Nature Initiative Kerala

Safety net for sacred groves

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,
The Hindu, March 31, 2015

The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has initiated a networking project to arrest the depletion of sacred groves in the State and protect local biodiversity hotspots.

A two-day workshop held at the institute recently highlighted the need for an incentive-based system to preserve the complex ecosystems that are home to rare flora and fauna including endangered species. Participants from several districts expressed concern over the diverse threats faced by the sacred groves that had stood the test of time for centuries.

The workshop culminated in the creation of a sacred grove network involving nature lovers, conservation groups and researchers. A.V. Reghu and M. Amrit, scientists, KFRI, said the network would act as a platform to share information on the threats faced by the groves and formulate strategies for conservation. The workshop stressed the need to incentivise the conservation of sacred groves.

Assembly panel report

The KFRI initiative assumes significance in the light of a report recently tabled in the Assembly, highlighting the gravity of the threats faced by sacred groves in Kerala. According to the report prepared by the Assembly Committee on Forest and Environment, the breakdown of the joint family system and construction of new houses in place of old ancestral homes is responsible for the destruction of the groves attached to ancestral homes.

Of the 10,000 sacred groves in the princely State of Travancore before the formation of Kerala in 1956, hardly 1,200 exist now and among these, many are on the verge of extinction, says the committee chaired by Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

Kochi arachnologists discover rare spiders

KOCHI,

The Hindu, March 31, 2015

Researchers at the Division of Arachnology in Sacred Heart College here have recorded the sighting of a huntsman and jumping spider in the Western Ghats.

The spiders belong to the Sparassidae and Salticidae families. The research team included Dr. Mathew M.J., Fr. Jobi Malamel and Pradeep Kumar M.S. and were led by Dr. P.A. Sebastian, director of the Division of Arachnology.

The huntsman spider was sighted at Ponmudi, while the researchers found the jumping spider at the Malayattoor and Bhoothathankettu reserve forest near here.

“Huntsman spiders are known for their speed and mode of hunting. Sometimes they hide in the ambush and surprise the prey. Some of these spiders have been found making a substrate-borne sound deliberately when they detect a chemical left by a nearby female of their species,” said the researchers.

They said that the males anchor themselves firmly to the surface to which they have crawled and use their legs to transmit vibrations from their bodies to the surface. The characteristic frequency of vibration and the pattern of bursts of sound alert the females, who will approach if they are interested in mating, they said.

Dr. Sebastian said that jumping spiders prey like a grasshopper, as it jumps from one place to another.

It has been given the name Stenaelurillus albus owing to the presence of a unique whitish area on the copulatory organ of the male spider. The discovery is unique as it has the presence of mating plugs that have been reported in only 17 species of the approximate 5,800 jumping spiders recorded till now, he said.

Ensuring safe nesting sites for Olive Ridleys

K.S. Sudhi
KOCHI,
The Hindu,March 27, 2015

Beaches of Kochi are turning out to be favourite nesting sites of Olive Ridley turtles. After Kuzhipally Beach, where nearly 200 young turtles were released to sea recently, the Forest and Wildlife officials are planning to create safe nesting sites at Fort Kochi and Chellanam beaches.

The department was planning to generate awareness among the local residents of these areas and also school students for conserving the protected species, said D. Rajendran, Assistant Conservator of Forest (Social Forestry).

Though there have been earlier reports of turtle hatching in these areas, of late the animals have not been spotted in these beaches. The construction of sea walls and the possibility of loss of eggs might have resulted in turtles abandoning these beaches. Local populations, especially students, would be engaged in identifying the nesting sites and the task of protecting the eggs and safe release of the baby turtles, Mr. Rajendran said.

The campaign undertaken in Vypeen area last year helped in identifying three hatching sites this season. Of the 96 eggs laid at Pallathamkulangara beach, 89 hatched. All the 101 eggs laid in Kuzhipally beach hatched to baby turtles. The eggs laid by the turtles were collected and safely deposited in safe sites in the beach itself and round-the-clock protection was ensured for saving them from dogs and people stealing them. Protective fencing was also created at the sites, which proved successful, he said.

The turtle clubs will be extended financial incentives. The awareness campaign organised as part of the Biodiversity Conservation Programme of the Social Forestry wing, culminated in the formation of two clubs, Sealand Turtle Club and Friends Turtle Club, in the region. The 20 volunteers from these clubs and a group of students of SDPY KPMHS School, Edavanakad, led by their teacher Hari played an important role in the conservation efforts.

Survey spots rare butterfly species in Chinnar

Giji K. Raman
KATTAPPANA,
The Hindu, March 24, 2015
A two-day survey held at the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary has helped to record some rare and endemic species of butterflies exclusive to the sanctuary.

The noteworthy findings are the Palani or Davidson’s Bushbrown, which is an endemic butterfly seen only in and around the Palani hills.

This grassland species was recorded at Puthukudy region in the sanctuary, according to the Munnar Wildlife Warden G. Prasad. Chinnar sanctuary is under the Munnar division and is noted for its unique habitat features though it falls in the rain shadow area.

“This species was photographed only once in the last 100 years,” said Prof. Kunhikrishnan, a team member and butterfly expert. The largest butterfly in India, the Southern Birdwing, was seen in Chinnar and the smallest butterfly, the Grass Jewel, was recorded at Thoovanam range of the sanctuary, said Mr Prasad.

The survey was organised as a joint venture by Kerala Forest Department, Kottayam Nature Society, and Travancore Natural History Society, Thiruvananthapuram. The survey was coordinated by Sanjayan N.K., range officer for Eravikulam National Park, and V.H. Aboobeckar, range officer for Shola National Park. It was led by E. Kunhikrishnan, Kalesh S., Toms Augustine and Jinesh P.S.

The participants conducted the survey using five base camps of Olikudi, Mangapara, Alampetty, Churulipetty, and Champakkad. Mr Prasad said the altitudes from 500 to 2000 msl, including some vegetation and habitat areas, were covered in the survey.

A total of 167 species were earlier recorded and on analysis, 46 species were added newly to the checklist of Chinnar. The total number of butterflies recorded touched 200.“The survey also rediscovered the Palni Dart, an uncommon skipper butterfly of the Palani region, which is an addition to the Kerala butterfly checklist,” said Dr. Kalesh, an expert on Hesperiidae butterflies.

Other important sightings are Travancore Evening Brown, Maculate Lancer, Malabar Rose, Indian Awlking, Orange tailed awl, Orange awlet, Vindhyan Bob, and the Spot puffin. Migration of Common Albatross, Plain Puffins, Emigrants, Common Crow, Double Branded Crow, and Blue tigers were noted from Eravikulam region towards Chinnar, while directional movement was observed for Pioneers and Gulls uphill.

Around 20 experts from various parts of the country participated in the survey along with butterfly enthusiasts and tribal watchers. The participants included representatives from Bangalore Butterfly Club, NCBS, and other research institutions. A formal report will be submitted to the Forest Department soon.

House sparrow conservation in Kottayam gets a fillip

KOTTAYAM,
The Hindu, March 21, 2015

The house sparrow conservation efforts in the town got a fillip with environmentalists joining hands to spot six areas in the town that could be declared as House Sparrow Conservation Centres. The decision to take an initiative was made at a meeting held near the market in the heart of the town to celebrate World House Sparrow Day here on Friday.

The decision comes in the wake of a drastic fall in the house sparrow population in the town as was found by this year’s house sparrow survey conducted by the Tropical Institute for Ecological Sciences (TIES) a non-governmental organisation working in the area of researches in environmental issues.

According to Punnen Kurian Venkadath, director, TIES, this year’s survey could identify only 240 house sparrows, the lowest ever since the commencement of the annual surveys three years ago. What was more disturbing was the fact that there has been a consistent fall in the sparrow population. The 2012 survey could spot 740 sparrows nesting in 10 identifiable areas in the town, while it came down to 580 last year.

Fall in nesting sites

Meanwhile, the nesting areas too have come down to just six from the 10 in 2012. The drastically changing skyline of the town has also forced the sparrows to shift their dwellings from place to place during this period, Dr. Kurian said. The major nesting places of the house sparrows during the 2012 survey were the old vegetable market, Padinjarekkara lane and rice market areas.

Matter of concern

However, during the past three years they have deserted the rice market, may be an indication of the impact of chemicals used in paddy cultivation or rice processing, he said. With the old vegetable market was demolished, they had to move out of the area.

The colony of house sparrows nesting below the bridge at Nagambadom too had to shift from there on account of the maintenance work taken up in 2013. This year’s survey found that the healthy colonies of the house sparrows were those at the Challiyil Lane in the market, New Municipal Complex and Supplyco Lane in the town.

Colonies have also been identified at the YMCA campus area, Biriyanikkada lane and Pappadakkada lane in the market. According to Dr Kurian, the main reason for the development of healthy colonies in certain pockets was the interest taken by a few individual traders who were avid conservationists.

However, the modern concrete structures that come up in place of the old buildings provide little space for house sparrows to develop their colonies.

Chemicals in foodstuffs

The high incidence of chemicals in food articles and the total disregard for house sparrows, once considered a mark of prosperity of the area, too have contributed to the phenomenon, he said and added that conservation would bring the house sparrows back to the town.

Ipe Mathew, Abraham Samuel, A.P. Thomas and others spoke. Anil Kumar, one of the traders in the market, who is engaged in house sparrow conservation efforts, was honoured on the occasion.

Biodiversity committees remain dysfunctional

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,
The Hindu, March 16, 2015

Kerala may be the first State to have Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) in all local self-government institutions, but most of the committees are not functional and remain only on paper, mainly due to the lack of awareness about its mandate and responsibilities.

The Kerala Grama Panchayat Association feels that BMCs in Kerala have largely failed to serve their purpose.

Association president P.T. Mathew said very few of the committees had taken up meaningful grassroots-level biodiversity conservation projects. A majority of the BMCs had failed to exercise their powers and responsibilities, primarily due to the lack of awareness about their role, he said.

At a meeting held here recently in connection with the second National Biodiversity Congress, he said BMC meetings were seldom convened by local bodies. Mr. Mathew said the failure to operationalise BMCs had affected the preparation of panchayat biodiversity registers.

It was in 2012 that the State government formally declared the constitution of BMCs in all the 978 gram panchayats, 60 municipalities, and five corporations in Kerala. The committee was chaired by the president of the grama panchayat, chairperson of the municipality, or Mayor of the Corporation.

The primary function of the BMC is to maintain a Panchayat Biodiversity Register (PBR) — a document on local biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.

Its mandate also includes the conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of biodiversity and equitable sharing of benefits arising from its use.

The BMC is tasked with regulating access to bio-resources for commercial and research purposes. It has to develop a local biodiversity fund and devise strategies to conserve local biodiversity. It is also tasked with initiating proposals for declaring biodiversity heritage sites and maintaining germplasm bank and seed centres for promoting traditional plant varieties and animal breeds.

After election

Admitting that BMCs in Kerala were by and large inactive, KSBB chairman Oommen V. Oommen said the board would make them operational after the elections to local bodies this year. Prof. Oommen who had embarked on a contact programme in seven districts this year said he was dismayed by the lack of understanding about BMCs' role. “The success stories have been exceptions rather than the rule,” he said.

Prof. Oommen said KSBB was planning to join hands with the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) for a mass contact programme involving BMCs. “We will also bring out a green book to highlight the importance of biodiversity,” he said.

Stage has been set for the reassessment of salinity in rivers that are flowing beside a few local bodies, which are seeking relaxation in Coastal regulation zone regime.

The Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) has agreed to relook into the salinity of some rivers during the driest season of the year following the demand from some local bodies in the district.

According to the CRZ notification, “CRZ shall apply to the land area between High Tide Line to 100 metres or width of the creek whichever is less on the landward side along the tidal influenced water bodies that are connected to the sea and the distance up to which development along such tidal influenced water bodies is to be regulated shall be governed by the distance up to which the tidal effects are experienced which shall be determined based on salinity concentration of 5 parts per thousand (ppt) measured during the driest period of the year.”

If the salinity is found less that 5ppt during the driest month, those local bodies would automatically go out of the CRZ regime. The coastal local bodies had been demanding relaxation in the regime following difficulties faced by the residents to construct houses and other structures in holdings close to rivers.

After Cheranalloor panchayat, which passed a resolution last week, Varapuzha panchayat is also planning to take the same route to ask the KCZMA to re-check the salinity in river that flows past its land.

“The resolution, which was passed unanimously by the Cheranalloor panchayat, will be mailed to the KCZMA,” said K.K. Suresh Babu, panchayat president. “In case of Varapuzha panchayat, a meeting of the panchayat committee to be held next week will pass the resolution,” said Mercy Johnny, president of the civic body.

K.K. Ramachandran, member secretary of the Authority, said no local body had approached the authority with the demand.

“If they desire so, the KCZMA shall entrust the task with the National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, which prepared the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Kochi Corporation and Maradu municipalities. The reassessment of salinity could be done in April, if it doesn’t rain during the month. Salinity has to be assessed in the driest season of the year,” he said.

The Centre has already notified the salinity of rivers in Kochi Corporation and Maradu municipality as part of the CZMP. Salinity was measured in 2014 for preparing the plan, he said.

Innovative projects to give sanctuaries a new lease of life

Giji K. Raman
KATTAPPANA,
The Hindu, March 16, 2015

To encourage tourists and protect the biodiversity of the area, innovative projects will be introduced at the Idukki wildlife and Thattekkad bird sanctuaries. Idukki Wildlife Warden P.R. Suresh said that a meeting of the top officials of the Forest Development Agency held recently sanctioned projects for the sanctuaries.

Trekking and boating facilities will be introduced in the Idukki reservoir, he said. A 20-seater boat will do four one-hour cruises within the reservoir. “There will be four trips daily and for a single person, Rs 200 will be charged,” he said. The packages will help boost the tourism potential of areas like Memari, Kathitheppan, Kollathikavu, Kothapara and Koovalettom inside the Idukki sanctuary and Urulanthanni, Sathrapady, Puramala and Koottampara of Thattekkad sanctuary. The meeting also decided to create self employment schemes for local tribal people through apiculture, increase milk production and create value added products. Tribal people living inside the forest will benefit most from the scheme as they would be provided training to work as guides. According to G. Jayachandran, assistant wildlife warden of Idukki sanctuary, a view tower will be constructed at Thattekkad in addition to Salim Ali Bird Trail, a programme to introduce birds to visitors.

Greener pastures for tourists

Dennis Marcus Mathew
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
The Hindu, March 12, 2015

The scenic and ecologically fragile grasslands of Ponmudi, and the adjoining eco-tourism destinations of Kallar and Mankayam, which are currently threatened to be turned into plastic wastelands, could have some succour in sight. That is, if the plans of the Forest Department materialise.

A number of proposals, ranging from the declaration of the hill station as a plastic-free zone along with restrictions on consumption of liquor on the hills, to installation of various tourist-friendly facilities have been drawn out by the department, with some of the works already on.

Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Forest Officer T. Uma said that efforts to make the hills a plastic-free zone were already on, with Vana Samrakshana Samithi volunteers carrying out regular cleaning campaigns and trying to convince visitors not to litter the place.

While fines on those who violated the rules were being thought about, signboards were being put up at several points.

Two plastic treatment plants had already started functioning, she said. Efforts to prevent drunk revellers from littering the place too were on.

As for facilities and more tourist attractions, plans were afoot to have tree houses and Ayurveda rejuvenation centres to be run by local people. A watchtower and viewpoint were nearing completion at Ponmudi.

Renovation of the amenity centre, an interpretation centre, and construction of three tourist huts were on at Ponmudi.

“We have supplied the guides with uniforms, installed surveillance cameras at some spots and are getting fine arts students to make paintings and awareness pictures at several points at all the three eco-tourism destinations. New trekking paths too have been introduced,” Ms. Uma told The Hindu .

Mankulam beckons those with a thirst for adventure

Kochi
The Hindu, March 12, 2015

A walk along the forest tracts and a chance to pitch a tent deep in the forest. That’s what the Mankulam Forest Division is offering those who love adventure.

From sighting wild animals to trekking along tough terrain, bird watching and visiting tribal hamlets, the ecotourism package promises a wide range of nature experiences to the visitors, said forest officials.

On the itinerary is a three-hour-long trek to Kannadipara, which offers a splendid view of Munnar and surrounding areas. The programme will be offered in six time slots starting 7 a.m. and each one lasts for three hours. Batches of six persons each would be taken for trek at a time along each trail. Trained guards will lead the programme.

Nakshtrakuth Exploration is another guided trekking programme along the river course and bamboo forests. Members of Muduvan tribes living in the fringes of forests will depict their rich culture encapsulated in the traditional dance forms. The hour-long programme will be staged at Viripara at 6 p.m. every day.

Tiger Caves programme comes with a trek and camping inside the forest in tents. The package comes with the option of a one night-two day stay or two nights-three day stay. Five trekkers will be accompanied by four guides and an armed forest official.

A tribal hamlet visit will provide insight into the life and culture of the people, said forest officials.

The faunal population of the region includes elephants, Nilgiri langurs, bonnet macaques, lion tailed macaques, leopards, tigers, jungle cats, jackals, wild dogs and sloth bears.

Presence of mongoose, Indian Gaur, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer and wild boar have also been reported from the region.

The information centres at Viripara and at Anakulam will guide the visitors to the community-based ecotourism programmes that were launched last week.

Munnar, Marayoor and Devikulam are the other important tourist destinations near Mankulam.

For more details contact the range officer, Mankulam, at 854760 1560.

KAU bid to get GI tag for Marayoor sandal

K. Santhosh
THRISSUR,
The Hindu, March 8, 2015

The Department of Wood Science of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has taken the initiative for securing forest certification and registration of Geographical Indication for Marayoor sandal.

Forest certification is a mechanism for monitoring, tracing, and labelling timber, wood, and pulp products and non-timber forest products whereby the quality of management from environmental, social, and economic perspectives is judged against a series of agreed standards.

Geographical Indications (GIs) identify products as agricultural goods, natural goods, or manufactured goods as originating or manufactured in the territory of a country or a region or locality in that territory where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristics of such goods is essentially attributable to itsgeographical origin.

“The Marayoor sandal division in Idukki district is the only compact tract of sandal forests in the country or, perhaps, the whole world having mature trees,” says E.V. Anoop, Head of the Department of WoodScience.

To combat illicit felling and smuggling of sandal wood trees, the government decided to upgrade the Marayoor range of the Munnar division into a new division named Marayoor sandal division in 2005(G.O. (MS) No: 67/2005/Forest dated 08/06/2005).About 150 daily-wage guards are engaged in protection of sandal 24x7. Most of them are members of the Vana Samrakshana Samithies that provide employment to tribal groups, mainly the Muthuvans and the HillPulayas.The Marayoor government sandalwood depot is the only one of its kind in the State, where dead, wind-fallen, and stolen trees are auctioned.The latest auction (e-lelam), held on February 5 and 6, earned the Forest Department a record revenue of Rs.46 crore.“The sandal from Marayoor is far superior in quality to that from Karnataka and Sathyamangala forests,” added Dr. Anoop.Wayanad Jeerakasala rice, Wayanad Gandhakasala rice, Central Travancore jaggery, Pokkali rice, and Vazhakkulam pineapple have been registered with the GI registry at KAU’s initiative.

Impact study to decide feral cattle’s fate in sanctuary

Giji K. Raman
CHERUTHONI (IDUKKI),
The Hindu, March 6, 2015

A two-day survey, which concluded on Thursday, revealed a large presence of feral cattle in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary. If found posing a threat to the wild animals in the sanctuary, they could be culled, sanctuary authorities said.

Feral cattle are domesticated animals — cow and bison — that were sent for grazing in the forest long back. Over the years, they made the sanctuary their habitat. Though they are wild in nature, feral cattle are not protected under the Wildlife (protection) Act 1972.

The survey was conducted at Vellackamaly, Vairamony and Konnakuzhy by a 30-member team under Mahesh Mohan, Assistant Professor, School of Environment Science,

Mahatma Gandhi University and co-ordinated by ornithologist R. Sugathan. The feral cattle were mostly trapped inside the sanctuary after the Idukki dam was constructed.

The sanctuary hosts the largest number of feral cattle in Kerala now — over 250 cattle as per the survey. Whether the cattle pose a threat to the wild population in the sanctuary could be analysed only on the basis of their population density and habitat features, Mr. Mohan said .

The number of wild animals such as sambar deer and mouse deer, the main competitors for food, was found less. However, the presence of large number of calves showed that the population of feral cattle was on an upward growth.

Idukki Wildlife Warden P.R. Suresh said an impact study would be conducted soon, after when a decision on culling would be taken. He said the habitat pattern of wild animals too needed to be analysed.

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