User:Basilp/Temp/Mahim Nature Park.doc

Topic: Nature park

Nature Parks are areas which "mostly fill the preliminaries of landscape protection areas, consisting of a special diversity, uniqueness and beauty, and which are especially suitable for recreation purposes because of their landscape features". In Nature Parks the needs for nature protection and landscape management should be in harmony with the needs of recreation. They help to ensure the continued and further development of cultural landscapes. To achieve this, it is also necessary to conserve and support environmentally friendly extensive land- and forest-management.

Definition: “ Nature park is a broad natural or partly cultivated area of land and/or sea featuring ecological characteristics of international and national importance, and pronounced landscape, educational, cultural, historical, tourist and recreational values. Economic and other activities and actions that do not endanger the main features and functions of the nature park are permitted within its territory.”(Nature Protection Law)

Aims of Nature Park

• to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage
• to promote the sustainable use of the natural resources of the area
• to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public

• to promote sustainable social and economic development of the communities of the area
• to conserve and protect the beauty, the typical character and the diversity of nature, landscape, flora and fauna,
• to foster traditional agriculture with its regional specialties and to strengthen its role in the shaping of the landscape and the character of the region to improve its use for recreation and tourism,
• to ensure that the open landscapes are looked after,
• to maintain the functions of the forests,
• to provide educational activities on nature and environment,
• To create awareness about wild life and its conservation among the visitors through exhibiting of animals in simulated habitat condition and by educational programmes .
• To breed endanger & extinct species found locally, regionally and countrywide in planned manner.
• To protect endangered & extinct species of wild life and to conserve them in natural environment.
• To create conservation awareness among public to get their support for conservation - preservation.

These aims are pursued collectively, so that the achievement of one aim for the area will not undermine the achievement of another but should contribute to it. In this way, social and economic development is addressed alongside the proper protection of the natural heritage. However, in cases where there appears to be irreconcilable conflict between these aims, priority is given the protection of the area's natural and cultural heritage.

Some important nature parks in India and its importance is discussed below-

Mahim Nature Park The Mahim Nature Park is situated near Dharavi, Asia's largest slum. The park is sprawled over an area of 450 acres, established with an aim to preserve the natural beauty and estuarine ecosystem of the region. The streams of the park allow the bird and marine life to flourish and the saline marsh land shaded by the Mangroves provide home to a number of animals. The Mahim Nature Park is an educational park set up by Shanta Chatterji, the chairperson of World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The park was opened for school children in 1992. Two years later they began allowing general public to visit the park.

• The main aim of the project was to start an education centre for students of environmental studies. Since our education system is mostly theoretical, and it is very difficult to find education centres that give students a practical exposure to things.
• It also aimed at preservation of different varieties of birds that flocked the creek very often. Ms Chatterji realized that the area was host to 55 species of birds. She proposed a plan to the government to get the area earmarked as a bird sanctuary.
• To showcase different varieties of trees, found in India. Thus they started a drive to crate awareness that anything detrimental to nature can cause a lot of harm to human life.
• The park has been a boon to school children. Initially it was planned for school kids. But when it was realized that finance was needed for setting up an amphitheatre, library, etc., they had to open the park to other visitors too.
• The major achievement of the park has been its ability to stop encroachment.
• Also the sale proceeds from ayurvedic plants grown in the park, adds to finances An area is earmarked for medicinal plants found in various parts of India. It is awesome to see such a variety in one place. Further down there is an area where fruits and vegetables are grown.
• A place has been earmarked for bird watchers near the creek from where they can watch the various species. The best time to watch the birds is the crack of sunset, when one can see them flocking together. One can also take a leisurely stroll on 'Shantipath', a walkway that runs through the entire length of the park.
• This park is definitely an institution for environment lovers. Each place is an eye opener.

Indroda Nature Park (INP)

GEER Foundation is managing a unique and multifaceted nature awareness centre in the from of Indroda Nature Park (INP) which is spread over an area of about 400 ha in Gandhinagar- the capital city of Gujarat.

Educational Importance of Indroda Nature Park (INP)

The zoo at INP has animals like leopard, spotted deer, sambar, bluebull, blackbuck, chinkara, jackal, four-horned antelope, crocodile, porcupine, about 180 birds (42 species of birds in the aviary). The Park has about 65 birds which build their nests every year in the wilderness of the park. In the snake park, there are number of venomous and non-venomous snakes.

Nature Park -Gopalpur It is located near Palampur in Himachal Pradesh and it has one of the most Himalayan Nature Parks. Sprawling acres of greenery nestled amidst the snowy Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas allures tourists to the Nature Park in Gopalpur. Educational Importance of Gopalpur Nature Park It is covered by the dense forests of Deodar, Kail, Horse chestnut, Walnut and Maple. Students can observe these trees and the beauty of the green Nature Park in Gopalpur. The Alpine Forests etched on the slopes of Himalayas makes it a dream destination for the trek through the Nature Park and one can come across a rich variety of flora and fauna. One can get a glimpse of the Musk deer, Monal and Black bear in Nature Park Gopalpur.
The Nature Park Gopalpur generates awareness about wildlife amongst the students. Thus it educates the students and refreshes their senses amidst the green mountain valleys.