Context:
Growing religious tourism and commercialization of pilgrimage routes are placing increasing pressure on India’s forest ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Policymakers and conservationists are exploring ways to balance faith-based tourism with ecological conservation, particularly in protected areas such as wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves.
Key Highlights:
- Policy Deliberations and Governance Initiatives
- The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) discussed issues related to religious structures located inside wildlife sanctuaries.
- A proposal regarding the expansion of a religious establishment inside a sanctuary in Gujarat triggered wider policy discussions.
- The Environment Minister proposed developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for proposals involving religious institutions within forest areas.
- Ecological Pressure from Pilgrimage Tourism
- Rising visitor numbers and commercialization of pilgrimage routes are increasing pressure on fragile ecosystems.
- Increased infrastructure development, vehicle movement, and waste generation threaten wildlife habitats and biodiversity.
- Green Pilgrimage Model
- ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment) and WWF released guidelines in 2023 promoting a Green Pilgrimage Model.
- Key principles include:
- No new constructions in core forest areas.
- Recognition of long-standing religious sites predating protected areas, with strict ecological impact regulation.
- Role of Communities and Cultural Traditions
- India’s religious geography often overlaps with ecologically sensitive landscapes.
- Traditional belief systems historically regulated access to sacred groves and natural sites, enabling coexistence with nature.
- Conservation strategies must incorporate local communities, temple authorities, and religious leaders.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Sacred Groves
- Patches of forests protected by local communities due to religious beliefs.
- Found across India, especially in Western Ghats, Northeast India, and Central India.
- Important for biodiversity conservation and preservation of endemic species.
- Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- Regulates diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.
- Any construction or diversion after 1980 requires central government approval.
- Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006
- Recognizes individual and community forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
- Ensures their customary access to forest resources and cultural practices.
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- Provides legal framework for protection of wildlife and establishment of protected areas such as national parks, sanctuaries, and tiger reserves.
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Statutory body under the Wildlife Protection Act responsible for tiger conservation and management of tiger reserves.
- Green Pilgrimage
- Model of religious tourism promoting environmental sustainability, waste management, and reduced ecological footprint.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Conflict Between Religious Tourism and Environmental Conservation
- Mass tourism leads to:
- Habitat degradation
- Waste accumulation
- Disturbance to wildlife
- Infrastructure development such as roads, hotels, and parking facilities may fragment ecosystems.
- Constitutional and Cultural Dimensions
- Religious practices are protected under Article 25 (Freedom of Religion).
- However, these rights must align with environmental protection and sustainable development principles.
- Governance Challenges
- Lack of clear guidelines for religious activities within protected areas.
- Difficulty in balancing community traditions, religious sentiments, and ecological conservation.
- Role of Community-Based Conservation
- Local communities often act as custodians of sacred natural sites.
- Integrating traditional ecological knowledge can strengthen conservation outcomes.
- Policy Measures for Sustainable Religious Tourism
- Restrict private vehicle access in sensitive zones.
- Promote eco-friendly transport such as electric buses.
- Temple trusts should implement scientific waste management systems.
- Awareness campaigns involving religious leaders and pilgrims.
- Way Forward
- Develop a national framework for eco-sensitive religious tourism.
- Strengthen multi-stakeholder governance involving forest departments, temple authorities, NGOs, and local communities.
- Promote green pilgrimage infrastructure and sustainable visitor management.
- Encourage community stewardship and participatory conservation models.
UPSC Relevance:
• GS Paper I – Indian Society: Role of religion in shaping cultural landscapes.
• GS Paper II – Governance: Policy frameworks for managing religious institutions and public resources.
• GS Paper III – Environment & Ecology: Biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism.