Bangalore : It's a wild idea whose time has come, and Karnataka wants to make the most of it. The state's new wilderness tourism policy aims to regulate visitor's traffic through the jungles. Of Karnataka's total land area, measuring over 1.91 crore hectares, nearly 20% (38 lakh hectares) is covered by forets. Although valued mainly for their environmental benefits and as a means of sustenance for a small fraction of the population, forest areas are increasingly becoming tourist attractions.

Of late, it has become necessary to formulate a policy to encourage, guide, direct and regulate it in such a manner that it in the desirable way, the policy states. Apart from the five national parks and 21 wildlife sanctuaries in the state, the policy permits wilderness tourism in certain other tool. All district heads have been asked to evaluate the forest areas and indicate the carrying capacities. After this, there will be efforts to regulate wilderness tourism by attempting to decongest popular areas and encourage traffic in other hot spots. there will be no regulated resorts, mass tourism or damage to ecologically sensitive areas.

Once the plans submitted are evaluate, the forest department will issue guidelines like construction activity, the number of tourists and vehicles to be allowed and the nature of activities that can be taken up in specific areas.