Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :

Quantification of the Economic and Ecological Services of Eco-tourism as a Livelihood Option for the Sustainability of the Rhino Population in Manas Tiger Reserve, Assam

Area of research :

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Focus area :

Biodiversity conservation including issues of Alien and invasive species and Human-wildlife interface

Principal Investigator :

Dr Ajay Kumar, Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Assam

Timeline Start Year :

2019

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

Manas National Park was declared in 1990 by inclusion of nearby RFs and erstwhile Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. The Area is 950 km.sq. {core area of Tiger Reserve (2,837 km.sq.)} and has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1985 and a Biosphere Reserve in 1989. The main types of vegetation are Sub-Himalayan Alluvial Semi-evergreen Forest. East Himalayan Mixed Moist, Dry Deciduous Forests, and Grasslands. The Manas Basin in the west of the Park is frequently flooded during the monsoon but never for a very long duration due to the good slope. The ecosystem of Manas National Park is under threat. PI should study and assess other types of services other than ecosystem services for the local communities that reside around Manas Tiger Reserve that could sustain the local communities and wean them from their dependency from ecological services such as NTFP. One such service is that of eco-tourism. The contribution of eco-tourism as a main source of livelihood of local communities could be studied under the project.

Objective: i. To assess the socio-economic status of local communities residing outside /periphery of Manas Tiger Reserve. ii. To estimate the economic value of ecosystem for sustainability of Rhino population in Manas Tiger Reserve. iii. To assess the contribution of Ecological Services and Economic Services as Livelihood Options for the local communities living in buffer area of Manas National Park. iv. Dependency analysis (Survey) for wild fruits, Medicinal Plant, fuel wood & fodders, number of Tourist etc. v. To assess the contribution of local communities living in the buffer area of Manas Tiger Reserve. vi. Dependency analysis (Survey) for wild fruits, Medicinal Plant, fuel wood & fodders, number of Tourist etc.

Co-PI:

Dr Dhruba Jyoti Das, Scientist, Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Assam

Total Budget (INR):

 19,61,560

Outcome/Output:

Output: Report on the sustainability of the local communities by eco-tourism as a livelihood option. Recommend specific measures that could be implemented/taken up for the livelihood and sustainability of the local population outside/around Manas Tiger Reserve. Recommend other livelihood options for local communities around Manas National Park to wean away from the dependency on NFTPs in Manas Tiger Reserve. Outcome: Other options of economic services that can provide a livelihood for the local communities around MTR

Organizations involved

Implementing Agency :

Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Assam

Funding Agency :

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC)

Related Research

FIST Life Sciences - Project
Design, Synthesis and Biological Assessment of Novel Anti-Lung Cancer Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor- Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (EGFR-PROTACs)
Investigation of in vivo efficacy and probable mechanism of action for newly discovered antibiotic against MDR bacterial pathogens
Kompetitive Allele-specific PCR marker development and QTLs validation for high grain iron and zinc contents in wheat
A comprehensive assessment of nickel uptake in Cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), through study of cell death, gene interaction, epigenetic changes and analysis of ameliorating capacities of a designed "Cerium-silica nanocomposite” using stress training principles.