The information on status and trends on allocation (management) and utility of sites in “Forest” and “Other Wooded Land” for addressing social function helps to understand the state and changes in the bondage between the society and the Forest. It also measures the extent to which forest management recognizes and respects social needs.
A. Global Classification and Definitions (FRA 2005)
Sites for Social Functions |
A site or facility designated and or managed for cultural, social (recreation and tourism) and spiritual needs in “Forest” and Other Wooded Land”. |
Source: FAO. 2004. Terms and Definition FRA-2005. FRA Working paper 73. Rome
B. National Data Sources
The two variables (number of sites and visitors) related to this table directly link societies with forests, help to increase environment understanding and appreciation and enhance options for support for conservation. However, information on these variables is only available for recreation related to protected areas in the forests. The data for this table has been taken mainly from following sources.
Information |
Data Sources |
Number of sites (Protected Areas) |
National Wildlife Database at Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun, India. |
UNEP 1993. United Nations List of National Parks and Protected Areas: India. 1993. WCMC Protected Areas Data Unit.. | |
Government of India. 2003. Annual Report 2002-2003, Ministry Of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi, India. | |
Number of recreational visitors to forest related sites |
Goodwin, H. J., Kent, I.J., Parker, K. T. & Walpole, M. J. 1997. Tourism, Conservation and Sustainable Development: Four Volumes, April 1997 |
Sharma, S. et al. 2002. Management Plan of Keoladeo National Park, Forest Department, Govt. of Rajasthan. |
C. National Classification and Definitions
There is no national standard definition or classification for visits to social sites including recreation service sites. Following provides definition of recreation services from World Tourism Organization.
Term |
Definition |
Recreation Services |
Tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed areas with the specified object of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects (both of the past and present) found in the area. (World Tourism Organization). |
D. National Data
Information on protected areas in India is kept by Wild Life Institute of India in its National Wildlife Database. Following information is available for the period in question.
Information |
1990 |
2000 |
2002 |
Total Number of Protected Areas |
363 |
573 |
589 |
About 4.19 percent of the foreign visitors plan to go forest related sites in India and an additional 3.7 percent visitors plan to visit landscape within and outside forests. The long term data at two National Parks indicates that number of domestic tourist is roughly more than double the foreign tourist. Assuming on conservative side that number of domestic visitors is 2 times that of foreign visitors, it can be assumed that total number of visitors to forest related sites is more than 12 percent (3 times 4.19 percent) of total foreign tourists. Following table presents this information.
Variables |
Number of Visitors to Forest related Sites (in 000) | |||||||
Year |
1980 |
1990 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
Number of Visitors |
150 |
205 |
275 |
285 |
283 |
298 |
318 |
304 |
E. Calibration
Not considered necessary.
F. Estimation and Forecasting
Estimation is not necessary as national data is available for 1990 and 2000. Number of Protected Areas (National Parks and Sanctuaries) for 2005 has been assumed to be same as in 2002. A regression relationship was used to forecast number of probable visitors in 2005.
Variables |
Number of Visitors to Forest related Sites (in 000) | ||
Year |
1990 |
2000 |
2005 |
Number of Sites (PAs) |
0.363 |
0.573 |
0.589 |
Number of Visitors |
0.205 |
0.318 |
0.376 |
G. Reclassification into FRA 2005 Classes
Not needed as information is available on the two variables
H. National Information for FRA 2005 Global Tables
Table: Input to Global Reporting Tables
Variables |
Number of Visitors to Forest related Sites (in 000) | ||
Year |
1990 |
2000 |
2005 |
Number of Sites (PAs) |
0.363 |
0.573 |
0.589 |
Number of Visitors |
205 |
318 |
376 |
Note.This includes both sites those that are connected by roads and those that are not connected by roads
