BHUBANESWAR: Chief Secretary BK Patnaik emphasised the need to protect natural environment and sanctity of the landscapes while developing wildlife and eco-tourism projects in the State. Patnaik, who reviewed the bio-sphere management programmes at a high-level meeting here, advised the Tourism and Forest and Environment departments to create awareness among the people about the importance of forest and wildlife and the need for their protection. The people should be educated so that protection of forest and wildlife will provide them sustainable livelihood. The State Employment Mission has taken up eco-tourism as a trade for capacity building. The Mission with the help of Tourism Department has trained 100 tourist guides for Nandankanan, 40 for Chilika Lake and 42 as special eco-guides. In Similipal bio-sphere reserve, 10 units of eco-guides have also been trained during 2010-11. They have been supplied with books, monogrammed T-shirts and caps for conducting the tours. The Chief Secretary directed the Forest and Environment Department to include eco-tourism guide training course in the work plan of 2011-12. He also directed the Department to make an assessment of the facilities that can be provided to tourists without disturbing ecological balance of natural habitat. Secretary, Forest and Environment, Aurobindo Behera and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P.N.Padhi attended.
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