Bengaluru, February 2023: Delegates from 30 countries visited the  Bannerghatta National, the Kalkere Arboretum, and Jungle Lodges & Resorts on  Thursday as part of the series of events organized by the Environment and  Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG). During this excursion, curated  by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Karnataka, the State showcased its  models for the restoration of forest eco-systems and the different types of  forests curated at the arboretum.  

At Bannerghatta, the delegates visited the famous butterfly park and a short  animal safari curated for them, where they were able to learn about Karnataka’s  sustainable ecotourism model. The Globally acclaimed “Wild Karnataka” movie  was screened for the delegates at Jungle Lodges & Resorts. The visit is part of  India’s efforts to shift focus to the climate-change challenges and towards  sustainable models of development such as eco-tourism, which can play a vital  role, and will balance the needs of the growing economy with necessary  measures for protecting the environment. 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. V Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Director, Karnataka  Tourism said "Karnataka has an abundance of natural beauty including the Western Ghats, a site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This mountain  range is renowned for its great diversity of flora and fauna. The state has 35  wildlife sanctuaries and 5 national parks. It is also home to over 100 species of  animals, and 600 species of birds, including 524 tigers and over 6000 elephants,  making Karnataka, truly India’s wildlife capital. Today, the G20 delegates were  given a short insight into the state's rich biodiversity and stunning wildlife during  the excursion". 

The excursion was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate  Change in association with the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Karnataka,  Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Jungle Lodges and Resorts,  Bannerghatta National Park and the Karnataka Forest Department.