The Role, Management and Economic Functions of National Parks in Densely Populated Non-industrial Regions

The pace of destruction of wild life in thickly populated and unindustrialised countries, which was slow in the beginning of the century grew alarmingly rapid during the past few decades. The pattern of dissipation has been similar in almost all developing countries. India may not be an exception, at least in some respects. A few game reserves maintained in early part of the century were in fact exclusive shooting grounds of rulers and their guests. The philosophy of National Parks which was first conceived in the USA caught the imagination of the naturalists in India and its first National Park, now known as Corbett Park, was established in Uttar Pradesh in 1935 with the main object of providing protection and shelter to wild life. In a thickly populated country, where needs of human beings are limitless, the future of its wild life is precarious. Our National Parks have to be mainly faunal in character to provide not only refuge to but also preservation of representative wild life. These Parks also provide recreational and research opportunities. The Park has to be free from grazing, fire and depredations by poachers. It should be a complete ecological unit to provide all the year-round requirements of food, water and shelter to all its inhabitants. Development of tourism requires division of the Park into three sections, in which only the peripheral section should be developed for tourists by providing basic amenities. The Park assumes some features of a big industry on account of its recreational aspect. It is capable of changing the economy of the adjoining area by providing employment and business. No one can, however, estimate in monetary terms the benefits that accrue in the shape of mental and physical health.