The study recommended that an effective solid waste management system should be implemented for the Munnar tourism area.

A modern sewerage system should be installed for Munnar town to prevent pollution of Muthirapuzha river.

An authority like ‘Munnar Tourism Authority’ may be formed with statutary powers to coordinate and to regulate all activities related to tourism in Munnar with representations from tourism department, tourism industry and local bodies.

Munnar and its environs are mountains and wilderness areas, which are fragile ecosystems and are visited by tourists interested in scenic beauty, cool climate and special activities like trekking, climbing and wildlife viewing. These are fragile ecosystems with carrying capacities for small-scale development. But there is scope for nature/ eco-tourism development.

Important areas identified for eco-tourism include Mannavanshola, Top station, Lockhart gap, Eravikulam, Anaimudi, and Vattavada etc. Trekking, mountain climbing, game, fishing and camping can be promoted in Anaimudy, Eravikulam, Silent Valley, Mannavanshola and Lockhart gap.

Based on the carrying capacity of Munnar, the study estimatesthat the hotel bed capacity can be enhanced to 3830, against the existing 1120 beds.

CESS has been involved in a multi-institutional project with NEERI, Nagpur, as its Principal Investigator and Chief Coordinator, to study the watershed of Vembanad Lake, covering an area of about 13,180 km².

The important aspects of the study were :
(i) Collection of baseline data through a network of institutions and concomitant modelling for establishing the regional assimilative capacity with respect to air, water, land, biological components of environment, as also supportive capacity analysis of the natural systems in the region

(ii) Delineation of framework for developmental planning based on the concept and premises of carrying capacity (interalia addressing the issues of regional environmental and disaster management plans) with a view to maximising the equitability in quality of life in the region while preserving the ecological health and environmental media quality.

The components that are assigned to CESS for analysis include land, water, biological and socio-economic environment.

The main objectives were the assessment of land use pattern and its temporal change, estimation of non-living resources, quantitative and qualitative estimation of solid wastes and its management, assessment of biodiversity (flora) with reference to conservation, hotspots and management and determination of demographic trends and analysis of population projections.

The spatio-temporal variation in landuse/landcover and the land resource base of the region have been worked out based on 1968-72 toposheets and 1999 satellite data.

Supportive capacity estimation of all economic mineral deposits of GKR was made, identifying the concerns/ hotspots of mining and its management perspectives.

A detailed accounting of the municipal solid wastes wascarried out with details on their sources, composition, physical and chemical characteristics, concerns/hotspots and     management options.

The natural hazards occurrences in the area were evaluated, compiled the details on potential zones and suggested management plans.

The environmental hotspots were identified and the limiting land resources evaluated based on which short/long-term management plans and short-term scenario of land     environment (2005AD) was evolved.

A very detailed accounting on Biodiversity (Flora) of the area has been carried out on mangroves, sacred groves and forests with emphasis on conservation, hotspots and its     management.

Further, the problem of ‘Shrinking Vembanad Lake’ has been addressed along with the Business As Usual Scenario for managing the concerns of adjoining Kuttanad region.

A comprehensive accounting on the demographic trends and population projections from village to district panchayat levels has also been made up to 2026.