Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{191008,
        author = {Nandagopal P and Sathyanarayana Bhat P},
        title = {Assessment of Ecotourism and Biodiversity in Nagarahole National Park: A Study on Species Richness, Stakeholder Participation, and Conservation Strategies},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {4727-4732},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=191008},
        abstract = {Nagarahole National Park in Kodagu, India, is a major tropical forest reserve of high conservation value and an important ecotourism destination. This study assesses the ecological status and sustainability of ecotourism in the park by examining species richness, tourist participation, local community involvement, and management perspectives within an environmental science framework. Floral and faunal diversity were quantified in both Tourist and Core zones using belt transect and transect line methods, while structured interviews were undertaken with tourists, the indigenous Jhenu Kuruba community, and forest department officials. Results indicate high overall biodiversity with distinct spatial variation: the Core zone supports greater plant diversity and carnivore presence, whereas the Tourist zone sustains higher herbivore abundance and greater human–wildlife interaction. Tourists are predominantly young and demonstrate strong pro-conservation attitudes, while local communities’ express interest in increased participation in ecotourism-linked livelihoods. Despite generating revenue and environmental awareness, ecotourism currently provides limited direct benefits to local residents, and concerns persist regarding monoculture plantations and infrastructure quality. The findings emphasise the need for regulated tourism intensity, stronger benefit-sharing mechanisms, and conservation-oriented management to minimize ecological disturbance. Enhancing community participation while safeguarding biodiversity is essential to ensuring environmentally sustainable and socially equitable ecotourism in Nagarahole National Park.},
        keywords = {Ecotourism, Nagarahole National Park, Species richness, Community participation, Sustainable tourism.},
        month = {January},
        }