The Namche Conference: May 24-26, 2003 People, Park, and Mountain Ecotourism Participants and Presentations: Mr. Bala Chandran

Mr. Bala Chandran (Tribandrum, Kerala, India) Nature Trust; email: parvati@vsnl.com Abstract Treading carefully: A strategy to study Thenmala Ecotourism Project from a community perspective The Tenmala Ecotoursim Project (TEP) with an estimated cost of IRS 1560 million in Kerala, is touted as the first major ecotourism initiative by any state government in India. Environmentalists are sceptical about the possible outcome and impact of the project on the human and other biotic communities in the area. As is the case with many such projects, the interests of the communities as stakeholders have been given only cursory attention before implementation of the project. The paper outlines the TEP project and offers a strategy for understanding the community perspective on the issue. The strategy could be applicable elsewhere.

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