Ecotourism in West Bengal: Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park

Abstract

A pioneering effort of West Bengal Forest Department in preserving the priceless fossils woods and to educate people about the natural heritage of West Bengal, Amkhoi Fossil Park (the youngest of its kind) is located near Ilambazar in Birbhum District of West Bengal,India. Such fossil parks have exceptional heritage and scientific values. The angiosperm wood fossils displayed here were collected during pond digging and are definite proof of the presence of a vast dry deciduous forest with a few evergreen elements, which prevailed 15 to 20 million years before. The Wood Fossil Park at Amkhoi attempts to integrate economic benefit for the community as well as propagate values of conservation, preservation and protection besides imparting education and awareness on the geo-site, and hence is a good stride for attaining sustainability perspectives.

Keywords: Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park, ecotourism, geo-tourism, sustainable tourism