Biodiversity

BIODIVERSITY

The proposed area is a private land and comprises Survey No:55/2, 55/3, 55/4 of Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, and Kerala for an area of 2.4973 hectares. Owners of these lands leased to Mr. Sudheesh A.T for the purpose of Mining operations. There is no endangered flora and fauna. The existing biodiversity of the Padiri Reserved Forest/ Wayanad Wildlife

Sanctuary is no way affected due to implementation of this project because the distance of the proposed quarry site is located 2.56 km away from the boundary of the Sanctuary. There will not be any negative impact upon the forest due to this project.

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT REPORT

Prepared by:

PRIME TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Planet Resources Management Experts Reg Office: 4D, Kalapaka Fort Palace, Changampuzha Park, Edappaly, Cochin-24, Kerala, India. Mail Id: [email protected] Ph. 91-8089085335

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

1. BACKGROUND ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Biodiversity represents variety and abundance of life expressed at the genetic, population, species and ecosystem levels, cultivated and natural, terrestrial and marine. Biodiversity provides the goods and services essential for survival of human beings and other species on the earth. Thus, biodiversity may be roughly defined as the total no. of species in a particular area. Conservation of biodiversity is therefore important to ensure sustainable human development. A bacterium, the domestic cow, rice, the resplendent tiger are all part of biodiversity. Biodiversity knows no limits, and no distinction between wild and domesticated, microbial and terrestrial, in short biodiversity is the diversity among all living forms in this universe Biodiversity of Western Ghats: The western slopes of the Ghats have a natural cover of vegetation of evergreen forest, which changes to moist and dry deciduous types as one comes to the eastern slopes. The vegetation reaches its highest diversity towards southern tip of Kerala with its high statured rich tropical rain forests. The commercially most important species, teak, however, grows best in tracts of more moderate rainfall where the natural vegetation is of the moist deciduous type. A study in northern region comprising the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, showed that between 1920- 1990 about 40% of the original vegetation cover was lost or converted to another form of land use (Menon and Bawa 1997).It is estimated that not more than about7 % of the area of the Western Ghats is presently under primary vegetation cover though a much larger area is under secondary forest or some form of tree cover. Nearly 14.5% of the Ghats is so under the protected Area System.

2. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE STUDY AREA

Sl no Particulars Details

Latitude (N): 11°43'22.55"N to 11°43'27.79"N 1 Geographical Location Longitude (E): 76°11'23.77"E to 76°11'31.25"E 2 Elevation of lease area 877-841 m MSL 55/2, 55/3, 55/4, 3 Survey No.& Villages Irulam 4 Taluk & District Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District 5 Extent area 2.4973 hectare 6 Type of Land Private Consented land

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

Semi mechanized method of open cast quarrying 7 Method of Quarrying (category-B2)

Topography: The topography of the lease area and its surrounding is an elevated terrain with quarry land covered with native trees, shrubs, herbs, grass, climbers, bushes etc. The highest elevation of the lease area is 877 m MSL and lowest is 841 m MSL. The proposed area is hillock; the drainage of the lease area is towards NW. No habitants are located in the lease area. Exposed rocks in the lease area are marked on geological plan.

3. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY Identification of vegetation in relation to natural flora and crops was conducted through reconnaissance field surveys and insight observations in core and buffer zone. The plant species identification was done based on the reference materials and also by examining the morphological characteristics and reproductive materials i.e. flowers, fruits and seeds. Land use pattern in relation to agriculture crop verities were identified through physical verification of land and interaction with local villagers. The faunal elements (animal species) of core and buffer zone were identified by direct sightings or indirect evidences viz. pug marks, skeletal remains, scats and droppings etc. Standard binocular was used for the observations. The authenticity of faunal elements occurrence was confirmed by interaction with the local people. Avifauna identification was done with pictorial descriptions of published literature. Information pertaining to existence of any migratory corridors and paths were obtained with local inhabitants. The status of each faunal element was determined and wildlife schedule category was ascertained as per the IUCN-Red Data Book and Indian wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

4. BASELINE DATA

Baseline data was collected during the site visit and the primary data available is shown in the tables below. The detailed biodiversity assessment will be conducted by Biodiversity Inventory Team, MES Mampad College and the report will be submitted at the time of final presentation.

The proposed area is a rubber plantation plot with a fertile soil and fewer plants in it. There is no quarry existing in the place. The land area is more or less flat with a little slope to the BP6 – BP8 posts. Surrounded by a well habituated semi forested area where fauna is higher. There is no human

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala inhabitancy in the nearby places of the proposed area. The area after BP1 is having greater tree lines where most of the birds were reported. The existing land is having a fertile soil suited for cultivation. The proposed area which having comparatively lesser flora compared with the surrounding plots. Fewer numbers of trees which are widely separated and some tall plants were preferred by birds over the area. Thus, the fauna was lesser. The thick canopies of the area were preferred by the birds. Butterflies were seen lesser over the area due to lower number of flowering plants in the plot.

5. BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT Study of biological environment is one of the important aspects in Environmental Impact Assessment in view of the need for conservation of Environmental quality. A detailed enumeration of species was carried out. Occurrences of flora at various locations were observed and typical plant species were collected. The visual observations of plants were recorded with a view to obtain some idea about the relative density of certain species and their predominance.

6. FINDINGS/RESULTS

Records of threatened species in the area No threatened species were observed Endangered Species as per Wildlife (Protection) Act: No Endangered fauna was recorded in the project area. Endemic Species of the Project areas: No endemic species were observed in the project area. Migratory species of the Project areas: No migratory fauna observed in project area. Migratory corridors and Flight paths: No migratory corridors and Flight paths were observed in project area. Breeding and spawning grounds: No breeding and spawning grounds were earmarked for the wildlife fauna in project area. Species Richness of Mammals The assessment carried out within the proposed area including the buffer. The survey team reported two individuals of one species of mammal, Jungle palm squirrel Funambulus tristriatus (Table 1). Species Richness of Reptiles Reptiles recorded from the site were one individual of Calotes nemaricola and two individuals of Eutropis carinata (Table 2).

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

Species Richness of Birds The species of birds were recorded based on actual sightings and calls along the five transects within the proposed site. Twenty-seven (24) species of birds were listed while surveying along the four transects line. Eleven (11) species were identified through calls and the rest with direct sightings (Table 3). Species Richness of Butterflies Fifteen (10) species of butterflies were recorded from the study site. Butterflies were found moderately active during the survey time. The list of observed species given in the Table (4).

7. FAUNA RECORDED FROM THE PROJECT SITE Table 1: List of Mammals recorded in the study area

Scientific name Common Name Status count Remarks

1 Funambulus tristriatus Jungle palm squirrel LC 8

Table 2: List of Reptiles recorded in the study area

Scientific name Common Name Status count Remarks

1 Eutropis carinata Brahminy Skink LC 3

2 Calotes nemaricola Nilgiri Forest Lizard LC 2

Table 3: List of Birds recorded in the study area

Sl. No. Common name Scientific name FN AN Status

1. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 6 4 LC 2. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus 8 5 LC 3. House Crow Corvus splendens 12 6 LC 4. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 4 1 LC 5. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 8 4 LC 6. Black-hooded oriole Oriolus xanthornus 3 1 LC

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

7. Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis 2 0 LC 8. Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata 14 6 LC 9. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 6 2 LC 10. White breasted kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 3 1 LC 11. White-cheeked Barbet Psilopogon viridis 6 3 LC Greater Racket-tailed 12. Dicrurus paradiseus 11 7 LC Drongo 13. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 6 3 LC 14. Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis 3 2 LC Greater Golden-backed 15. Chrysocolaptes lucidus 2 0 LC Woodpecker 16. Brahminy Kite Haliastur Indus 3 2 LC 17. Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis 2 1 LC 18. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 4 2 LC 19. Loten’s sunbird Cinnyris lotenius 6 4 LC 20. Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 4 5 LC 21. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 3 1 LC 22. Spotted dove Streptopelia chinensis 2 0 LC 23. Indian cuckoo Cuculus micropterus 1 0 LC 24. Malabar grey hornbill Ocyceros griseus 1 0 LC

Table 4: List of Butterflies recorded in the study area

AN Sl. No. Common name Scientific name FN Count Status Count 1. Common three ring Ypthima asterope 8 6 LC 2. Common four ring Ypthima huebneri 6 4 LC 3. Common emigrant Catopsilia pomona 5 2 LC 4. Chocolate pansy Junonia iphita 3 1 LC 5. Common crow Euploea core 11 8 LC 6. Common grass yellow Eurema hecabe 4 2 LC 7. Three spot grass yellow Eurema blanda 3 1 LC 8. Common cerulean Jamides celeno 7 3 LC 9. Common jezebel Delias eucharis 3 1 LC 10. Psyche Leptosia nina 4 2 LC

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

8. FLORA RECORDED FROM THE PROJECT SITE

Table 5. List of trees observed from the study area

No. of Sl No Species Family Individuals 1 Ailanthus sp. Simaroubacceae 2 2 Anacardium occidentale Anacardiaceae 1 3 Areca catechu Areaceae 1 4 Artocarpus heterophyllus Moraceae 7 5 Artocarpus incises Moraceae 1 6 Hevea brasiliensis Euphorbiaceae 42 7 Careya arborea Lecythidaceae 2 8 Cassia fistula Fabaceae 2 9 Cinnamomum malabatrum Lauraceae 3 10 Cinnamomum verum Lauraceae 1 11 Cocos nucifera Areaceae 12 12 Dalbergia latifolia Fabaceae 11 13 Erythrina stricta Fabaceae 1 14 Erythrina subumbrans Fabaceae 1 15 Garcinia gummi-gutta Clusiaceae 1 16 Gliricidia sepium Fabaceae 6 17 Grevillea robusta Proteaceae 9 18 Grewia tiliifolia Tiliaceae 1 19 Hevea braziliensis Euphorbiaceae 12 20 Lannea coromandelica Anacardiaceae 1 21 Litsea coriacea Lauraceae 3 22 Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae 10 23 Olea dioica Oleaceae 2 24 Pterocarpus marsupium Fabaceae 6 25 Tamarindus indica Fabaceae 1

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

26 Tectona grandis Verbanaceae 1 27 Terminalia bellirica Combertaceae 1

Table 6. List of Herbs observed from the study area

Sl. No. Species Family Local name 1 Cyathula prostrate Amaranthaceae Cherukadaladi 2 Mimosa pudica Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Thottavadi 3 Oldenlandia auricularia Rubiaceae Tharthaval 4 Sida acuta Malvaceae Kurumthotti 5 Sida cordifolia Malvaceae Vallikurumthotti 6 Vernonia sps. Asteraceae Poovamkurinnila 7 Ischaemum sps Poaceae 8 Oplismenus sps. Poaceae 9 Musa paradisiaca musaceae Vazha 10 Pennisetum polystachyon Poaceae Pothapullu

Table 7. List of shrubs observed from the study area

No Species Family Local name 1 Aporosa cardiosperma Euphorbiaceae Aechil 2 Bambusa bambos Poaceae Mula 3 Capsicum frutescens Solanaceae Kantharimulaku 4 Clerodendrum infortunatum Verbenaceae Paragu 5 Coffea Rubiaceae Coffee 6 Cyathula prostrate Amaranthaceae Cherukadaladi 7 Lantana camara Verbenaceae Arippu 8 Mimosa pudica Fabaceae Thottalvadi 9 Murraya koenigii Rutaceae Kariveppila 10 Musa x paradisiaca Musaceae Vazha 11 Sida acuta Solanaceae Anakurunthotti 12 Uraria rufescens Fabaceae Moovila

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

Table 8. List of Climbers observed from the study area

No Botanical name & family Family Local name 1 Piper nigrum Piperaceae Kurumulak 2 Cyclea peltata Menispermaceae Padavalli 3 Dioscorea bulbifera Dioscoreaceae Nukappa 4 Dioscorea pentaphylla Dioscoreaceae Nooran 5 Persicaria chinensis Polygonaceae Poovallikodi 6 Hemidesmus indicus Asclepiadaceae Nannari 7 Celastrus paniculatus Celastraceae Killithinipanji 8 Clematis gouriana Ranunculaceae Nikidakodi 9 Naravelia zeylanica Ranunculaceae Vathamkodi 10 Gloriosa superba Colchicaceae Menthonni

9. CONCLUSION

The proposed location is a plane agricultural land, with moderate number of trees, shrubs and climber habitats. The proposed area is covered with rubber plantation, moderate varieties of animals and birds were observed during the survey period. During survey period, it is observed that, there were no endangered and threatened category flora & fauna as per the IUCN-Red Data Book (RDB), Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Indian Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972. Also, the core and buffer zone of the proposed site does not represent any breeding habitats, spawning grounds, migratory corridors for important wildlife fauna.

10. RECOMMENDATIONS

The proposed quarry mining might not make impact in terms of disturbance as this location, is far away from the human inhabitations. Since this is not a biodiversity rich habitat at the proposed area, quarry operations as the mining blasts might not affect the flora and fauna at this landscape. Precautions should be taken to preserve the natural equilibrium around the region by ensuring green belt etc.

Granite Building Stone Quarry Owned by Sudheesh A T Irulam Village, Sulthan Bathery Taluk, Wayanad District, Kerala

Native Trees to be planted at the belt

Sl. No. Scientific name Common name 1 Anogeissus latifolia Mazhukanjiram 2 Terminalia arjuna Neermaruthu 3 Dalbergia latifolia Eeti 4 Sterculia villosa Para Vakka 5 Butea monosperma Chamatha 6 Bombax ceiba Elavu 7 Dillenia pentagyna Pattipunna 9 Grewia tiliifolia Unnam, Chadachi 10 Alstonia scholaris Eazhilam pala 11 Holarrhena antidysenterica Kudakapala 12 Wrightia tinctoria Danthapala 13 Tabernaemontana heyneana Koonanpala 14 Mimusops elengi Elanji 15 Mimusops sp Mala Elanji 16 Schleichera oleosa Poovam 17 Litsea coriacea Vettithali 18 Chionanthus mala-elengi Elanji 19 Tamarindus indica Puli 20 Wrightia sp Kambi Pala 21 Ficus benghalensis Aal 22 Ficus mysorensis Aal 23 Ficus callosa Aal