<p>Tourism significantly benefits communities near popular destinations by generating employment, enhancing local economies, and preserving cultural traditions. However, the influx of tourists and associated tourist activities can harm local forest biomass through the introduction of precursors and toxicants. To explore and mitigate these effects, a nonlinear mathematical model is developed to study the dynamics of forest biomass in hill regions and assess the effectiveness of external interventions and awareness programs. The model incorporates interactions among forest biomass, tourist population, precursors, toxicants, awareness programs, and external efforts. Analytical results establish the conditions for boundedness and persistence of the solutions, existence, and uniqueness of equilibrium points, and their stabilities. Sensitivity analysis reveals the model’s robustness to parameter variations, and optimal control strategies are introduced to minimize toxicant levels. Numerical simulations confirm the effectiveness of these strategies and highlight the critical role of awareness programs and external interventions in sustaining forest biomass. The findings underscore the urgent need to regulate tourist-induced environmental stress in hilly areas through awareness programs and strategic efforts.</p>