Promoting ecotourism in the buffer zone areas of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve: an option to resolve people-policy conflict

The fascination for mountains, breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural d iversity, socioeconomic traditions, history and lifestyles attract mountain eers, trekkers, naturalists ascetics, explorers and cultural tourists from all over the world to the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) and adjoining areas. Expedition/mountaineering and tourism, as a livelihood option for t he people living in the buffer zone areas of NDBR, was important, next to a nimal husbandry and agriculture. Until 1960, Bhotiya people in the buffer z one of NDBR and adjoining areas had a good trade relationship with Tibet. C losure of Indo-Tibetan trade due to the Indo-China war of 1962, followed by imposition of conservation policies due to creation of Nanda Devi National Park in 1982 and Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in 1988, caused all consumpt ive uses and expedition/mountaineering to be banned in the core zone, which has not only affected the local economy to a large extent but also created conflict between local people and reserve authorities. The ban on tourism is the most severe concern of the local people as it provided significant i ncome. Of the three complementary functions of a biosphere reserve, viz. co nservation, development and logistic support (research and education), the management is biased towards achieving conservation by legal protection whi ch may not be sustainable in the long term. People have started raising a v oice against the ban on expedition/tourism in the core zone but have not ye t damaged the core zone area. This paper deals with the history of expediti ons and the impact on the local economy, identification of model ecotrekkin g/expedition routes and potential sites, and designing appropriate strategi es/action plans for sustainable ecotourism. This will not only help to reso lve the local people-policy conflicts and improve the local economy but wil l also help to achieve the biodiversity conservation goal.