Biodiversity Register of Sasthamkotta and Vellayani lakes released The Biodiversity INSIDE THIS ISSUE Register of Sastham kotta and Vellayani Editorial 2 lakes were released From Chairman’s by Hon.Chief Minister Desk 3 of Shri. Oommen Chandy. The Register KSBB Events 4 was received by former Member of Paris Pact 6 Parliament Shri. New Species 7 Thennala Balakrishna Pillai. Chairman of Green Tales 8 Kerala State Biodiversity Board Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Member Secretary Dr .K.P Laladhas, President of Kalliyoor Grama Panchayat Adv. Udayakumar, PSC Member Adv. V. S Harindranath and Shri.Baburaj were present. The Register contains complete information on the Hon’ble Chief Minister Oommen Chandy releasing Biodiversity Register of Sasthamkotta and Vellayani lakes biodiversity of Sasthamkotta and Vellayani lakes. The register of Sasthamkotta was prepared with the help of the Joint Biodiversity Management Committee constituted for conservation of the Lake and the register of Vellayani lake was prepared with the help of BMC of Kalliyoor. KSBB Annual State level review meeting held The Annual State Level Review Meeting of PBR project was conducted on 16th and 17th October 2015 at Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad. The programme was presided by Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, Kerala State Biodiversity Board. He requested all the staff to initiate action for reconstituting the Biodiversity Management Committees. A training workshop will be conducted to all the newly elected Presidents of LSGs in the State with the support of Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), Thrissur. Dr. Oommen V. Oommen asked the District Co_ordinators to equip BMCs to sincerely perform their role as ‘Environmental Watch Groups’. Dr. K.P. Laladhas, Member Secretary in his address, said that the Board is looking forward to implement various conservation programmes with the involvement of newly constituted BMCs. Fr. Jose Kulirani, Patron of Shanthidara Ashramam in his felicitation address appreciated KSBB’s activities for biodiversity conservation. This was followed by presentation on district wise activities by District coordinators regarding PBR preparation, establishment of Biodiversity club, Status of Shantisthals, Conservation programmes and projects successfully implemented by the BMCs in the district with the support of KSBB. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. N.P. Suresh Babu, Senior Programme Coordinator, Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, KSBB KSBB. addressing the audience EDITORIAL BOARD

Chairman_KSBB Chief Editor Editor Asst.Editors Layout & Design Dr. Oommen V. Oommen Dr. K. P. Laladhas, G. S. Unnikrishnan Nair Dr. Preetha N, Dr. Vijayasree A. S Vinod A.G Member Secretary, KSBB Mithrambika N.B, Dr. Baijulal B 2

Biodiversity Conservation Strategies - Vision 2030 invasive species also being key drivers walls have been constructed in as much Dr. K.P.Laladhas, of population decline. Kerala is as 53% of coast. The key challenges Member Secretary, witnessing a decadal rate of urbanization, before Kerala are the share of forestry KSBB _ Chief Editor a Rural Urban Continuum with in total GSDP has been declining concentration in coastal and mid land continuously and the wetlands are regions and 48% of the people are being used beyond their carrying The list of new discoveries released on residing in urban areas. The Perspective capacity in many locations. the World Environment Day 2015 by Plan 2030, State Planning Board EDITORIAL the Botanical Survey of (BSI) projects that during the period of 20 Environmental main streaming is a and the Zoological Survey of India years, the urban population will major, practical component of sustainable (ZSI), recorded 349 new species of flora increase from 15.9 million in 2011 to development and Kerala will need to and fauna in the past year including 23.1 million in 2021 and further to 24.1 shift to a green accounting system to 173 species of plants and 176 species million in 2031. A major stretch of assess its economic prosperity. This of animals. Western Ghats accounted Kerala coast (63%) is eroding. Sea can be achieved only through creation for 22 per cent of the new discoveries, of sustainable communities, able to while the Eastern Himalayas and the manage and use resources efficiently north_eastern States each accounted and informed inclusion of relevant for 15 per cent of the species found. Out environmental concerns into sectoral of this 57 faunal species were development strategies, rules, plans, discovered from Kerala. investment and action. KSBB is in the process of updating State Biodiversity Although we continue to discover new Strategies and Action Plan, in line with species, it is predicted that species Aichi targets.The implementation of extinction rates will outpace discoveries. SAP will be a challenging task and The loss and degradation of habitats calls for active involvement of several are identified as the main threat to departments and let us hope that 85% of all species described on the together we can take forward our efforts IUCN Red List, with illegal trade and Impatiens lohitensis for a sustainable future. INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY - 11 DECEMBER 2015 Promoting mountain products for better livelihoods The United Nations General Assembly designated 11 December “International Mountain Day”. As of 2003, it has been observed every year to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world. “Promoting mountain products” is the theme chosen for this year’s celebration of International Mountain Day. Globalization offers opportunities for mountain producers to market their high quality mountain products, such as coffee, cocoa, honey, herbs, spices and handicrafts at the national, regional and international levels. Though mountain agriculture cannot compete with the prices and volumes of lowland production, it can concentrate on high value, high quality products to boost local economies. In places like Kerala, unique products like spices, having distinct favour and taste are produced in mountains.Tourism_related services such as skiing, climbing, cultural heritage or nature trails that allow visitors to discover unique biodiversity are also some of the offerings provided by mountains and mountain communities. If sustainably managed, farm tourism can provide an opportunity for development in mountain regions. Spice Tourism in of Kerala is such an initiative. International Mountain Day 2015 provides an occasion to highlight, how mountain communities are protecting biodiversity by producing a large variety of typical products and providing crucial goods and services to all of us. 3

2015 - Time for Global Action

building relationships, mobilizing strong institutions and partnerships, resources, and raising awareness. and more. The COP 21- Paris Climate Conference At the United Nations Sustainable was held in December, 2015 and 195 Dr.Oommen V. Oommen Chairman, KSBB Development Summit on 25 September nations agreed to combat climate change 2015, more than 150 world leaders and take actions towards a low carbon, It’s not too late at all. You just don’t yet know adopted the new 2030 Agenda for sustainable future. The agreement what you are capable of- Sustainable Development and the calls for holding an increase in the Mahatma Gandhi Sustainbale Development Goals global average temperature to well

FROM CHAIRMAN’S DESK (SDGs). The summit resolved to end below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit The year 2015 is a year of historic the temperature increase to 1.5°C. A milestones. The COP 12 to the Ramsar carbon_neutral world is aimed at after Convention on Wetlands held during 2050 but before 2100 and countries June 2015 adopted a new Strategic agreed to set national targets for reducing Plan with four key priorities to guide greenhouse gas emissions every five years. national and international actions for wetland conservation until 2024. The All the three international initiatives first priority is to stem wetland targeted at wetlands, climate change degradation by ensuring that policy- and sustainable development served to makers understand the value and address the principal drivers of benefits provided by wetlands. The Photo: Riyas Arun biodiversity loss. The year 2015 can be second priority is a renewed commitment poverty and hunger by 2030 and to seen as a wakeup call to all the to conserve and protect the existing ensure the lasting protection of the countries. This is the time for Global network of Ramsar sites. The third is planet and its natural resources. The Action and leaders, policy makers and to promote the wise use of all wetlands 17 new goals, aim to end poverty, hunger citizens have a responsibility to act, ensuring the conservation of biodiversity. and inequality, take action on climate thinking beyond regional and national The fourth priority is to improve the change and the environment, improve boundaries to end today’s global threats implementation of the Convention through access to health and education, build to Biodiversity. WORLD FOOD DAY 2015 Farmers play the key role in fighting hunger The topic for 2015 World Food Day was “Social protection and Agriculture”, which aims to underline the role social protection plays in reducing chronic food insecurity and poverty by ensuring direct access to food or the means to buy food. Farmers are the key actors in the process of fighting hunger and finding concrete remedies that address issues affecting food security and nutrition. They, in fact, have the task of producing quality safe food in order to achieve the goal of food security for everyone. In order to guarantee this result and face this challenge, it is crucial to ensure that farmers have access to infrastructures, credit and functioning markets. Farmers also need to have access to science, innovation and knowledge, which are essential for the development of the agricultural sector.WFO the topic is appropriate as it reflects a clear intention to highlight important agriculture_ related issues, drawing attention to achievements in rural development and encouraging agricultural food production. 2016 International Year of Pulses The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been nominated to facilitate the implementation of the Year in collaboration with Governments, relevant organizations, non-governmental organizations and all other relevant stakeholders.

The IYP 2016 aims to heighten public awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition. The year will create an unique opportunity _ to encourage connections throughout the food chain that would better utilize pulse based proteins, furtherChelonia global production mydas of pulses, better utilize crop rotations and address the challenges in the trade of pulses. Pulse crops such as lentils, beans, peas and chickpeas are a critical part of the general food basket. Pulses are a vital source of plant-based proteins and amino acids for people around the globe and should be eaten as part of a healthy diet to address obesity, as well as to prevent and help manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary conditions and cancer; they are also an important source of plant_based protein for animals. In addition, pulses are leguminous plants that have nitrogen_fixing properties which can contribute to increasing soil fertility and have a positive impact on the environment. 4

KSBB EVENTS •As part of the Peer to Peer Learning Programme funded by National Biodiversity Authority, officials of Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) visited Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (MPSBB) during August last week to learn the best practices in biodiversity governance. The team was led by Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman of KSBB. Dr. K. P. Laladhas, Member Secretary of KSBB, District Coordinators P. Krishnan, Dr. M. Ramesh and Prof . R. V. Ibrahim participated in the tour. •A community to community learning exchange was organized by United Nations University_ Institute for the Advanced Study KSBB team with the staff of Madhya Pradesh of Sustainability (UNU_IAS) along with GIZ, the Foundation State Biodiversity Board during their visit to MP for the Revitalization of Local Health Traditions and National Biodiversity Authority of India. A group of eight workshop participants from Africa and India including Equator Prize winners Nomsa Mabila and Anoop P. K, visited KSBB on 28th September to gain first-hand knowledge on the application of ABS at community level. Chairman, KSBB gave an introduction regarding the implementation of ABS in Kerala. •A monitoring team from National Medicinal Plants Board visited Wayanad on 29/11/2015 to review the progress of the project Resource Augmentation, Sustainable Harvesting and Value Addition of Medicinal Plant Resources through Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC). The team appreciated the work done by the BMC and it was opined that the project can be developed as a model project for sustainable harvesting of bio resources by BMC. •As part of the Peer to Peer Learning Programme funded by National Biodiversity Authority, officials of Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) visited Karnataka State Biodiversity Board. The study enabled to learn best practices in ABS implementation. •The 37th KSBB Board meeting was conducted on 27/11/2015 •An assessment of the Sacred groves of Kerala is being conducted Chairman, KSBB addressing the team from Africa in 14 districts of Kerala. The biodiversity assesment is done using latest tools of ODK software for mapping the exact location and area of the sacred groves. •The Students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai conducted a Social Impact Study in Thavinjal , with help of KSBB. A preliminary study focused on the socio economic conditions of the tribes and opportunities for ensuring a fair share for ensuring sustainable livelihood to the tribes was conducted. •An expert committee meeting for verification and identification of photographs and specimens of fauna collected as part of Marine Biodiversity Register was conducted at Trivandrum on 9/09/2015 and 21/10/2015. •KSBB has initiated work for a rapid survey of pre_construction status of the proposed Vizhinjam International Seaport. The status and trends of fish landings as also bycatch will be evaluated along with the socio_economic conditions of the fishermen in the locality. •As part of the Peer to Peer Programme funded by National Biodiversity Authority, officials of Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) visited Assam State Biodiversity Board. Further, they toured to the Kaziranga National Park and other biodiversity rich areas of Assam. •Members of the Biodiversity board from Telangana and BMC members , under the aegis of the Telangana State Biodiversity Board, visited Kerala State Biodiversity Board. They discussed about the constitution of BMC and PBR preparation with KSBB officials. The team visited Manikkal grama panchayat to study the achievements of the panchayat in biodiversity conservation and awareness. •The Chairman and Member Secretary, KSBB attended the National level SBB meet at MoEF on 27/08/2015. The meet discussed about the modalities for implementing ABS in states and updating state biodiversity targets. •The district level competition for 8th Children’s Biodiversity Congress is being conducted in all districts. The competition Shri. P.K Gurudasan, MLA visiting KSBB stall at includes Painting, Poster, Story writing and Project presentations. TKM Arts and Science College Expo 5

•A meeting on the modalities for implementation of Kerala Biodiversity Park at Vallakkadavu was conducted on 08/10/2015 at Trivandrum. Discussions focussed on designs plan including space plan, cabinets, internal partitioning, preparation of exhibits, specimens and models. •As part of Mangrove conservation programme, KSBB planted more than 1000 saplings of mangroves in Mangroves, .

•KSBB participated in the exhibition organized by Kerala State KSBB EVENTS Youth Welfare Board from December 3rd to 9th 2015 at Trivandrum. •KSBB participated in the exhibition organized by TKM Arts Planting of mangrove saplings at Asramam and Science college on 30th November 2015. Mangroves, Kollam •Dr. Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, KSBB delivered a talk on the topic ‘Challenges and Achievements of Biodiversity Conservation _ 2015’ in All India Radio on 28_12_2015. •As part of the Peer to Peer Programme funded by National Biodiversity Authority, KSBB team visited the Gosala at Shimoga where all the cattle breeds of India are kept. Symposium on Cage Aquaculture held at The 5th International Symposium on Cage aquaculture in Asia (CAA5) was organized by the Asian Fisheries Society and the ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), in association with the Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch, from 25th to 28th of November 2015 at Kochi, India. The event covered an array of topics related to cage culture under the broad headings of Marine Production Systems, Inland Production Systems, Breeding and Seed Production, Nutrition and Feed, Health and Environment Management and Symposium on Cage Aquaculture Economics, Livelihood and Policies. The symposium provided a platform for researchers, technologists, entrepreneurs and farmers to meet and share ideas on the current developments in the cage aquaculture. More than 300 delegates representing ten countries participated in this event. CAA5 also conducted a trade exhibition and had more than 21 exhibitors from around the globe. Kerala State Biodiversity Board with financial assistance from National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) participated in the symposium and exhibition. Panels depicting the marine biodiversity of India and Kerala, importance of conserving marine life and Aichi Biodiversity targets pertaining to conservation of marine diversity etc were exhibited in the KSBB Stall. Biodiversity assessment of Pookode Lake begins Photos: Sujith

Kerala State Biodiversity board has initiated a continuous assessment of Pookode Lake through biodiversity clubs of Wildlife Science Department, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Pookode, Wayanad. Pookode Lake is one of the high altitudinal (770MASL) fresh water lakes in Kerala. The initial survey conducted on 11th and 12th of November 2015 recorded 53 birds, 44 butterflies, 15 Dragon and damsel flies, 4 reptiles including 1 snake and 12 amphibians. Raorchestes nerostagona a species of bush frog, endemic to Western Ghats was one of the salient sightings. The species is also called lichen bush frog for cryptic lichen like patterning on body. The species exhibit high pitched call resembling the sound of falling rain drop. The frog has a specialized habitat as it is found in the forest canopy of tropical moist montane forests. The sighting of the critically endangered lichen bush frog (Raorchestes nerostagona) and other rare species of fauna indicate that the habitat is healthy and warrants protection. Pethia pookodensis is a fresh water cyprinid fish endemic to Pookode Lake, listed as critically endangered by IUCN. 6

195 nations seal historic Paris pact to stop global warming To rousing cheers and tears of relief, envoys from 195 nations approved an accord to stop global warming, offering hope that humanity can avert catastrophic climate change and usher in an energy revolution. In the COP 21 (Conference of the Parties) _ Paris climate conference held from November 30 to December 11, 2015, “The Paris agreement” to combat climate change and take actions towards a low carbon, sustainable future was agreed by 195 nations. Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement by the COP, it will be opened for signature. The agreement will enter into force after 55 countries that account for at least 55% of global emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification. The agreement is the global climate framework for the post_2020 world. It will replace the existing Kyoto Protocol which will continue till that time. Key features of Paris agreement are_ * Agreement calls for holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C * An overall assessment of how countries are doing in cutting their emissions compared to their national plans – starting in 2023, every five years. Climate action will also be taken forward in the period before 2020. * By some point after 2050, man-made emissions should be reduced to a level that forests and oceans can absorb. Thus a carbon_neutral world is aimed at after 2050 but before 2100. * Parties to peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century * The deal requires countries to monitor, verify and report their greenhouse gas emissions * Only developed countries are expected to slash their emissions in absolute terms; developing nations are “encouraged” to do so as their capabilities evolve over time. * The deal also calls on developed nations to give $100 billion annually to developing countries by 2020. In order to reach the long-term goal, countries agreed to set national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions every five years. More than 180 countries have already submitted targets for the first cycle beginning in 2020. India has submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Main points of India INDC are - •To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level •To achieve about 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non_fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030.

•To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. 30% increase in Tiger population There has been an increase of 30 percent in the population of Indian Tigers since 2010, reveals the 2014 tiger census. According to the tiger census, country had 1,411 tigers in 2008 while the number was hovering around 1706 in the year 2011. The latest tiger census in 2014 estimated 2,226 tigers present in the country. India contains 70 percent of the world’s tiger population and 30 percent population rise is commendable as well as it shows the active efforts put up by the governments, wildlife authorities and local people in protecting the precious animal. The tiger census has been taken in that massive scale and now we have unique photographs of 80% of the India’s tiger. In addition, the census conducted was highly reliable since it used better techniques to measure the population of tigers in the country. As per the 2014 tiger census, Karnataka (408) has the highest number of tigers in the age group of 1.5 years and more, which is followed by Uttarakhand (340), Madhya Pradesh (308), Tamil Nadu (229), Maharashtra (190), Assam (167), Kerala (136) and Uttar Pradesh (117). 7

Butterfly survey records 178 species Photos: Sujith, Sujin

A three_day joint survey was conducted by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) and the Forest and Wildlife Department to document butterfly diversity of North Wayand at three forest ranges under the North Wayanad Forest Division. The survey was inaugurated by Narendranath Velluri, DFO, North Wayanad. The three day survey recorded 178 species of butterflies which included 43 species of skippers, 44 species of blues, 15 species of swallow tails, 19 white and yellows, and 57 species of brush_footed butterflies. The butterfly, Sahyadri banded tail was recorded for the first time. Nine species endemic to Western Ghats region were also sighted. Rare species such as Danaid egg fly, Crimson rose and Malabar banded swallow tail were sighted at Mattilayam forest, Periya and Kuruva Island respectively. 171 persons including students participated in the survey. The sighting of 178 species reveals the rich butterfly diversity in the region. Factors like degradation of riparian forest in many part of the region are adversely affecting the butterfly habitat. New species discovered *A group of researchers at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) regional centre in discovered a new scorpion species of the genus Buthoscorpio Werner, 1936 from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki. The new species has been named ‘Busthoscorpio chinnarensis’. According to researchers the new species 4 _ 5 cm in length and black in colour was recorded in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary from a locality near Surulipatty

Tribal settlement area. It was found under a boulder showing the peculiar NEW SPECIES posture of holding the metasoma over the mesosoma giving the appearance Ghatixalus magnus of beetles. Species Buthoscorpio Werner, 1936 are rare and have a limited distribution represented by three species in India: Buthoscorpio politus, Buthoscorpio rayalensis, Buthoscorpio indicus and one in Sri Lanka -Buthoscorpio sarasinorum. * Team of researchers comprising of Robin Abraham and batrachologis Anil Zachariah have discovered a new species of tree frog named as Ghatixalus magnus in the Western Ghats in Kadalar High Ranges of Idukki district. It was discovered during their recent exploration in the Western Ghats. Ghatixalus magnus is a species of Rhacophorid tree frog of the genus Ghatixalus. It is large in size and biggest known tree frog from the Western Ghats. In their exploration, researchers also have rediscovered Raorchestes flaviventris, an elusive rhacophorid bush frog species in the Kadalar High Ranges of Idukki district in Kerala. The discovery has been published in the latest issue of International Taxonomic Journal Zootaxa. * A new species of cyprinid freshwater fish named Puntius Dolichopterus has been discovered in . It was discovered by Mathews Plamoottil, Head of the Department of Zoology in Baby John Memorial Government College of . The new fish was collected from a small water stream flowing in the heart of Kayamkulam city. It is characterised by the longer pectoral fin, shorter dorsal fin, unusually elongated dorsal spine, longer head, lesser number of lateral line scales and pre_dorsal scales. Toad’s Baby backpack Some frog species have also developed unusual ways of toting their offspring. The Suriname toad (Pipa pipa) of South America, for instance, may win the award for parental sacrifice. Instead of leaving her fertilized eggs in the water, where they’re vulnerable to predators, she embeds the eggs in the skin of her back. The amphibian then carries the eggs with her as the embryos mature into tadpoles. When they finally hatch, they simply emerge from the skin on her back, and then she simply sheds the damaged skin. STRANGE BUT TRUE 8 Guava _ Super fruit It’s the season for some delicious guavas. Guava is a tropical Trees and the Lion fruit rich in high_profile nutrients. With its unique flavour, An African folktale taste, and health-promoting qualities, the fruit easily fits Far away from a kingdom there was a huge jungle. In that into the category of new functional foods, often labelled as jungle, there were thousands of trees. Among them two were “super-fruits.” very good friends. They stood side by side. The same jungle 100 g fresh fruit was the home of many lions. Those lions used to kill other provides 228 mg of animals living in that jungle and eat them. The carcasses of vitamin C. Flesh just the dead animals used to stink and a foul smell would hang in GREEN TALES

NATURE HEALS NATURE underneath its outer the air. The whole atmosphere was bad to live in. thick rind contains One day, the two trees, who were friends, were talking. The exceptionally higher first tree said, “These lions are polluting our jungle. We have levels of vitamin C to save our jungle from them. They must be driven out of this than its inner creamy jungle.” pulp.Scientific studies suggest that regular consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge cancer causing harmful free radicals from the body. Further, it is required for collagen synthesis within the body. Collagen is one of the chief structural proteins in the human body required for maintaining integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs, and bones. The fruit is a very good source of Vitamin_A and flavonoids like beta_carotene, lycopene, lutein and cryptoxanthin. The compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and therefore essential for optimum health. Further, vitamin_A is also required for maintaining healthy mucosa and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in carotene is known to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers. 100 g of guava fruit provides 5204 µg of lycopene, nearly twice the amount “Yes,” agreed the other tree. than in tomatoes. (100 g tomato contains 2573 µg of lycopene). A wise old tree, who was listening to the friends said, “They Studies suggest that lycopene in pink guavas prevents skin might be polluting the air. But these wild creatures are keeping damage from UV rays and offer protection from prostate us safe from woodcutters. No woodcutter will dare to come cancer. The fruit is very rich source of soluble dietary fibre, into the forest which has lions.” which makes it a good bulk laxative. The fibre content helps But, this advice did not go into the minds of the trees. The two protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure friends decided to frighten the animals away. That evening, time to toxins as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals the two trees started shaking violently. “We will frighten the in the colon. Fresh guava fruit is a very rich source of lions away. They will be so terrified that they will leave this potassium. It contains more potassium than other fruits jungle and never come back into this jungle,” said the two like banana. Potassium is an important component of cell friends and laughed aloud. and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood The whole forest echoed with their laughter. “Do not do that,” pressure. shouted the wise tree. Further, the fruit is also a moderate source of B_complex But the two friends did not listen. They began moving in the vitamins such as pantothenic acid, niacin, vitamin_B6 wind and making eerie noises. All the other wild animals in (pyridoxine), vitamin E and K, as well as minerals like the forest were scared, seeing the two trees and the sounds magnesium, copper, and manganese. Manganese is used by they were creating. “There is something happening in the the body as a co_factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide forest. Let us run away,” they said. All the animals fled the dismutase. Copper is required for the production of red blood jungle. cells. Guavas contain folate, a mineral which helps promote The two friends were happy. “Huh! Now we can enjoy some fertility. fresh air,” they said. Due to the rich fibre content and low glycaemic index, guavas But their joy was short-lived. One day a woodcutter came to prevent the development of diabetes. While the low glycemic the forest and started felling the trees. “Now there is no fear index inhibits a sudden spike in sugar levels, the fibre of the ferocious lions,” he muttered to himself. Soon there content ensures the sugar levels are well regulated. were other wood cutters. Seeing this, the wise tree said, “Now Guava leaves are just as medicinally useful as the all of us will be doomed.” The two friends cried out, “How nutritional powerhouse fruit they grow with. The leaves of foolish we have been. We should have listened to this wise the guava tree are full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory tree.” agents, antibacterial, and even tannins that can have A little later the two tree friends were brought down by the significant health benefits, from treating stomach troubles wood cutter’s axe. Day by day, more and more trees were to chronic diseases like cancer. destroyed by many woodcutters.

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