Shola forest of Western Ghats

‘Tropical Temperate Forest’ is a new term used in forest typology. It denotes a rare  type of forest found in high altitude ranges of South Western Ghats lying above 1500MSL. This forest is popularly known as ‘Sholas’ locally. The peculiarities of Shola are identified at least from ‘Sangam Age’ of South India (2200 BP). Technically this forest belongs to ‘Tropical Montane Forest’ represented to the continents of Asia, Africa & S. America. The Southern Wet Temperate forest or Shola is distributed in Nilgiris (north of Palakkad gap, between Mettupalayam and Wayanad plateau.), Anamalais (between Nelliyampathy Hills and Periyar delta), Palany Hills (Eastward offshoot of Ghats from Anamudi to Kodaikanal), and Agasthyar Hills.

           

Terminology

The name ‘Shola’ denoting southern wet temperate forest, is derived from ancient Tamil word ‘Cholai’ which is used both Malayalam and Tamil languages. ‘Chola’ means thickets of wooded area with a stream. This term is widely used in the high altitude areas of South Western Ghats. The ancient migration of people from eastward plateau of the Ghats in Anamalais and Palani is recoganised with prehistoric cave arts and megaliths. These relics found in sholas and adjourned areas, reveal the fact that ancient migration continues through ages from prehistoric period to historic period.

            The shola forest is of two types. One which denote Montane forests (southern hilltop tropical evergreen forests) exist between 1300-1800 m above MSL and the other denote montane wet temperate forests (southern montane wet temperate forests) exist 1800 m above MSL and are found in pockets' supporting stunted trees.

Southern Hill Top Tropical Evergreen forest-

Features: Close affinity with tropical evergreen forest. Due to its presents in mountains above 1300MSL in this forest, temperature seldom exceeds 20 dc. Rainfall is heavy; sometimes records more than 6000mm. Humidity is above 80%. Unlike tropical evergreen forest , the trees are not taller and seldom attain more than 25mtrs and the spread of crowns are bigger than evergreen trees. Animals of the tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forest are adapted to this forest and almost all of these animals are found in this forest. Like wise many species restricted to ‘tropical temperate’ forest are also found in this forest (Eg.Nilgiri Marten). It is same with bird diversity, that these forests hold both species from TTF and TEF.

            Ecological importance of this forest is its support to the water runoff to the rivers of Kerala. Though it is less than 1% of the total forest area of the ghats , it support to maintain the water level of rivers through out the year. This forests faced mass destruction from plantations and reduced to certain protected forest areas.

            Best seen at : Munnar (Pampadumchola, Mannavanchola, Idivaraichola, Pullaradichola,  Manthanshola, Chokkanad shola,), Anamalais (Attakatty shola, Kadanpara shola, Pampumalai shola, Attumalai shola etc.) Palani hills (Kukkal shola, Periyashola etcc), Nilgiris, Pathanamthitta ( Ranni forest and along Periyar South east), Agasthyar hills, Athirumalai, Wayanad (Garudapara, Bhramagir hills) etc.

Southern montane wet temperate forest: This type of vegetation occurred in mountain folding and cliffs in upper reaches of mountains. This type of forests is mostly found in Anamalais, Nilgiri and Palani hills. Temperature seldom exceeds 15dc, and rainfalls exceeds 4000 mm. Humidity is 80% to 100%.

            Peculiarity of this forest is its short and stunted trees and growth. This forest is interspersed with high grassland. The vegetation is controlled by wind and mist. The grassland is an integral part of this forest and formed a single biome- shola-grassland. Many species of animals, birds and plants are restricted to this forest. Eg. Nilgiri marten, Nilgir tahr, Clawless otter, Door mouse etc.

Best seen at : Eravikulam National Park, Grassland National Park, Sisapara and Niliri hills, Palani hills, Kundah hills etc.