Sustainable Management of Fresh Water Habitat Ecotourism Involving Social Communities

Humans are always attracted towards nature since beginning and have desire to explore nature while enjoying. Ecotourism, an upcoming new approach in tourism from the fast developing economies, is rapidly entering into consumer market. Ecotourism ideally should be for educational travel, with specific aims of studying, admiring, and appreciating the cultural and geographical history of the natural environment, taking care not to disturb the integrity of ecosystems.  However, recently fresh water habitat   -  rivers, lakes and waterfall are being exploited for sport fisheries/ recreation and reservoirs for hydro power /revenue generation without caring for the sustainability of these aquatic resources. These anthropogenic activities are leading to loss and destruction of natural flora and fauna including aquatic biodiversity and thereby their landscape beauty and topography.

In a beautiful hill station Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra state of India,  two  water bodies were visited for studying the effects  of anthropogenic  activities of local people  and tourists  and  observed their effects on natural resources and overall environment. The lake like structure in Wai Dhom dam was found so virgin and natural looking with serene impression giving heavenly experience with no signs of pollution and destruction in and around the lake. The site of Venna lake on the other hand, which has been developed as tourist place having boating facilities, horse riding, numerous stalls for games, food vendors, and nearby parking for vehicles, has lost its natural serenity and attraction. Natural embankment tress were found cut, concrete platforms constructed and thereby natural topography of lake was found as highly disturbed. These manmade commercial activities have led   to disturbance and destruction of Lake Flora and Fauna, loss of adjoining greeneries and environmental pollution. There is urgent need for involving the local communities and tourists, through awareness programs about the Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) and sustainable management of eco sites while enjoying the nature and creating livelihood. Simultaneously, government policies and law for protection of these water bodies should also be implemented effectively with the support of social local communities.