BIOLOGOCAL ENVIRONMENT A. Floral Analysis 1.1 Survey Purpose and Approach The basic purpose is to explore the biological environment under Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and to assist in the decision making process and to ensure that the project options under consideration are bio-environmental-friendly. EIA identifies ways of improving project environmentally by preventing, minimizing, mitigating or compensating for adverse impacts before construction and development phase. The present study on the floral & faunal assessment of the proposed project is based on field survey of the area supported by secondary data from various governmental and non- governmental sources. 1.2 Objective of the study The objectives of this study were as follows: 1. To conduct detail study for floral / faunal / avifaunal elements in the proposed project site. 2. To assess scheduled species in the proposed site. (Rare, endangered, critically endangered, endemic and vulnerable). 3. To identify locations and features of ecological significance 4. Baseline data for the project area along with a description of the existing terrestrial, wetland and aquatic vegetation. 5. To identify Impact of project during construction and operational phases on the biological environment. 1.3 Activities undertaken during the study: 1. Floral survey • Identification and documentation of Tree, shrub, herb, climber and fern species • Diversity of species by using indices • Analysis of scheduled taxa of the proposed site

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2. Faunal survey • Identification and documentation of birds, mammals, , odonates, amphibians, reptiles, spiders, ants etc. faunal diversity • Observations by direct and indirect evidences • Analysis of Scheduled species 3. Study of Habitat / microhabitat for the faunal elements in the project site and surrounding areas.

1.4 Project area The proposed project is a residential cum commercial complex project and the land area for the proposed site development is spreading in an area of 7.3256 ha. Most of the proposed project land is vacant land and part of the land is covered with native tree species along shrubs, herbs, grass etc. Also in the west side of the portion of the land a small building is existing. As per the contour of the project site, natural drainage pattern is towards north-west and west direction. The proposed project is located in near to N.H. 47 (Salem-Kochi- Kanyakumari Highway) and developed in Edappally South and Vazhakkala Villages which is falling within the Kochi Municipal Corporation and Thrikkakara Municipality, Ernakulam District, Kerala.

The general view of the project site is provided at Plate 1.1.

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Plate 1.1 - General view of the project site

1.5 Survey methodology for Analysis of Flora The study on the floral assessment for the proposed project activity was based on extensive field survey of the area . The study has been conducted in pre monsoon season. The ecological assessment was carried out by a team consisting of the functional area experts. The plant species were identified with the help of secondary sources (DVD-Flowering plants of Kerala by Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI)). Besides the collection of plant species, information was also collected with vernacular names of plant species made by local inhabitants and from the DVD from KFRI. In this process the whole project area was divided into different sections to get the maximum diversity of plant species. The sampling sites were selected based on land use pattern, topography and floristic composition of the project area. To characterize vegetation in the area, the primary data was collected and analyzed for describing the characteristics of vegetation with reference to species composition and structural attributes. The diversity measurements reflect as to how many diverse species are present, while the density measurements indicate number of individuals of a species in the area. Species diversity is the best measure of

3 community structure and it is sensitive to various environmental stresses.

1.6 Findings of floral assessment Analysis of the flora revealed that there are 55 plant species falling under 28 plant families. Angiosperms forms 53 species with 15 species of trees including saplings, 11 species of shrubs, 19 species of herbs and 8 species of climbers. There are two Pteridophytes (ferns) falling under Adiantaceae family. The most dominant plant family is Leguminosae with 10 plant species followed by Compositae and Malvaceae. One tree species namely Artocarpus hirsutus is endemic to Southern Western Ghats and one species of shrub namely Tabernaemontana alternifolia is endemic to Western Ghats. The Site has 55 species of plants. It consists of: Trees : 5 species Tree saplings : 13 species Shrubs : 11 species Herbs : 19 species Climbers : 8 species Ferns : 2 species The plants (trees, tree saplings, shrubs, herbs, climbers, ferns) recorded from the project site is given at table 3.13.

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THE FLORAL SPECIES RECORDED FROM THE PROJECT SITE Table 1 - List of trees S. Botanical Name Common Name Family Habitat Distribution Nos. Status N. Albizia saman Mazha maram/ Cultivated as Native of Central and 1 Leguminosae 1 (Jacq.) Merr. rain tree avenue tree South America Dry and moist Trema orientalis ( L. ) Tropical Africa, Asia and 2 Pottaama Ulmaceae deciduous forests, also 6 Bl. Australia in the plains Native of Tropical 3 Carica papaya L. Papaya Caricaceae Cultivated 1 Exotic America Moist deciduous Macaranga peltata and secondary , and 4 Vatta Euphorbiaceae 9 (Roxb.) Müll.Arg. forests, also in the Andamans plains Thengu / Cultivated throughout 5 Coccos nucifera L. Arecaceae Cultivated 1 Coconut the tropics

Table 2 - List of Tree Saplings SN. Botanical Name Common Name Family Habitat Distribution Status Moist deciduous and Macaranga peltata India, Sri Lanka 1 Vatta Euphorbiaceae secondary forests, (Roxb.) Müll.Arg. and Andamans also in the plains Native of Tropical 2 Carica papaya L. Papaya Caricaceae Cultivated America Native of Tropical Africa; introduced 3 Tamarindus indica L. Valampuli Leguminosae Cultivated and widely grown in India and other parts of tropics

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Acacia auriculiformis Native of Tropical 4 Acacia Leguminosae Cultivated Exotic Benth. Australia Semi-evergreen and Endemic to Artocarpus hirsutus moist deciduous Southern Western Southern 5 Anjili Moraceae Lam. forests, also in the Ghats Western plains Ghats Evergreen and semi- 6 Mangifera indica L. Mavu Anacardiaceae evergreen forests and Indo-Malaysia also widely cultivated Native of Tropical Africa; introduced 7 Tamarindus indica L. Valampuli Leguminosae Cultivated and widely grown in India and other parts of tropics Widely cultivated Evergreen and semi- Artocarpus in the tropics, 8 Plavu Moraceae evergreen forests, heterophyllus Lam. origin is probably also widely cultivated South India Native of South America; Gliricidia sepium Cultivated in fields 9 Seemakonna Leguminosae introduced and (Jacq.) Walp. and along fences widely grown in India Erumanakku/ Moist deciduous and 10 Indo-Malesia to Ficus hispida L.f. Parakam/ Moraceae semi-evergreen forests, Australia Thonditherakam also in the plains 11 Acacia mangium Wild Mangium Leguminosae Cultivated Australia Exotic Moist deciduous South and South Alstonia scholaris (L.) Ezhilampala/ forests and sacred 12 Apocynaceae East Asia to R. Br. Devil Tree groves, also in the Australia plains

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Dry and moist deciduous Tropical Africa, Asia 13 Trema orientalis ( L. ) Bl. Pottaama Ulmaceae forests, also in the plains and Australia

Table 3 - List of Shrubs

SN. Botanical Name Common Name Family Habitat Distribution Status Native of South Exotic Senna occidentalis (L.) Along roadsides and America; 1 Mattantakara Caesalpiniaceae Link waste lands naturalised in Asia Dry Evergreen to Dry Sri Lanka to Indo- 2 Brineya retusa Aattacherukola, Phyllanthaceae Deciduous Forests Clerodendrum Degraded forest areas 3 Perivelam Verbenaceae Indo-Malesia Exotic infortunatum L. and also in the plains Common on exposed India, Sri and dry slopes and Lanka, 4 Ziziphus rugosa Lam. Kottamullu Rhamnaceae forest edges from 900- Bangladesh 1500m. Peninsular and India. Moist deciduous Tephrosia purpurea ( L. ) forests and 5 Kozhuva Leguminosae Indo-Malesia Pers. grasslands, also in the plains Stream banks, lake shores and also in Phyllanthus reticulatus 6 Nirnelli/Oory Phyllanthaceae moist deciduous and Paleotropics Poir. semi-evergreen forests Along margin of the Endemic Tabernaemontana 7 Kunnanpala Apocynaceae evergreen forests and Western Ghats to the alternifolia L. common in moist Western 7

deciduous forest, up Ghats to 850 m. Native of Exotic/ Chromolaena odorata Communist- A weed in all America; 8 Compositae Invasive (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. pacha terrestrial habitats naturalised in Species Tropical Asia Moist deciduous 9 Urena lobata L. Uram Malvaceae forests and in the Pantropical plains Native of tropical Most aggresive weed America, Exotic/In of disturbed ground 10 camara L. Kongini Verbenaceae widely vasive from plains to the naturalised in Species hills. tropics and subtropics. Wastelands, also in 11 Sida rhombifolia L. Kurunthotti Malvaceae Pantropical degraded forest areas

Table No. 4 - List of Herbs

SN. Botanical Name Common Name Family Habitat Distribution Status Vernonia cinerea Deciduous forests, 1 Puvankurunal Compositae Pantropics Exotic (L.) Less. also in the plains South America; now Caladium bicolor Wastelands in the 2 Colour Chembu Araceae naturalised in the Exotic (Aiton) Vent. plains tropics Cultivated as fodder Pennisetum Central Asia and 3 Poaceae grass, often found orientale Rich. North Africa running wild

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Native of West Indies; Synedrella Deciduous forests, naturalised in India, Invasive 4 nodiflora (L.) Mudianpacha Compositae also in the plains China, Malesia and Species Gaertn. Polynesia Kyllinga Vallimuthanga/ Waste places, nemoralis 5 Whitehead Cyperaceae degraded forest areas Pantropical (J.R.Forst. & spikesedge and grasslands G.Forst.) Dactyloctenium Native of South Marshy lands and 6 aegyptium (L.) Kakkakalan pullu Poaceae America, naturalised open areas Willd. in Paleotropics Peperomia Native of Tropical Degraded forest areas 7 pellucida (L.) Mashitandu Chedi Piperaceae America; now Exotic and wastelands Kunth. Pantropical Cleome 8 Neelavela Cleomaceae In coastal areas Pantropical rutidosperma DC. Dry and moist deciduous 9 Sida acuta Burm.f. Kurunthotti Malvaceae Pantropical forests, also in the plains Selaginella Terrestrial in shaded 10 Selaginellaceae delicatula areas Widely cultivated Found by the waysides, Boerhavia diffusa 11 Thazhuthama Nyctaginaceae wastelands, river banks Pantropical L. and hedges Colocasia Waterlogged ditches Invasive 12 esculenta (L.) Chembu Araceae Pantropical and streamside Species Schott Musa paradisiaca Cultivated throughout 13 Vazha Musaceae Cultivated L. the tropics Grasslands and moist 14 Desmodium triflorum Cherupalladi Fabaceae Indo-Malesia and Australia deciduous forests, also in

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plains

Axonopus Dry and moist deciduous Kaalappullu/ Carpet 15 compressus (Sw.) Poaceae forests, waste lands and Tropics and subtropics Grass P.Beauv. paddy fields Dry and moist Tropical and Emilia sonchifolia 16 Muyalchevian compositae deciduous forests, also Subtropical Africa and Exotic (L. ) DC. in the plains Asia Most abundant weed of Ageratum disturbed ground and Invasive 17 Appa Compositae Pantropical conyzoides L. fallows, damp places Species and forest undergrowth. Common on moist and ungrazed places. Near Native of South riverbanks, bunds of 18 Mimosa pudica L. Thottavadi Leguminosae America, now Exotic arable lands, fallow pantropical. lands and water courses. Native of Tropical America; 19 Scoparia dulcis L. Kallurukki Plantaginaceae Wasteplaces Exotic now Pantropical

Table 5 - List of Climbers Sl. Botanical Name Common Name Family Habitat Distribution Status No. Centrosema Native of Tropical 1 Kattupayar/ Pea Leguminosae Cultivated Exotic pubescens Benth. America Common along Tropical and Mikania micrantha foothills, lower subtropical 2 Vayara Compositae Invasive Kunth slopes, scrub regions of the jungles even in poor world.

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soils, on bare exposed slopes. Mukia Deciduous forests, 3 maderaspatana (L.) Kasappuchedi Cucurbitaceae Paleotropics also in the plains M.Roem. Weed in degraded Native of Tropical Mimosa diplotricha 4 Aanathottavadi Leguminosae forests, also in the America; a weed var. diplotricha plains in India Moist and dry Ichnocarpus Indo-Malesia and 5 Palvalli Apocynaceae deciduous forests, frutescens ( L. ) R.Br. Australia also in the plains Evergreen forests, India to Malesia 6 Pothos scandens L. Paruvakodi Araceae waste places and and Madagascar sacred groves Calycopteris Moist deciduous 7 floribunda (Roxb.) Pullani Combretaceae forest, also in the Indo-Malesia Lam. ex Poir. plains Cuscuta reflexa Deciduous forests, Indo-Malesia and 8 Moodillathali Convolvulaceae Roxb. also in the plains China

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Table 6 - List of Ferns Sl. Botanical Name Common Name Family Habitat Distribution No. Native to tropical 1 Adiantum latifolium Lam. Adiantaceae Disturbed open areas. America Common on open American origin,now Pityrogramma 2 Silver fern Adiantaceae ground in fairly exposed widely distributed in calomelanos (L.) Link places pan-tropics

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B. Faunal Analysis 1.1 Methodology The faunal species recorded here is based on the direct/indirect sightings form the proposed study site. Birds, Butterflies, Dragon Flies: Line Transect & Point count method Mammals: Line Transect method, Consultation with local people Amphibians: Transect and Patch Sampling Spiders: Searching and Direct Observations The analysis of fauna was done as per the above discussed methodology for each type of fauna. The observe fauna was compared with IUCN status to identify whether it is of least concern or near threatened or vulnerable.

1.2 Findings of faunal survey : Regarding the conservation status of the fauna, none of the species identified from the site belonged to the threatened categories identified by the International Union for Conservation of the Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Most of them are common and widely distributed and the range of occurrence extended to wide geographical area. One species of butterfly viz. Southern Birdwing ( Troides minos ) reported from the site are endemic to W. Ghats. The following lists of faunal elements were observed from the site: Birds : 11 species Mammals : 5 species Butterflies : 14 species Odonates : 6 species Amphibians : 4 species Reptiles : 6 species Spiders : 6 species Ants : 5 species

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The list of faunal species (List of birds, List of mammals, list of butterflies, list of odonates, list of amphibians, list of raptiles, list of spiders, list of ants) observed in the project area are listed in table. THE FAUNAL SPECIES RECORDED FROM THE AREA Table 1 : List of Mammals (in and around the project site) Sr. IW(P)A Common Name Scientific Name IUCN Status No. (Schedule) 1 Pig Rat Bandicota indica Least Concern V 2 Common House Rat Rattus rattus Least Concern V Indian Grey Herpestes 3 Least Concern III Mongoose edwardsii Jungle striped Funambulus 4 Least Concern - squirrel tristriatus Pteropus 5 Indian Flying Fox Least Concern V giganteus * IW(P)A -The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Table 2 List of Reptiles

SN Scientific Name Common Name IUCN Status 1 Ptyas mucosa Oriental Rat Snake Least Concern 2 Naja naja Indian Cobra Least Concern 3 Calotes versicolor Oriental Garden Lizard Least Concern 4 Hemidactylus mabouia House gecko Least Concern 5 Eutropis carinata Keeled Indian Mabuya Least Concern 6 Bungarus caeruleus Common Krait Least Concern

Table 3 List of Birds SN Scientific Name Common Name IUCN Status 1 Merops philippinus Blue tailed Bee Eater Least Concern 2 Megalaima viridis White cheeked barbet Least Concern

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3 Copsychus saularis Oriental magpie robin Least Concern 4 Spilornis cheela Crested Serpent-Eagle Least Concern Dicaeum 5 Pale billed Flowerpecker Least Concern erythrorhynchos 6 Corvus splendens House Crow Least Concern 7 Hierococcyx varius Common Hawk Cuckoo Least Concern 8 Turdoides striatus Jungle Babbler Least Concern 9 Acridotheres tristis Common Myna Least Concern 10 Nectarinia zeylonica Purple-rumped Sunbird Least Concern 11 Accipiter badius Shikra Least Concern

Table 4 List of Amphibians S.N. Scientific Name Common Name IUCN Status 1 Pseudophilautus kani Kani Bush Frog Least Concern Duttaphrynus 2 Indian common toad Least Concern melanostictus Hoplobatrachus 3 Indian bullfrog Least Concern tigerinus 4 Euphlyctis sp. frog Least Concern

Table 5 List of Odonates S.N. Scientific Name Common Name 1 Orthetrum chrysis Brown Backed Red Marsh Hawk 2 Ceriagrion cerinorubellum Orange-Tailed Marsh Dart 3 Bradinopyga geminata Granite Ghost 4 Green Marsh Hawk 5 Neurothemis tullia Pied Paddy Skimmer 6 Rhyothemis vareiegata Common Picture Wing

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Table 6 List of Butterflies Sl. Common Name Scientific Name Status No. Papilionidae 1 Common Mormon Papilio polytes Linnaeus Endemic to 2 Southern Birdwing Troides minos Cramer W.Ghats Pieridae Common Grass 3 Eurema hecabe Linnaeus Yellow 4 Common Jezebel Delias eucharis Drury 5 Common Emigrant Catopsilia Fabricius 6 Common Sailor Neptis hylas Linnaeus 7 Common Palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra Linnaeus 8 Common Four-ring huebneri Kirby 9 Common Crow Euploea core Stoll 10 Chocolate Pansy Junonia iphita Cramer Lycaenidae 11 Common Line-blue Prosotas nora C. Felder 12 Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon Fabricius Hesperidae 13 Water Snow Flat Tagiades litigiosa Moschler 14 Grass Demon folus Cramer

Table 7 List of Millipedes and Centipedes S.N. Scientific Name Common Name IUCN Status

1 Harpaphe sp. Black and Yellow Millipede

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2 Scolopendra Sp. Least Concern

Table 8 List of Ants S.N. Common Name Scientific Name 1 Black Crazy Ant Paratrechina longicornis 2 Red fire Ant Solenopsis geminata 3 Trapjaw Ant Odontomachus sp. 4 Hunchback Ant Myrmicaria sp. 5 Army Ant Leptogenys sp.

Table 9 List of Spiders S.N. Family Scientific Name 1 Sparassidae Hetropoda venatoria 2 Araneidae Eriovixia laglaisei 3 Araneidae Argiope sp. 4 Hersilidae Hersilia savignyi 5 Lycosidae Hippasa sp. 6 Oxyopidae Oxyopes sp.

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