Mankulam^NAC.in Mankulam Nature Appreciation Centre

Formation of Eco-Tourism Committee: Ecotourism committees will be formed under each VSS for carrying out the ecotourism programmes. Eco-tourism Committee (ETC) will be selected by the general body of each VSS. A group of 6-10 interested persons shall be selected to constitute the ETC. The secretaries of the concerned VSS will be in charge of the conduct the ecotourism programme and will be responsible for the entire activities pertaining to the programme.  

The eco-tourism committee shall follow certain guidelines for conducting the tourism programme.

The tourism programme should be compatible with the nature and to its carrying capacity.

No violation of Forests Laws and Rules are allowed in the tourism programme.

Each members should take extreme care to manage wastes especially plastics.

The VSS members should provide maximum possible services to the visitors and should support them to learn about the nature.

VSS members should behave properly towards the visitors.

Role of VSS Secretary and Section Forest Officer

The secretaries of the concerned VSS will be in charge of the conduct the ecotourism programme and will be responsible for the entire activities pertaining to the programme. The Section Forest Officer under whose jurisdiction ecotourism programme carried out will monitor the activities of the programme and will be vigilant if those are being done as per Forest Laws. 

Role of Range Forest Officer

The concerned Range Forest Officer will have the supervisory role in the conduct of Eco-Tourism Programme. He will have the complete authority to stop any action which would stand against the Acts and Rules. The Eco-tourism Committee has to consult the Range Forest Officer for any action which may affect the common rules and acts essential for the protection of forest and its resources.

Role of Divisional Forest Officer

The appellate authority will be the Divisional Forest Officer concerning all activities pertaining to the ecotourism programme. 

Eco-tourism Committee and RFPF

An ETC will contain approximately 10 selected VSS members. ETC will be in charge of the programme. The revenue collected will be deposited in River Forest Protection Fund maintained in a nationalized bank or schedule bank. There will be two RFPF accounts. 1) Jointly managed by President and secretary of VSS. Daily collection shall be remitted in the RFPF account of the VSS/ETC on the very next day. 2) At FDA level one RFPF account will be maintained and operated by the Chief Executive Officer. Each VSS/ETC shall periodically transfer the RFPF from their account to RFPF account of FDA by keeping a minimum fund for maintaining their account. Each VSS/ETC will prepare a daily register regarding the collection of RFPF and submit the same to the FDA on monthly basis.