We all saw through social media what havoc this year’s monsoon wrecked in Himachal Pradesh. From landslides and flash floods to infrastructural losses and roads caving in, the beautiful state and its people went through it all. Now that things are slowly returning to normalcy, people are looking forward to visiting the state. With the safari season coming in, is it safe to visit the national parks and sanctuaries here?
Himachal Pradesh’s National Park And Sanctuaries
5 National Parks In Himachal Pradesh
- Great Himalayan National Park
- Pin Valley National Park
- Khirganga National Park
- Inderkilla National Park
- Simbalbara National Park
22 Wildlife Sanctuaries In Himachal Pradesh
- Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary
- The Churdhar Sanctuary
- Kalatop-Khajjiar Sanctuary
- Daranghati Sanctuary
- Kanwar Sanctuary
- Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary
- Rakcham Chitkul Sanctuary
- Majathal Sanctuary
- Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary
- Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kais Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
- Bandli Sanctuary
- Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary
- Gobind Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Naina Devi Wildlife Sanctuary
- Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary
- Chail Wildlife Sanctuary
- Manali Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary
- Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary
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Is It Safe To Visit?
To prevent any degradation, studies will be conducted by specialists from the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment in Almora (Uttarakhand) and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun. This will be done to determine the carrying capacity of the ecologically vulnerable national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali, Renukaji, and Simbalbara (Sirmaur).
The choice was made in accordance with instructions established by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, which were distributed to all 13 Himalayan states in 2020 and instructed them to do carrying capacity analyses of hill stations, including urban areas and environmentally vulnerable areas that would experience degradation.
Although national parks and animal sanctuaries are classified as protected places, it was deemed necessary to evaluate their carrying capacity due to the growing number of tourists and tourism-related activities.
It has become clear that there is a need to limit human involvement in natural environments, where unchecked construction activity can have devastating effects. Concerns have been raised about some localities’ promotion of tourism without considering their carrying capacity. (As per The Tribune)
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What are your views?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva