Environment and Ecology
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
▪ The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to carry out a detailed survey of the Agasthyamalai landscape to identify any non-forestry activities and encroachments.
▪ Aim of the Survey: To identify all instances of non-forestry activities that violate statutory laws like the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
▪ To provide comparative forest cover data to reveal the extent of degradation.
▪ Key Areas Under Survey:
✓ Periyar Tiger Reserve
✓ Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary
✓ Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
✓ Thirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuary
▪ Agasthyamalai:
✓ It is part of a 3,500 sq. km biosphere reserve recognised by UNESCO.
✓ It stretches across Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the southernmost stretch of the Western Ghats.
✓ The Neelakkurinji flower, which blooms once every 12 years, grows in this landscape.
✓ The region is inhabited by indigenous communities, especially the Kani tribe.
