IndiaEnvironmentalists and residents in Karnataka's Western Ghats region are raising alarms about the rise of illegal and unregulated commercial trekking and 'hidden spot' tourism. Private tour operators and travel agents, primarily based in Bengaluru and Mysuru, are promoting remote natural sites on social media, leading to unauthorized treks into ecologically sensitive forest areas. These activities are causing environmental degradation, including pollution from litter and potential harm to native flora like the Neelakurinji plant. Local authorities, including the Forest Department, have begun cracking down on such practices, citing concerns over the impact on fragile ecosystems and water sources critical to local communities. Residents warn that unchecked tourism could lead to irreversible damage to biodiversity and increase human-wildlife conflicts.
Bias read (Center): While the issue involves environmental protection and regulation, the article presents a balanced account of both the challenges posed by unregulated tourism and the efforts of local authorities to address them. There is no overt ideological slant toward either conservationists or commercial tourism
