Karnataka Forest Department temporarily bans trekking at sites lacking online booking facility

This move comes in response to environmental experts’ concerns about the impact on forests and the potential harm to water sources caused by uncontrolled tourism in densely forested hilly areas and the Western Ghats.

#KumaraParvata trekking starting point 😾
Long weekend vibes 🫠#LongWeekend pic.twitter.com/DThjj7upKd

— Mister C (@misterc_speaks) January 26, 2024

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The problems

In a statement, Karnataka’s Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said: “In recent times, many young people in the state have started trekking to forest hilltops, leading to overcrowding on weekends.”

He noted: “Unfortunately, these visitors are littering the nearby villages and ecologically sensitive areas with plastic carry bags, bottles, plates, leftover food, and other waste, posing a threat to wildlife.”

Pointing at the recent record footfall at Kodagu’s Kumaraparvatha, Khandre said: “Thousands of trekkers visited Kumaraparvata, and it went viral on social media. Some of the visitors even erected tents and stayed overnight on the hills.”

He added: “Environmental experts have expressed their concerns about the survival of the forest due to such activities. If a large number of people continue to visit the densely forested hilly areas and the Western Ghats every week, it will be a big challenge for the Forest Department staff to control and check them.”

He noted: “This also harms the environment, and there is a danger of polluting water sources.”

#Karnataka: Following the recent record influx of trek enthusiasts at #Kodagu’s Kumaraparvata on 26 January, the state government has temporarily banned treks at sites lacking online booking facilities.

This ban will be in place until the forest department rolls out a Standard… pic.twitter.com/Z7Op4XCTE8

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 30, 2024

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The order

Khandre continued: “In this regard, it has been suggested to implement an online booking system at all trekking sites in the state and limit the number of visitors.”

He also said: “Additionally, it has been recommended to temporarily block treks at all trekking sites that do not have an online booking facility until a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is formulated.”

According to the Forest Department: “There are 23 officially recognised trekking sites in Karnataka.”

It elaborated: “There are five trekking points in Belagavi, four each in the Chikkamagaluru and Tumakuru districts, two in Ramangara, three each in Ballari and Chikkaballapur, and one each in Kolar and Bengaluru Rural.”