New catfish species sighted at Manimala river

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 13, 2014 

Scientists have reported a new species of catfish from the Manimala river in Kottayam district, highlighting the need for more efforts to unearth the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

Mathews Plamoottil, Assistant Professor, Government College, Chavara, came across the fish in January, 2011, during an exploratory survey of the river at Chenappady, a middle-level region of the river.

Later, in collaboration with Nelson P. Abraham, Associate Professor, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry, he subjected it to detailed comparison with related species of catfish before establishing it as a new species named Mystus keralai .

The finding has been published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology. Mystus keralai is distinguished by its long head, small eyes, narrow groove on the head, elongated pelvic fin, anal fin and pectoral fin, very long maxillary barbells (whisker-like organs near the mouth) and a distinct lateral light brownish green line.

The body is smooth and devoid of scales like others of the Mystus species.

Comparative studies

Comparative studies with fresh specimens of two related species, M. cavasius and M. seengtee , collected from the Ganges river in West Bengal and the Mananthavady river in Wayanad, revealed that M. keralai had enough distinguishing features.

The researchers also compared the specimen to eight other Mystus species found in water bodies across Kerala.

They found that local people regularly consumed M. keralai. They also received reports from local sources that the fish had greatly declined in numbers owing to the pollution of the river.

The authors have called for detailed scientific studies with more specimens to reveal the biological aspects of the fish.

The new species has received the Zoobank register number from the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature, the scientific authority for naming new animals.

The specimens have been deposited in the museum of the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, for further research.

 

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Report on ESA mapping to be submitted next week

T. Nandakumar 
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 12, 2014

With Chief Minister Oommen Chandy scheduled to meet Union Minister for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar next week, the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSSB) has fast-tracked the preparation of a report on the demarcation of ESAs (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) in the 123 villages identified by the K. Kasturirangan Committee for conservation of the Western Ghats. The office of the Chief Minister confirmed that Mr. Chandy would meet Mr. Javadekar in New Delhi on October 16.

The talks are likely to centre on the exclusion of human settlements and agricultural land from the ESAs demarcated by the High-Level Working Group (HLWG) led by Mr. Kasturirangan.

Oommen V. Oommen, KSSB chairman, said the fine-tuning of the ESA maps was in the final stages.

He said the work was expected to be submitted to Mr. Chandy before he leaves for New Delhi. The block-level cadastral maps demarcating the ESAs are being electronically stitched together to prepare village-level maps.

A report indicating the ESA and non-ESA areas within each survey number is also being prepared.

Revised draft

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has sought the report for inclusion in the revised draft notification on the Kasturirangan committee, to be issued shortly.

The KSBB had taken up the job of fine-tuning the cadastral maps after paucity of funds forced the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre (KSREC) to drag its feet on a project to digitize the ESA maps and convert them to the GIS (Geographic Information System) format.

The cadastral-level maps, with different colour codes to indicate forests, residential areas, waterbodies and rocks, were prepared following a draft notification issued by the MoEF in March redefining the territorial extent of the ESAs in Kerala.

Earlier, the Kasturirangan Committee had earmarked 13,108 sq km across 123 villages in Kerala as ESA.

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Palmyra on the wane

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 5, 2014 

Palmyra trees, which used to define the landscape of the areas in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad bordering the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, are fast becoming a rarity. The tall palms with their fan-shaped leaves are steadily declining in numbers, a report prepared by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) reveals.

The shift to other crops, difficulty in finding tree climbers, and the disappearance of the once-thriving palmyra-based industries have spelt the death knell for the Asian palmyra palm ( Borassus flabellifer ) in Kerala. Growing up to 30 m, the hardy species has been known to survive extreme heat conditions and live up to 100 years.

Report sought

The KSBB took up the study after the Assembly Committee on Environment headed by C.P. Mohammed sought a report from the government on the threats faced by palmyra trees in the State and the conservation measures to be adopted.

The report notes that the population of the tree is clearly on the decline. Once an integral part of the rural livelihood, palmyra-based products are losing their appeal, despite their unique dietary and nutritional qualities, says K.P. Laladhas, member secretary, KSBB.

Qualities of palmyra

Observing that the palmyra was largely disease-free and required little or no maintenance, the report suggests that it could be promoted as a key species to combat global warming and climate change.

It points out that the medicinal properties ascribed to many parts of the palmyra could be exploited effectively to enhance appeal and create a demand for products such as palmyra toddy, akkani (a sweet drink made from the processed sap), nongu (palmyra nut) palm sugar, and palm jaggery.

Palmyra garden

The KSBB has mooted the creation of a palmyra botanical garden in Palakkad district to conserve and propagate the species. Mr. Laladhas said the garden could be set up with the assistance of panchayat-level biodiversity management committees. He said the palm could also be planted along roadsides.

 

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Flowering plants of Western Ghats get a reference

T. Nandakumar
Thiruvananthapuram,  
The Hindu, October 5, 2014 

As a global biodiversity hotspot and a world heritage site, the Western Ghats is a magnet for conservationists, nature lovers, scientists and researchers hoping to delve into the secrets of its abundant flora and fauna. But despite decades of study by individuals and groups, an essential reference work cataloguing the rich biodiversity of the region has remained a dream.

In a bid to address this need, scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) at Palode near here have come out with a comprehensive work on the flowering plants of the Western Ghats.

Published in two volumes, the 1,700-page book reveals the occurrence of a total of 7,402 species of flowering plants in the region, out of which 5,588 species are native or indigenous. Of the rest, 376 are exotics naturalised and 1,438 species are cultivated or planted as ornamentals.

The study carried out by the authors shows that 2,253 out of the indigenous species are endemic to India, with 1,273 species exclusively confined to the Western Ghats. The study also provides details about 593 subspecies and varieties.

Three authors

Authored by T.S. Nayar, A. Rasiya Beegam and M. Sibi, the book provides the correct scientific name, associated synonyms, nature of each species (tree, shrub, herb etc.), its distribution in the Western Ghats and the world, flowering and fruiting time, threat category status, and all kinds of uses and local names in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil.

“The book is relevant in the backdrop of the gross depletion of genetic resources in the Western Ghats,” says Dr. Nayar.

“As much as 40 per cent of the original vegetation here has already been converted for cultivation, plantation and hydro-electric projects. Other human activities like hunting, mining, construction of roads and wind farms also pose serious threats to the biodiversity,” he says.

In his foreword, eminent agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan describes the book as an invaluable guide to all interested in the flora of the unique ecosystem of the Western Ghats.

For details, dial 09446464658.

 

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Panel to study damage caused by wild boars

K.S. Sudhi
KOCHI,  
The Hindu, October 4, 2014 

A three-member committee of wildlife experts has been formed in the State to study the damage caused by wild boars to the forest ecosystem and small wild animals and to compare the measures adopted by developed countries in facing the ‘mishap caused by wild pigs.’

The State Forest Department formed the committee following an order issued by the Kerala State Human Rights Commission.

Quoting from a petition filed before the panel by M.L. Augusthi of Idukki and N. Devarajan of Koduman grama panchayat, Commission chairman J.B. Koshy directed that the Forest Department study how the issue was handled in developed countries such as the U.S., Australia and Britain.

The experts were asked to report on the destruction caused by the wild pigs to ‘agriculture as well as to the ecosystem’ and, most particularly, comprehend the ‘threat faced by the living organisms, especially human beings,’ from the wild animal.

Petitioners’ plea

The petitioners had contended that the animals were one of the causative factors for the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. They argued that developed countries were giving priority to curb the population of the crop-raiding wild boar population.

An order issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Kerala after constituting the committee pointed out that the Commission had summarised the relevant portions of the petition that ‘there was no impediment even in developed countries for the trapping, shooting, killing and making use of the flesh of the wild boars causing damage to the land owners.’

The Wildlife Warden had also indicated that ‘according to the Commission, there was huge increase in the population of the wild pigs fore to excessive breeding like rats.’

M. Amruth, scientist, Kerala Forest Research Institute; P.O. Nameer, Associate Professor, Kerala Agricultural University; and P. Pugazhendi, Chief Conservator of Forest (Southern Circle), are members of the three-member committee constituted by the Wildlife Warden. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 30 days.

The Commission has also directed the Forest Department to furnish a statement on the compensation paid to farmers whose agricultural produces were destroyed by crop-raiding wild boars.

 

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Drive to save mangroves

KANNUR,  
The Hindu, October 4, 2014

A public awareness campaign about the importance of protecting mangroves will begin here on October 11.

Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan will flag-off the Kandal Vana Samrakshana Yatra in which 15 MLAs from different parts of the State will participate.

The ‘yatra’ is planned as visits by the people’s representatives to the mangrove-rich areas in the State to highlight the message of mangrove protection. Kannur, which accounts for the largest extent of mangrove vegetation in the State, has been selected for the launch of the campaign. The yatra here is being organised by the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department and the Taliparamba Janakeeya Vikasana Samithi. A release issued by MLAs T.V. Rajesh and James Mathew said a proposal for the campaign to send across the message of mangrove conservation was made at a workshop held at the Kerala Forest Research Institute at Peechi on August 29 and 30.

The MLAs would visit the mangroves in boats as part of the campaign, they said.

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Mari’s conservation efforts get rewarded

K.A. Shaji
Palakkad,  
The Hindu, October 1, 2014 

Mari is a name now synonymous with forest conservation. The 46-year-old Muduga tribal’s contribution to preserving the rich biodiversity of the rainforests of Silent Valley in Palakkad district and to research on its flora and fauna by top scientists in the past three decades have been immense.

This guardian angel of forests started off as a 15-year-old daily wage worker with the Forest Department, working to preserve the sensitive Poochipara-Walakkad region of Silent Valley. His much-longed for desire to become a permanent employee of the department came true on Monday when Mari, who has hardly lower primary-level education, joined the service as a tribal watcher after passing a Public Service Commission (PSC) examination with first rank. His well-wishers in the department have also ensured his continued service for the Silent Valley.

Conservationists across the State remember him as the son of Letchiappan, on whom environmentalists had relied to record the uniqueness of the rainforests in the early 1980s when the movement to save Silent Valley got going.

“The studies the environmentalists did to buttress their argument to save the unique ecosystem of Silent Valley owed quite a lot to Letchiappan, who is unknown except among those who participated actively in the movement,” says N. Baburaj, a senior staff member of the Silent Valley Forest Range Office.

Mari soon followed in his father’s footsteps.

He accompanied scientists and researchers who reached Silent Valley to study its ecosystem.

“He knows more about Silent Valley than any of the forest officers. Every nook and corner of the forests is under his close vigil,” says P.S. Panikker, an environmentalist.

Experts from the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Centre, the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, and the Kerala Forest Research Centre have acknowledged Mari’s contribution to conservation.

It was only two years ago that he was presented with a conservation award instituted in memory of former Chief Conservator of Forests N. Madhavan Pillai. The award carried a purse of Rs.1 lakh.

Mari is at present a member of the Kerala State Wildlife Board headed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

 

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