PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the impact of eco‐tourism on the socio‐economic characteristics of the native inhabitants and natural resources in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), India. The paper estimates the recreational value and measures the willingness to pay (WTP) of the stakeholders and tourists to conserve the forest eco‐system.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws upon theories and issues of eco‐tourism to examine the economic value of forest ecosystem, including direct and indirect use values of the ecological regulatory services. The 60 sample stakeholders of the study were agricultural and forest dependents and tourist dependents in addition to 60 visitors of ATR spot.FindingsThe travel cost had a significant negative influence on frequency of visits, while education had a positive impact. The agriculture and forest dependents, tourist dependents and tourists were WTP an average amount of Rs 202 (US$4.03), Rs 449 (US$9.55) and Rs 656 (US$14.00)/annum, respectively, towards internalizing eco‐tourism‐related externalities. The option value of conserving the ATR was estimated by contingent valuation method using bidding game technique. Education and number of animal species sighted have positively related to WTP and was highly significant.Social implicationsThe paper addresses the attitude of people towards conservation of the forest biodiversity, as well as increasing the income of the people via eco‐tourism.Originality/valueThe outcome implies that eco‐tourism will reduce the dependency of forest and also create more employment and other tourism‐related income augmenting activities and thus enhancing additional income through tourism related occupations. The paper suggests the establishment of several other eco‐parks in Tamil Nadu for protecting the biodiversity as well as generating additional income and improving the livelihood security of the population.

Biodiversity is a valuable and yet poorly understood natural resource, depleting rapidly through human interventions. The economic value of biodiversity in a forest ecosystem includes its direct-use value and indirect-use value for the ecological regulatory services it provides. The Western Ghats is one of the world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots and forest ecosystem that are protected as the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR). This study was undertaken with the objective of asserting the consumptive and passive use values of the ATR as well as to examine the people’s attitudes towards consumption and sustainable use of natural resources and forest biodiversity. To estimate the direct-use value, the sample respondents, namely, agriculture and forest dependents within the fringe areas and tourist dependents in urban areas, were selected. Education and income were positively related to per capita consumption expenditure and were highly significant. Family size and landholdings had negative influences on both agriculture and forest dependents and tourist dependents. It was concluded that the development of ecotourism will reduce forest dependents and enhance their income through tourism-related occupations by creating more employment and other related income-generating activities besides protecting the valuable natural resources through optimal and sustainable use.

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Objective: The prevalence of anemia is disproportionately high in developing countries due to poverty, inadequate diet, certain diseases, pregnancy and lactation, and poor access to health services. It is a risk factor for cardiovascular health and early death in adult. To estimate the prevalence of anemia and its associated risk factors in a rural community in India.Methods: Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, an observational house-to-house survey was conducted for 6 months, by screening for anemia, using digital strip type hemoglobin meter.Results: Out of 200 people, 146 were anemic of which 77 were with mild anemia, 67 with moderate anemia and only 3 had severe anemia. There was more number of anemic patients in the group of normal and underweight (normal=86, 58.90% and underweight=27, 18.49%) than that of overweight and obese (overweight=22, 15.06% and obese=11, 7.53%). The newly diagnosed cases of anemia were 138 and previously diagnosed cases of anemia were 8. Out of 146 anemic populations, 13 were hyperlipidemics, 20 were hypertensives, 18 were diabetics, 5 were thyroid patients, and 4 were cardiac patients. Conclusion:This screening program helps to diagnose anemia in a selected population and benefit avoiding further complications by offering adequate patient counseling. The study population was enriched with information on nutrition intake and importance of maintaining hemoglobin concentration at normal level in daily life of an individual.

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