Green Pilgrimage: Governing Religious Tourism in India’s Wildlife Sanctuaries

       The issue has gained attention after discussions in the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) regarding the expansion of a religious establishment inside a wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat. The proposal was initially approved but later withdrawn due to concerns that allowing expansion of religious structures inside protected areas could set a precedent across India.

Background: Faith and Ecology in India

India’s religious geography is deeply intertwined with its ecological landscape.

Key Points

• Many temples, caves, shrines, and pilgrimage routes are located inside forests or near protected areas.

• Sacred natural sites such as sacred groves historically functioned as community-protected biodiversity hotspots.

• Traditional belief systems regulated human behaviour and resource extraction.

• These practices helped maintain ecological balance and biodiversity conservation for centuries.

However, in recent decades, these traditions are undergoing transformation.

Growing Pressure on Forest Ecosystems

The rise of mass pilgrimage tourism has created new environmental challenges.

Major Concerns

1. Commercialisation of pilgrimage routes

• Roads, hotels, shops, and infrastructure are being developed near forest ecosystems.

2. Mass tourism replacing traditional rituals

• Earlier pilgrimages were seasonal and community-based.

• Now they attract large-scale tourist inflow throughout the year.

3. Ecological consequences

• Habitat fragmentation

• Increased human-wildlife conflict

• Waste accumulation and plastic pollution

• Water contamination in forest ecosystems

Fragile ecosystems in protected areas are unable to absorb such pressures.

Legal and Policy Framework

India has a strong legal structure governing activities in forests and protected areas.

1. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

• Any construction or diversion of forest land after 1980 is generally treated as encroachment.

• Requires central government approval for non-forest use.

2. Wildlife Protection Act 1972

• Restricts activities inside national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

• Only limited interventions are permitted for conservation or conflict mitigation.

3. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

• Provides strict guidelines to protect tiger reserves and core habitats.

• Infrastructure development inside core areas is highly restricted.

Unregulated religious construction can therefore weaken the legal protection of forest ecosystems.

The Question of Community Rights

Conservation must also respect the rights of forest-dwelling communities.

Forest Rights Act, 2006

• Recognises the rights of Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers.

• Any restriction or diversion of forest land must follow formal recognition of community rights.

Importance of Sacred Natural Sites

• Sacred groves are often managed by local communities.

• Cultural beliefs limit resource extraction, creating informal conservation systems.

Ignoring these rights may marginalise communities that have historically protected these ecosystems.

Why a Blanket Ban is Not Practical

A complete prohibition on religious activity inside forests is problematic.

Reasons

• Many sacred sites existed before protected areas were declared.

• Religious practices are part of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

• Communities have maintained these landscapes through traditional stewardship.

Therefore, policymakers must strike a balance between conservation and cultural rights.

Green Pilgrimage Model

A sustainable approach has been proposed by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and o .

Their guidelines are based on research in tiger reserves such as:

• Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

• Jim Corbett National Park

Core Principles of Green Pilgrimage

1. No Expansion Policy

• No new religious structures in core forest areas.

• No expansion of existing structures.

2. Recognition of Historical Sites

• Long-standing religious sites can continue if they pre-date protected area notification.

• Activities must be strictly regulated.

3. Visitor Regulation

• Limits on the number of pilgrims.

• Restrictions on night travel and vehicle movement.

4. Environmental Controls

• Strong waste management systems.

• Limits on water extraction.

• Proper sanitation infrastructure.

5. Inclusive Governance

Decision-making should involve:

• Forest departments

• Temple authorities

• Local governments

• Local communities

• Conservation organisations

Evidence from Pilot Implementation

Where the guidelines have been implemented, several positive outcomes were observed:

• Reduction in roadkill incidents

• Decline in plastic waste pollution

• Improved water quality in forest streams

• Continued access for pilgrims without displacement of local communities

These examples show that religious activity and conservation can coexist if properly managed.

Way Forward

A balanced policy approach is necessary.

Key Policy Measures

• Zero tolerance for new encroachments inside protected forests

• Case-by-case evaluation of existing religious sites

• Mandatory recognition of forest rights before any decision

• Adoption of green pilgrimage guidelines

• Continuous ecological monitoring

      India’s strength lies in its ability to harmonise ecological conservation with cultural traditions. A carefully regulated approach that protects forests while respecting faith and community rights can ensure that sacred landscapes remain both spiritually significant and ecologically resilient.