FIRST MANAGEMENT PLAN OF ANAMUDI SHOLA NATIONAL PARK 2009 - 2018 DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS AND WILDLIFE GOVERNMENT OF KERALA 1 INDEX Pages PART - I THE PROTECTED AREA: THE EXISTING SITUATION 1-33 CHAPTER - 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE AREA 1-4 1.1 Name, Location, constitution and extent 1 1.2 Approach and access 2 1.3 Statement of significance 3 1.4 Values of the Park 3 CHAPTER - 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ATTRIBUTES 5-18 2.1 Boundaries 5 2.2 Geology Rock and Soil 7 2.3 Terrain 7 2.4 Climate 8 2.5 Water sources 10 2.6 Range of wildlife, status, distribution and habitat 11 CHAPTER - 3 HISTORY OF MANAGEMENT AND PRESENT PRACTICES 19-31 3.1 General 19 3.2 Timber operation 20 3.3 Non Wood Forest Collection 20 3.4 Leases 20 3.5 Other programmes and activities 20 3.6 Forest protection 20 3.7 Visitor Management 27 3.8 Research monitoring and training 28 3.9 Wildlife conservation strategies & evaluation 29 3.10 Administrative set up 29 3.11 Infrastructure facilities 29 3.12 Communication 30 3.13 Summary of threats to wildlife 30 CHAPTER - 4 THE PROTECTED AREA AND THE INTERFACE LAND USE 32-33 SITUATION 4.1 The existing situation in the zone of influence 32 4.2 The Development program and conservation issues 33 PART - II PROPOSED MANAGEMENT 34-75 CHAPTER - 5 PLAN OBJECTIVES AND PROBLEMS 35-41 5.1 Objectives 35 5.2 Problems in achieving objectives & strategies to overcome 35 the problems CHAPTER - 6 STRATEGIES-BOUNDARIES, ZONATION, ZONE PLANS AND 42-57 THEME PLANS 6.1 Boundaries 43 6.2 Zonation 45 6.3 Zone plans 45 6.3.1 Plan for core zone 45 6.3.2 Plan for restoration zone 47 6.3.3 Plan for buffer zone 49 6.4 Theme plans 50 6.4.1 Protection plan 50 6.4.2 Fire protection 55 6.4.3 Watershed and water resource management 57 CHAPTER - 7 TOURISM, INTERPRETATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION 58-59 7.1 Environmental conservation awareness 58 7.2 Nature-based regulated tourism 59 CHAPTER - 8 ECODEVELOPMENT 60-63 CHAPTER - 9 RESEARCH, MONITORING AND TRAINING 64-65 9.1 Research 64 9.2 Monitoring 65 9.3 Training 65 CHAPTER -10 ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION 66-68 10.1 Structure 66 10.2 Responsibilities 66 CHAPTER -11 THE BUDGET 69-75 PART-III APPENDICES 76-118 Annexure -1 Notification No. 12875/F2/2003/F&WLD dated 14.12. 2003 76 Annexure -2 Trees, Shrubs, Herbs of Anamudi Shola National Park 77 Annexure -3 List of birds recorded from Anamudi Shola NP 83 Annexure -4 Butterflies of Anamudi Shola NP 86 Annexure -5 List of moths recorded from Anamudi Shola NP 89 Annexure -6 RET species of Pteridophytes from Anamudi Shola NP 93 Annexure -7 RET species of Angiosperms from Anamudi Shola NP 94 Annexure -8 Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forest 97 vide letter No. F(c) A/11.6/172/Misc/KER dt. 02-05-2005 Annexure -9 Government of Kerala GO(Ms) No 42/93/F&WLD dt. 11-06- 99 93 Anneuxre-10 GoK agreement with HNL 04-10-2007 101 Annexure-11 List of Control forms 107 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE AREA 1.1. Name, location, constitution and extent Anamudi Shola National Park (ASNP) was declared as National Park in December 2003 as per Notification No. 12876/F2 2003/F & WLD dated 14.12.2003 of the Kerala Government (Annexure 1). It is located on the north-eastern part of the High Ranges of southern Western Ghats. The ASNP consists of three Reserve Forests namely Mannavan Shola Reserve No. 58, Pullaradi Shola Reserve No. 57 and Idivara Shola Reserve No. 56 which were notified on 22nd October 1901 under Section 18 of regulation II of 1068. Together they occupy an area of 33.45 sq. km (as per SOI topo sheets) where as the notified extent is only 7.50 km2. The Park is located within 10° 09¢ 58.48¢¢ to 10° 14¢ 52.37¢¢ N latitude and 77° 09¢ 23.47¢¢ to 77° 14¢ 42.11¢¢ E longitude and falls in the Kanthallur and Vattavada Panchayats of Devikulam Taluk of Idukki District (Fig.1). The Park includes three distinct but typical sholas of which Mannavan shola is the largest in South India. In Muvattupuzha part of Malayattoor Working Plan for the period 1951-52 to 1966-67 by Sri. T.P. Viswanathan, for Mannavan shola, Idivara Shola and Pullaradi Shola, it is stated that (1) Mannavan Shola - though the area as per notification is 2 sq. miles (1280 acres) the area indicated on the concerned map exceeds 3100 acres and that maintained on the ground roughly corresponds to the area indicated on the map (page 101). (2) Idivila Shola - though the area as per notification is 150 acres the area indicated on the concerned map exceeds 3000 acres and that maintained on the gound roughly corresponds to the area indicated on the map (page 99) and (3) Pullaradi Shola - though the area as per notification is 400 acres, the area indicated on the concerned map exceeds 3000 acres and that maintained on the gound roughly corresponds to the area indicated on the map (page 105). It was prescribed in page 72 of working plan to take early steps to survey and notify the Shola Reserves. The extent within the notified boundaries has also been checked and calculated by the GIS unit working under the Chief Conservator of Forests (FMIS). As per the findings of GIS unit extent comes to 32.85 km2. 1 1.2. Approach and access The townships of Munnar and Marayur are situated at distances of 35 kms and 20 kms respectively from the National Park. Munnar is accessible from Kochi (120 kms) and Coimbatore (150 kms) airports along main roads. The nearest railway station in Kerala is Aluva (120 km from Munnar) and in Tamil Nadu, Pollachi (100 km). A road connecting Kanthallur - Sethuparvathipuram (S.P.Puram) traverses through Mannavan shola for a distance of about 6 kms. Two coupe roads namely, Methappu–Valsapattykudy (9 km) and Koodallarkudy-Kovilur (1.5 km) provide access to the tribal hamlets inside. Fig. 1: Location map of ASNP 2 1.3. Statement of Significance The ASNP represents a large number of plants and animals unique to the high altitude shola- grassland vegetation. The Mannavan Shola is the largest shola forest patch in South India. The giant fern, Cyathia crinita reaching to upto 6m height is a unique character of Mannavan Shola. Out of 543 species of pteridophytes and angiosperms recorded in Mannavanshola, nearly 20% (109 species) are ‘endemic’ and 25% (128 species) classified as ‘rare’ and another 26 species are considered to be in a ‘threatened state’. Two rare Pteridophytes namely, Elaphoglossum stelligerum Sledge and Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Bory ex Willd.) that have been collected by Kaulf from Mannavanshola are new records to Kerala (Kumar, 1997). About 11 species of fungi are recorded from this Shola of which Collectotrichum acutatum is a new record to Kerala. The endemic and elusive Nigiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii) is found in the Park. Out of the 16 endemic birds of Western Ghats, 9 are reported from the Park. The Park provides the only source of water not only for the tribal hamlets within, but also for the inhabitants of Kanthallur, Puthur, Perumala, Pazhathottam and Silandiyar. The Park also has unique features and provides ample academic opportunities for studying the biodiversity of montane vegetation and the ecological roles associated with the ecosystem. It can also serve as a field laboratory for activities like conservation education, research and monitoring and participatory management. 1.4. Values of the Park 1.4.1. Value related to flora. § Well-protected representative example of shola eco system in Western Ghats. § Exceptional species diversity § Significant population of locally endemic species § Ideal place for “in-situ” germ plasm conservation of rare and threatened species like tree ferns. § National Park harbours a large number of Medicinal Plants. 1.4.2. Values related to fauna. § Exceptional species diversity of birds. 3 § Significant population of insects especially butterflies. § Provides vital connectivity for animal movements. 1.4.3. Values related to watershed § Conservational value associated with watershed for drinking and irrigation. 1.4.4. Values related to education and research § Research and monitoring values associated with endemism, biodiversity, human-wildlife interaction etc. § Educational value associated with nature education, nature exploration and adventure. 1.4.5. Aesthetic values § Potential areas for bird watching, trekking etc. § Potential areas for nature interpretation 1.4.6. Socio-Economic value § Livelihood to resource dependent communities through ecotourism. 1.4.7. Cultural Value § Ethnic tribal heritage of Muthuvan community. 4 CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ATTRIBUTES 2.1. Boundaries 2.1.1. Legal Boundaries The boundary description as per the notification is as follows: North: - Starting from Ottakombumala (hill point 2164) on the south western corner of Tirthalar proposed reserve forests, thence along the southern boundary of the said reserve till it reaches the northeastern corner of Mannavan shola reserve thence along the northeastern boundary of the said reserve up to Madavarimala, thence northeast along the southern boundary of Idivara Shola reserve passing along hill points 2153,2104, 2199, 2132, 2127 (Velligirimala) East: - Starting from hill point at 2127 (Velligirimala) runs along the eastern boundary of Idivara Shola Reserved Forests and Pullaradi Shola Reserved Forest till it reaches the south eastern corner of Pullaradi Shola Reserved Forests adjoining the boundary of Kannan Devan Hills village concession lands. South: - Starting from the south eastern corner of Pullaradi Shola reserved Forests runs more or less south along the southern boundary of Pullaradi Shola Reserved forests, Idivara Shola Reserved Forest and Mannavan Shola reserved Forests adjoining to the Northern Boundary of Kannan Devan Hills Village Concession lands till it reaches Tirthamala.