Elephanta Island: World Heritage, Cultural Conservation and Options for Nature Conservation
Elephanta Island lies within a large natural harbour 7 km east of Mumbai, India, and is the site of several cave temples devoted to the Hindu deity Siva dated 4th to 9th century AD. The number, scale and quality of the bas-reliefs and sculptures within the temples, together with their uniqueness and setting, secured inscription as a World Heritage (Cultural) Site in 1987. Otherwise, the silvan nature of the island contrasts vividly with the densely populated city nearby that is largely bereft of urban greenspace. Could conservation measures for the cave temples have incidental benefit for the natural environments of the island, providing an economical means of securing a natural conservation area for Mumbai inhabitants? Exploring this apparently simple question revealed a complex situation necessitating consideration of issues well beyond the techniques of either cultural or nature conservation.
Tourism Development in Small Islands: A Case Study of Elephanta Island, Maharashtra, India
Tourism has profoundly influenced the fragile ecology and ancient heritage of the World Heritage Site of Elephanta. The growth of tourism and the commoditisation of heritage have become topics of controversy, and the economic advantages of tourism often seem to conflict with natural and cultural considerations. Elephanta offers an opportunity to explore the inter-relationships of livelihood, tourism promotion, environmental preservation, heritage conservation and community participation. In this context, analysis of the socio-economic profile and living conditions of the islanders has become essential. Suggestions for the sustainable development of Elephanta include upgrading tourist facilities, integrated site management, environmental conservation, heritage preservation and community participation. Secondary household data based upon unstructured interviews with household heads, meetings with the Sarpanch (village head) and group discussions with local community groups forms the core methods, supplemented with information from field surveys of an exploratory nature.
Fluctuating asymmetry as an indicator of stress: Implications for conservation biology.
Extinction can be attributed broadly to environmental or genetic stress. The ability to detect such stresses before they seriously affect a population can enhance the effectiveness of conservation programs. Recent studies have shown that within-individual morphological variability may provide a valuable early indicator of environmental and genetic stress.