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.

Wildlife tours in Kerala

Wildlife Tourism in Kerala

The State of Kerala is having unique physical features with mountains, plains, and marshes with tropical forests. The varied biotopes naturally present a rich and varied biodiversity. The coastline, narrow stretch of low land and plains sandwiched between sea and mountains, and a number of microclimatic regions in the mountains cause for unique niches in biodiversity spectrum.

Protected Forests

Tropical wet evergreen forest 

Kerala has nearly 8000 sq. km forest area that constitutes protected forests where any kind of logging is prohibited. There are 5 national parks , 11 wildlife sanctuaries 4  bird sanctuary and two tiger reserve and biosphere reserve, which account for 2315 sq. km, i.e. about 25% of the total forest area of Kerala. Such conservation area, when managed scientifically, can contribute significantly towards in-situ conservation of biological resources of Kerala.. The farm forests ,backwaters and village ecosystem of the state is also rich in biodiversity.

Wildlife Tourism in Kerala

Immersed into nature

Wildlife tourism has developed recently as a sector of tourism industry. Though Periyar Tiger reserve has a long history of tourism activities, rest of the forest and wildlife are closed for tourists and general public till 1995. In 1995, after accepting World bank funding for forest development the government obliged to start public participation in forest management. There by people who living inside and immediate peripherals of protected forest were also participated in forest management. They constituted Eco-development committees in Sanctuaries and Vana Samrakshana Samithy in reserve forests.

            Wildlife tourism, when managed in the absence of well thought-out plans and programmes, may spell doom to natural habitats. Apart from this, the cultural shock imparted the tourism on the local communities may put their very survival in danger. With this point in mind wildlife tourism conducting in strict ecotourism principles ,primarily means marketing the serene natural habitats as tourism 'product' with an inherent element of nature education. It is aimed at making the visitor aware of the protective, productive and regulatory functions of the forests. For wildlife tourism to be sustainable, it has to be small scale in terms of tourist numbers, physical infrastructure and facilities.

For wildlife tourism to be truly a form of environmentally conscious tourism and not just pursuit of remote pristine locations, it has to be sustainable with the continuous capacity to:
- safeguard natural environment and biodiversity, the very basis of tourist attraction.
- provide and maintain the quality of tourist experience and satisfaction, and
- benefit the local people in the area.
Major tourism activities

Quick visit and organized day tours as being practised now cannot be called ecotourism. It is only mass tourism. This type of quick and ready made tours is conducted in Periyar Tiger Reserve in a mass level. Though the authorities are trying to control and regulate the number of visitors, every day the visitors are increasing. This is mainly due to the unregulated promotion of mass tourism by tour operator companies with a view to increase their business. As the number of tourists increase ecotourism becomes mass tourism and generates similar infrastructural demands and proportionate impact on environment as conventional tourism. So it is better to avoid such activities if you are really concerned of ecotourism.

Nature trails:

Nature Trails

Nature trails offer excellent experience of nature if going with a group less than 6 persons. To enjoy wildlife, nature and birds, nature trails guided by an educated naturalist is essential. Now a days most of the tour operators offers wildlife sighting in nature trails, which is against wildlife tourism. Sighting of wildlife is a matter of chance. Nature trails are aimed at educating participants about the ecosystem and biodiversity, than sighting animals.

Nature trails are offered in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary,  Peppara WLS, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Pampadumchola NP, Eravikulam NP, Chinnar WLS, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Nelliyampathy hills, Silent Valley NP etc. The walking safaris are available from 3hrs to full day. No walking tours and nature trails are allowed in Wayanad WLS.  

Jungle Camping:

Jungle camps in Kerala

Nature trail with jungle camping is the best experience in wildlife tourism. Walking though the wildlife zone involves certain level of danger, but enthralling. Camping inside jungle in permanent camp sheds enjoying the dusk and dawn offers real experience of jungle.

Jungle camps are offered in  Chinnar WLS, Pampadumchola NP, Parambikulam TR, Periyar TR, Nellyampathy hills, Eravikulam NP etc. One can opt multiple days nature trails and camping.

Jeep Safaris

Wildlife Safaris

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is the only place in Kerala which offers Jeep Safari inside wildlife zone with exclusive safari experience. Safaris also conducted in Silent Valley and Periyar Tiger Reserve, but not yielding good experience. There are many companies offered jeep safaris in the peripherals of wildlife sanctuaries. Though it may yield sighting of wildlife sometimes, is not an ecotourism activity or a legal tour. Like wise there are offers for night safaris. No wildlife sanctuary offers night ride , which is against wildlife tourism principles.

Vehicle safaris offered by Parambikulam TR is not at all an interesting wildlife experience and not properly organized.

Bird watching: Western Ghats as Most Endemic Birding Area. Demand for birding is increasing day by day.

Birding tours

Bird watching programme in wildlife sanctuaries are not organized properly. Now birders has to depend on tour operators or birding guides for bird watching in wildlife sanctuaries. Any how all of our sanctuaries are rich habitat for birds. The BLI recommended

Boat Safaris

Wildlife Boat Safaris

Boat safari is conducted in Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Bamboo rafting:

Bamboo rafting in Parambikulam

Bamboo rafting is conducted in Periyar Tiger Reserve and Parambikulam Tiger reserve.

The forest and wildlife enclaves of Kerala offer excellent nature experience.  

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