Promoting Ecotourism at Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary : A lesser known Ramsar Site from Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems of the world, which provide a variety of ecosystem services that sustain our lives. Each year, wetlands attract thousands of tourists due to their ‘cultural’ ecosystem services such as aesthetic, recreational and spiritual value. People are naturally attracted to wetlands due to its beautiful appearance, which according to Ramsar Convention, result in unsustainable tourism, adverse impact on the wetland ecosystem, inappropriate tourist behaviour and poorly conceived tourism strategies. Hence, there is an urgent need for promoting good ecotourism practices. Situated in Gonda district, Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary with its natural endowment is a potential ecotourism hub as it possesses a rich biodiversity, more specifically, avifaunal richness which makes this wetland an attraction due to its bird congregation. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary is a Ramsar Site which offers a unique opportunity to amalgamate ecotourism with local livelihood. Ideas, scope and activities promoting ecotourism at    Parvati Arga Wetland are discussed in this paper.