International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Environmental Sciences 2319 - 1414 5 7 2016 07 22 Community based Protection Oriented Eco-Tourism: A Tool for Conservation of Tigers in Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India 64 69 EN Anand Yashpal A. 1 Department of Zoology, Biomedical Technology and Human Genetics, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India George Linz Buoy 2 Highland Hyacinth N. 3 U.K. Saha 1 University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2300 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA A.O. Fayiga 2 Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA Padma Mahanti 1 Conservator of Forests, Department of Forest and Wildlife, Kerala, India Sanjeet Kumar 2 School of Life Sciences, Ravenshaw University, Odisha, India Ahamed R. Mafaz 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of technology, Coimbatore, India R. Saraswathi 2 Department of Civil Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of technology, Coimbatore, India Chandragiri Sandhiya Santhi 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of technology, Coimbatore, India R. Saraswathi 2 Department of Civil Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of technology, Coimbatore, India Sapphire M. Divya 1 Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Sciences, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Alwarkurichi, Tirunelveli-627412, TN, India A. Sabaridasan 2 G. Jesslin 3 Thangam P. Edwin 4 R. Soranam 5 I.B. Udoh 1 Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Uyo. Uyo, Nigeria S.A. Inyang 2 Minsitry of Land, Housing and Survey, Giginya Secretariat, Sokoto State, Nigeria Mahanti Padma 1 School of Management, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar, India Mishra Panda Smita 2 School of Management, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar, India Pandav Bivash 3 Department of Endangered Species Management, Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun, India > Research Article 2016 5 11 2016 07 22 Ecotourism is referred to travels in exotic natural environment which is intended to support the local communities and conservation efforts. So community based ecotourism rests on the basic tenets of being ecologically sustainable, economically viable, socially acceptable, within the frame work of the prevailing rules and laws. Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) is unique with its diverse flora, fauna, endemism and landscapes which make it a Hot Spot for tourism. Therefore, an attempt has been made to develop the community based protection oriented ecotourism (CBPOET) for the conservation of Tigers in PTR. In PTR, each CBPOET has evolved out of necessity to address to certain conservation or livelihood issues. Thus, it is a tool to turn “threats” into “opportunity”. It was observed that the CBPOET resulted in enhanced protection of the study area, helped local communities to earn subsistence and supplementary livelihood, enhanced visitors satisfaction and disseminated conservation values, thus raising voices for conservation. The present study highlights the importance of community based protection oriented ecotourism in the conservation of tiger as well as livelihood of local communities. Copyright@ International Science Community Association