the goan I network
PANAJI
In order to increase the eco-tourism with the cooperative support from locals, the Forest department has decided to set up wooden cottages in wildlife sanctuaries and train local youth as a nature guide.
“There will be cottages at the entry point of Cotigao, Netravali, Mhadei, Collem and Bondla wildlife sanctuaries,” informed the additional principal chief conservator of forests, Santosh Kumar.
The cottages will have two rooms and basic facilities. The local youth having a minimum 10 pass or fail qualification will be provided training as forest guide plus some basic catering skills, added Santosh Kumar.
Our basic concept is to incorporate people to gain their livelihood from forest so that they themselves will come forward to protect the forest, said Kumar.
The tourist has to spend around Rs 1,250 for one day of which Rs 250 will be given to the guide, said Santosh Kumar.
He said that the budget for this project will be around Rs 4.5 crore and proposal has been sent to government for approval.
He further informed that the Forest department is planning to have a tie-up with the Goa Tourism Development Cooperation and planning to have an online booking facility for the forest tour.
Meanwhile, the Forest department has also had a plan to set up a ‘city forest’ (Nagarvan) projects one each in two districts. This city forest will be a mini display of forest diversity of Goa. In North Goa, a place on Miramar beach has been identified for city forest project and for South Goa the place is yet to be identified.
Sometimes tourist doesn’t have time go to the forest with a drive of one and a half hour. So to give them a feel of the forest this city forest concept has been developed, said Santosh Kumar. This city forest will have a walking park and gym equipment also, he added.
