Roots of a Green Economy: Enhancing biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods in the Anamalai Corridor Technical report to the CEPF Large Grant Program funded project undertaken by Wildlife Information Liaison Development society. Arun Kanagavel, Sethu Parvathy and Nithula Nirmal Preferred Citation: Kanagavel, A., S. Parvathy & N. Nirmal (2016). Roots of a Green Economy: Enhancing biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods in the Anamalai Corridor. Technical Report. WILD, Coimbatore, India. Component 1: Promotion of Theni Conservation Reserve establishment and as a model for collaborative conservation in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu 1.1. Report on perceptions and discussions regarding the Theni Conservation Reserve Proposal among the Tamil Nadu Forest Department 1.2. Activity reports and logbooks of the conservation reserve management committees, detailing formulation of site-appropriate management plans and its implementation 1.3. List of project proposals received from the invited stakeholders, reports from successful individuals detailing the undertaking of their proposed project and the main project team's assessment of projects' success with regard to the overall objective of improving grass-root level conservation 1.4. Report of a feasibility study on sustainable funding mechanisms for conservation reserve management 1 1.1. Report on perceptions and discussions regarding the Theni Conservation Reserve Proposal among the Tamil Nadu Forest Department Since we had submitted the Theni Conservation Reserve proposal during the previous CEPF- supported project ‘Establishing Community Conservation Reserve in the Anamalai Corridor’ (2012-2013), we restarted the project by following up the status of the proposal to understand at what phase of declaration it was in. The proposal however had not yet moved into any state of declaration. We therefore immediately re-discussed the proposal with the PCCF & CWW, Chennai of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department who suggested that any such proposal would have to come from the concerned DFO. Discussions were then taken up with the DFO, Theni and fresh proposal copies were provided to him regarding this. The DFO had reacted positively and had stated that after a field visit to the concerned area and further detailed discussion and review of the proposal, he would write to his higher officer proposing the region as a Conservation Reserve. However this was not fruitful as the DFO retired by the next month and was replaced by another. This DFO did not show much interest and we therefore pursued discussions with the Conservator of Forests, Madurai Circle. The Conservator of Forests showed interest and asked us to re-approach the DFO, Theni. The DFO at Theni was then changed again as the previous one again retired. We immediately started discussions with the current DFO and re-submitted the Theni Conservation Reserve Proposal. We received a very positive response from the current DFO who had requested for a day-long discussion towards it. The proposal was slightly revised to account for the new lands that had been acquired from TATA as part of the Theni Forest Division and a fresh submission was made. Meetings were again taken up with the Theni DFO who stated this as an important proposal. He stated that he would definitely help declare the Theni Conservation Reserve as conservation was high on his agenda for Theni Forest Division. We were unable to get the Theni Conservation Reserve declared during this project period but we will continue to pursue this initiative with the current Theni DFO, who is extremely keen towards this. 2 1.2. Activity reports and logbooks of the conservation reserve management committees, detailing formulation of site- appropriate management plans and its implementation This product/deliverable was not initiated and hence not achieved during this project since the proposal for the Theni Conservation Reserve is still pending with the Theni Forest Division and has not yet been declared as a community-managed protected area. 3 1.3. List of project proposals received from the invited stakeholders, reports from successful individuals detailing the undertaking of their proposed project and the main project team's assessment of projects' success with regard to the overall objective of improving grass-root level conservation This was the most successful initiative of this project. It helped us identify stakeholders and individuals in the Kottagudi valley (proposed Theni Conservation Reserve) that were interested in conserving nature and natural resources while earning a livelihood responsibly from forest-based sources. We received five tenders from interested individuals in both 2013 and 2014 and we supported three tenders each year as those were the funds earmarked towards this. We supported initiatives to control invasive plants, propagate native trees and setting up information boards in 2013. Of these we felt setting up the information boards was most successful in meeting project objectives to disseminate information to tourists regarding biodiversity and disposing wastes. In 2014, we supported initiatives to setup art installations, interpretation centre and information boards. Of these we felt that the interpretation centre at Kottagudi and setting up art installations featuring the local biodiversity across the Top Station – Kurangini pathway were most successful in meeting project objectives and did so in a creative manner. The interpretation centre is slowly gaining popularity in the region and tourists have appreciated the way the centre has been designed. The art installations whereas literally merge into the surroundings and provide tourists a unique way to learn about the local biodiversity. 4 List of Project Proposals received in 2013 1. Installation of Information Boards at Top Station K. Rajan, Abicafe, Topstation Kottagudi, Bodinaickanur, Theni District Tamilnadu Tender for Information Boards Top station is a tourist destination in Theni district of Tamilnadu that offers a panoramic view of the Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu and Kerala). Topstation comes under the constituency of Kottagudi village, Bodinaickanur. I am a tourist guide and a café owner in Top Station. Top Station lack basic information boards to help the tourists. Boards informing the tourists of the biodiversity in the area and waste disposal are also inevitable. I have identified the need for Information Boards to inform the tourists of the nearby hills in vision from the ‘Viewpoint’ in Top Station. This would help develop tourist turn over at Top Station on which my livelihood is dependant. Installation of boards on waste management could be considered a step to improve the waste management initiatives in the area including installation of dustbins. Hence, I request the tender to be grant to install information boards in Top Station. Name of the Project : Installation of Information Boards Aim : Improvisation of the waste management initiatives and information for tourists Project Area : Top Station, Kottagudi, Theni, Tamilnadu Stakeholders : TATA Company, Tamilnadu Forest department, Kottagudi Village Panchayat Benefits : Tourism information, waste management Budget Estimated : `25000 Duration : 3 months 5 Information Board details 1. Map the location, big size detailed board to be fixed near the gateway of Top Station detailing about the Flora and Fauna, topography, history and tourist attractions in Top Station 1. World higest tea plantation kolukkumali 2. Meesapulimali - 2nd highest peak in south india 3. Kottakudi valley and Palani hills 2. Information boards on waste management and nature conservation Budget Estimate Sl Pariculars Amount Estimated no 1 Materials 2*1=2 length Rs 1340 1*1/1/2 length Rs 1480 1"*1 length Rs 1300 8*4" 18kg sheet*2 Rs 3800 1*1*4 length Rs 1980 1*1/2 * 15 mtr Rs 1775 2 Labour and transport charge `10500 3 Cement and others `1600 4 Printing charges `1225 Total Amount `25000 6 Photograph 1: Pathway to View Point, Top Station Photograph 2: Vendors and tourists around the view point area 7 2. Removal of Invasive exotic plants in Pitchankarai, Kottagudi Project Title: Preparation of 10-acre area for planting by removal of invasive exotics, and other land-management measures Project Area Description: The land is contiguous with Bodi North Hills Reserve Forest along the entire eastern boundary. Patti Odai is a seasonal water-flow that borders the land along the western boundary. Patti Odai flows into the Pitchankarai stream, which comprises part of the watershed of the Kotagudi river. The region is immediately south of where the Palani hills meet the Western Ghats, below the scarp of the Vandaravu peak.The land comprises some very steep hill slopes, elevation varying from 600m. To 1100m. above MSL. The vegetation is extremely degraded and much of the lower slopes are over-run by lantana thickets. The forests must have been cut between 1920 and 1940, and the slopes were then planted with silk cotton. Coffee cultivation too, was attempted in the higher reaches. None of the cultivation were successful, apparently, and the land is in a very neglected condition. Erosion could be seen in the area, and there is evidence of recent as well as old land-slips in the area, probably resultin g from bad management practices on the steep slopes. Stakeholder – Individual: Siby Thomas, V/259, Anaikkarappatty, Bodi North Hills village Objectives: Eradication of invasive exotics Lantana and Chromolaena from an area of about 10 acres Introduction of palatable, native short-grasses in flat open areas suitable for pasture for wild grazers Selective removal of primary successional species such as Acacia and coarse grasses, where strong regeneration of secondary successional growth is seen Minor interventions for soil and water conservation Employment to local people in management operations Process: Set up a work-team of 5 – one team-leader with a working knowledge of species and selection criteria, assisted by 4 other workers, to implement objectives as listed above. The work-team will complete all above tasks required in an area as they cover ground; it will take the team of 5 approximately 2 days to cover 1 acre Budget: Management operations incl.