Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

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The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in India established in 2001, located in the southernmost end of the Western Ghats and includes 3,500.36 km² (1,351.50 sq mi) of which 1828 km² is in Kerala and 1672.36 km² is in Tamil Nadu. It encompasses the following wildlife sanctuaries: Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.^[1]^[2]

In 2016, Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.^[3]

Location

ABR straddles the border of Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram Districts in Kerala and Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu, South India at the southern end of the Western Ghats. The Biosphere lies Between 8° 8' to 9° 10' North Latitude and 76° 52' to 77° 34' East Longitude. Central location is 8°39′N 77°13′E / 8.650°N 77.217°E / 8.650; 77.217 .

It is composed of Neyyar,^[4] Peppara^[5] and Shendurney^[6] Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas of Achencoil,^[7] Thenmala, Konni,^[8] Punalur, Thiruvananthapuram Divisions and Agasthyavanam Special Division in Kerala.^[9] Inclusion of adjoining areas of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu has been approved. The reserve now covers parts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta Districts in Kerala.^[2]

Ecology

ABR includes the Indian Ecoregions of tropical wet evergreen forests,^[10] South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, South Western Ghats montane rain forests and Shola. It is the habitat for 2,000 varieties of medicinal plants, of which at least 50 are rare and endangered species. Animals include the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, and Nilgiri tahr. Agastyamalai is also home to the Kanikaran,^[11]^[12] one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in the world.^[13] Ecotourism is popular in the area.

Kanikkarans are the Original tribal Settlers in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.^[14]

Management

A local committee and a state level Biosphere Management Committee co-ordinate the activities of various departments in the ABR area and ensure the scientific management of the ABR according to guidelines of the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests.^[15]^[16]

References

^ Kerala Forests & Wildlife Dept, Biosphere Reserves.Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
^ ^a ^b Tamil Nadu Forest Department (2007) retrieved 2 September 2007 AGASTHIYARMALAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE Archived 2008-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
^ UNESCO, World Network of Biosphere Reserves, Agasthyamalai. retrieved 19 March 2016 World Network Of Biosphere Reserves
^ Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Archived 2007-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Archived 2007-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
^ Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary Archived 2007-12-26 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Achencoil, Kerala". Archived from the original on 13 November 2004. Retrieved 15 February 2007.
^ Konni, Kerala
^ AGASTHYAVANAM BIOLOGICAL PARK, Kerala
^ "Agasthyamala". The Hindu. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
^ Anuradha, R. V. (15 January 2014). "Sharing with the Kanis, A case study from Kerala, India" (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
^ "Ministry of Forests and Environment-Report Ch10 Biodiversity/Kanis". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
^ "Environment Ministry to soon declare Agastyamalai a biosphere reserve". The Hindu. 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
^ UNESCO World Heritage Site
^ Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department
^ Wildlife Institute of India

External links

[1] Kerala Forests & Wildlife Dept, Biosphere Reserves.Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

[AGASTHIYARMALAI_BIOSPHERE_RESERVE-2] Tamil Nadu Forest Department (2007) retrieved 2 September 2007 AGASTHIYARMALAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE Archived 2008-12-30 at the Wayback Machine

[UNESCO-3] UNESCO, World Network of Biosphere Reserves, Agasthyamalai. retrieved 19 March 2016 World Network Of Biosphere Reserves

[4] Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Archived 2007-05-27 at the Wayback Machine

[5] Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Archived 2007-01-05 at the Wayback Machine

[6] Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary Archived 2007-12-26 at the Wayback Machine

[7] "Achencoil, Kerala". Archived from the original on 13 November 2004. Retrieved 15 February 2007.

[8] Konni, Kerala

[9] AGASTHYAVANAM BIOLOGICAL PARK, Kerala

[10] "Agasthyamala". The Hindu. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2019.

[11] Anuradha, R. V. (15 January 2014). "Sharing with the Kanis, A case study from Kerala, India" (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved 5 April 2024.

[12] "Ministry of Forests and Environment-Report Ch10 Biodiversity/Kanis". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2007.

[13] "Environment Ministry to soon declare Agastyamalai a biosphere reserve". The Hindu. 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.

[14] UNESCO World Heritage Site

[15] Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department

[16] Wildlife Institute of India

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v t e Protected areas of Kerala
Biosphere reserves	Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
National parks	Anamudi Shola National Park Eravikulam National Park Karimpuzha National Park Mathikettan Shola National Park Pampadum Shola National Park Periyar National Park Silent Valley National Park
Wildlife sanctuaries	Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Kurinjimala Sanctuary Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Bird sanctuaries	Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary Pathiramanal Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Protected areas of India

v t e Protected areas of Tamil Nadu
Biosphere reserves	Agasthyamalai Gulf of Mannar Nilgiris
National parks	Anamalai Grass Hills Guindy Gulf of Mannar Karian Shola Mudumalai Mukurthi
Wildlife sanctuaries	Anamalai Cauvery North Cauvery South Gangaikondan Grizzled Squirrel Kadavur Kalakkad Kanyakumari Megamalai Mudumalai Kodaikanal Mundanthurai Point Calimere Sathyamangalam Periyar Nellai Vallanadu
Bird sanctuaries	Chitrangudi Kallaperambur Kanjirankulam Karaivetti Karikili Kazhuveli Koothankulam Melaselvanur-Kilaselvanur Nanjarayan Point Calimere Pulicat Lake Suchindram Theroor Udayamarthandapuram Vaduvoor Vedanthangal Vellode Vettangudi Viralimalai
Tiger reserves	Anamalai Kalakkad Mundanthurai Mudumalai Sathyamangalam Megamalai
Elephant reserves	Agasthyamalai Anamalai Coimbatore Mudumalai Srivilliputhur
Conservation reserves	Tiruvidaimarudur
Protected areas of India