powers to locate, preparation of project report and implement the new eco-tourism projects.The new norms stipulate strict monitoring of the eco-tourism projects on the preservation and management of the environment and ecology of the forest area where the project is located.The guidelines noted with serious concern the laxity on the part of a section of the operators of eco-tourism projects in some states, the sources said.A portion of the revenue earnings from the eco-tourism projects should be earmarked for the empowerment and upliftment of the people of the project area, especially the tribals.The new guidelines pointed out that the participation of the local people should be ensured in the day-to-day affairs of the eco-tourism projects for the preservation of forest area.The local people of the eco-tourism projects should be trained on forest preservation so that the tourists who visit the projects could be given an awareness on the safe upkeeping of the forests through the role of tourist guides. The guidelines cautioned on the type of tourists who visit the eco-tourism projects, who often belong to mere casual visitors or sight-seers.The new guidelines of the Centre suggested dress-code for the tourists, who should take care in wearing light-shade dresses to prevent scare among the wildlife.Prevention on the use of horn and throwing of plastic items should be enforced and monitoring should be undertaken by the Forest Department personnel in eco-tourism projects, the new guidelines pointed out.
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