Goa

There’s very little room and glory left in trying to introduce India’s proverbial and not merely its demographic beach destination. Goa spans over 3,702 sq kms, lining India’s west coast and housing mellow people and an innate holiday culture. Realising that eco-tourism is imperative, both for the ecological sustenance of the destination as well as for presenting Goa in a unique manner to the demanding international tourists, the state tourism board has been aggressively pursuing the cause of eco-tourism. This has lent a completely new flavour to a destination otherwise renowned as India’s premium beach retreat.

Leading The Eco-Trail

For Goa though, eco-tourism is just a synonym for the very essence of the destination, be it sun, sand or surf. Perhaps, what’s changed is the ambit of eco-tourism which hitherto was a complacently narrow one, embracing the beaches. It’s been one long and hedonistic party stretching back to the 60’s but the hippies have gotten haircuts and sand stretches have gotten dirty, crowded and familiar. The state suffered a fall of around 20 per cent in inbound tourist numbers post September 11. Taking quick cognition of a stagnant theme as well as statistics, the state looked to coin a new idea and a new mantra, ‘Go Goa-365 days of the year’. Eco-tourism is an indispensable element of this new approach. The emphasis now, according to Goa’s ministry of tourism is on eco-tourism with wildlife, backwater and the hinterland taking precedence over the beaches. Eco-tourism has received special attention by way of budgetary provisions and projects for the development of interior green-spots like waterfalls, sanctuaries and lakes. Projects for the development of Nanda Lake at Curchorem, Alorna Fort and Harvalem waterfalls, which have significant touristic value have already been taken up. Infrastructural development for adventure tourism along the coast as well as equally magnificent interior hilly areas are also in the pipeline. So the introspection for an eco-tourism driven Goan revival is quite literal. A concerted effort to promote unconventional tourism products like backwaters, heritage houses and a host of other innovative products have been packaged and designed to lure the tourists.

The state government itself is keen on ecological reform. Recently a new law enforced a ban on thin plastic bags in Goa. The result of campaigning by the Plastic Free Goa Campaign, plastic bags below 100 microns will no longer be handed out by shopkeepers. Instead customers will be charged for them in the hope they will either re-use them or use alternatives such as baskets. It is hoped that the move will help to combat the proliferation of plastic bags that litter the beaches on India’s west coast. A solution still needs to be found for the problem of the millions of plastic water bottles disposed by tourists. It is however not without it’s dilemmas. For instance, the proposal of the Ministry of Environment and Forests that all areas within a radius of ten kms. from the boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks be notified as eco-fragile zones under the Environment Protection Act 1986, has adverse implications for Goa because it would virtually remove most of the available land from the purview of development. What is required here is an appreciation of the fact that Goa has been able to sustain its forest cover which now stands at 38 per cent.

The Eco-Initiatives

The state’s tourism department does not have too much to worry about as far as its eco-tourism resources are concerned, however Goa is steeped in biological diversity. Apart from the marine ecosystem of the coastal waters of the Arabian sea, Goa is home to a genetic diversity of several cash crops such as Mango, Cashew, Pepper, Coconut, Arecanut and other tropical vegetation. The Carambolim Lake, the Mandovi and Zuari Rivers and the coastal estuaries sustain a wide variety of aquatic flora and fauna. There are mangrove forests and paddy fields with the accompanying biodiversity. Nature has endowed Goa with scenic beauty, geographical diversity and a unique wealth of flora and fauna. The state is rich in faunal species, including an abundant bird life. The White Bellied Sea Eagle, Osprey, Spoonbill, Sandpiper, Redshark, Seagull etc., are among the major birds found here. Also found are the Crow Pheasant, Brahminy Kite, Sunbird, Bulbul, Babbler and a variety of Butterflies, Moths etc. The coastal areas of the state, with the rocky, muddy and sandy shores, provide a fascinating variety of marine organisms including corals, mollusks, echinoderms and fishes.

However rapid industrialisation, tourism and resource overuse, have had an adverse impact on the environment of Goa. Industrial effluent, mining, agro chemicals, domestic waste, etc. have polluted the air and water. The state is suffering from the problem of heavy metals, and the urban air is seriously polluted leading to smog-type conditions in early mornings and an increase in respiratory problems. Goa’s biodiversity was vanishing, which is why eco-tourism has become the developmental paradigm of a reformed tourism industry.

The International Eco-tourism Society (TIES), defines eco-tourism as a responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and sustain the well-being of local people. There is still vast ambiguity stigmatised to this phrase and therein lies the danger. It has allowed the tourism industry access into hitherto untouched areas around the world without having to compromise its raison’d etre, profit. Destruction of sand dunes and an erosion prone coast is what is left of Goa today. In 1996 the National Committee on Tourism, Planning Commission of India observed that the natural charm of coastal areas and marine area is being adversely affected by massive tourist development. Goa can be cited as an example. The beach resort facilities are spread all along the coastline of Goa. They undermine the natural sand dunes eco-systems of the coastal areas. The uncontrolled spurt in construction activity provoked by tourist influx in Goa, particularly the extraction of sand dunes for development works, has led to a continual erosion of coastal areas by the relentless sea.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests lays strong emphasis on people’s participation to conserve the environment. Special programmes like social forestry, Eco-clubs, Eco-Task Force, Paryavaran Vahinis (Environment Brigades) etc. have been initiated. Eco-Task Forces of ex-servicemen is a joint venture of the ministry of environment and forests, ministry of defence and the concerned state governments to undertake ecological restoration work in selected environmentally degraded areas, particularly in unapproachable and hostile terrains.

As in many other parts of the country, developmental activities and human pressure, including tourism, have had an adverse impact on the environment of Goa. The two main rivers Mandovi and Zuari, which drain 69 per cent of the state area now harbour on their banks 50 per cent of the population and a large number of industries.

Protected Wildlife Zones

Around 755 sq. kms or 20 per cent of the total geographical area of Goa has been constituted into wildlife protected areas to afford complete protection to the natural fauna and flora and to conserve the unique biological diversity of the state. These areas are located along the verdant western ghats, one of the richest reservoirs of biodiversity in the world. The sections that lie within Goa (the Sahyadris) and which dominate its eco-system, readily reflect this bewildering complexity in plant, animal and bird life.

The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary with just eight sq. km. area, Bondla is rather small. However, it boasts of a mini zoo, deer safari park, formal gardens, botanic gardens and eco-tourism cottages. Late evenings and nights are very pleasant Bondla is a paradise for eco-tourists. The area is covered with moist deciduous forests, with small patches of evergreens and canes along the nullahs. The state tree Terminalia Crenulata (Matti) and Rosewood are common here. Gaur, the state animal is frequently seen here. Panther, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Toddy Cat, Deer, Wild Boars, Porcupines, Ant Eaters and Squirrels are some of the other animals found here. Over a hundred species of birds are also residents of this area.

Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, jointly form the largest contiguous wildlife protected area, covering 240 sq. kms in Goa. Thick forests varying from moist deciduous to evergreen types can be seen here. The dense vegetation provides ample cover to wild animals. If you are lucky, the largest herbivore, the magnificent Gaur can be seen here. Other herbivores found here are Deer, Wild Boar and many more. The carnivores including the Tiger, Panther, Jungle Cat and Leopard Cat can also be seen. By and large the sightings are poor. Besides flora and fauna there are many important geographical and historical features in this sanctuary.

Dudhsagar Falls is the highest and largest waterfall of Goa, hidden in the bowl shaped evergreen valley in the Western Ghats. Hidden away in an evergreen valley in the western ghats, the highest and largest waterfall of Goa, Dudhsagar, cascades down 306 mts. in two segments, ten km from Collem is a trekking paradise.

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary spreads over 1.78 sq.kms, this sanctuary is located on the western end of the island of Chorao along River Mandovi near Panaji. The whole area has mangrove vegetation of 14 different species and is covered by a network of criss-cross water channels having tidal variations. It is a suitable habitat for plankton, shrimps, prawns and small fish. During winter, between November and January, migratory birds flock in thousands to feed on the banks of river Mandovi, adjoining the sanctuary. Apart from that, a number of resident birds and a few animals can also be seen inside the sanctuary.

By Bhisham Mansukhani