Land hunt on for biodiversity garden

T.Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, November 3, 2014 

The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) and the Idukki district administration have launched efforts to identify 200 acres to set up a national biodiversity garden of international standards near the Munnar hill station.

The ambitious project, estimated to cost Rs.25 crore, has received the green signal from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).

Though the KSBB had earlier zeroed in on the Parvathy hills as the preferred site, Revenue officials reportedly informed the board that 200 acres were not available for the purpose.

“Two other potential sites have been identified at Devikulam and Kundala. We are informed that the Idukki Sub Collector has initiated efforts to identify a suitable location,” says K.P. Laladhas, Member Secretary, KSBB. “A detailed project report will be submitted to NBA soon”.

Designed to showcase and conserve the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats, the garden will feature various tree species, flowering plants, orchids, and ferns endemic to the region.

Thematic displays

It will have thematic displays on the ecology, conservation, heritage sites, and protected areas of Kerala.

The NBA-funded project will promote ecotourism as an economic incentive for local communities to conserve forest resources.

It also includes the establishment of a resource centre to promote environmental education and assist in the rescue, recovery and rehabilitation of rare, endangered, and threatened species. KSBB chairman Oommen V.Oommen said a detailed project report would be submitted to the NBA soon. “The proposal has been approved in principle and the project work is expected to begin once land is made available,” he said.

The proposed garden will have two field stations, one for agro biodiversity and the other for training and field work.

A traditional knowledge centre is also envisaged to promote the concept of access and benefit sharing (ABS), a concept under which local communities will benefit from the utilisation of genetic resources for commercial purposes.

A Red Data book for the conservation and propagation of the rare and endangered plants is another highlight of the project.