Agasthyamalai Landscape

Prelims – General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change

Mains – GS IV – Biodiversity, Environment, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Why in News?

The Supreme Court of India has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct a detailed survey of the tropical forest ecosystems in the Agasthyamalai landscape.

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

• Location – In the Southern Western Ghats including Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• It is part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
• Status – It is recognised by the UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve.
• Named After – The Sage Agastya, with cultural and spiritual significance in Tamil tradition.
• Fauna - Lion-Tailed Macaques, Bengal Tiger, Nilgiri Marten, Nilgiri Tahr, Malabar Spiny Dormouse, Great Pied Hornbills, Gaur, and Sloth Bear.
• Flora - Abundant in rare herbs and medicinal plants, with around 2,000 medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic treatments found here.
• Protected Areas
  • Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries,
  • Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve,
  • Periyar Tiger Reserve and
  • Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (TN).
• Tribes – Kani Tribes inhabited in this area.

Supreme court judgment on Agasthyamalai Landscape

• The judgement came on 2 separate petitions,
• Public Interest Litigation – It was initiated by environmental activists who sought judicial intervention to protect this biodiversity hotspot.
• Private litigation – It was filed by tea estate worker, seeking rehabilitation and compensation following their displacement from the Singampatti tea estate (Tamil Nadu) as it was reclassified as a reserved forest and tiger habitat between 2007 and 2018.
• Judgement – The Supreme Court directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct a detailed survey of the Agasthyamalai landscape to assess encroachments and non-forestry activities.

Role of Central Empowered Committee (CEC)

• It is a Supreme Court appointed body to ensure compliance with environmental norms and court orders.
• It is tasked with preparing a comprehensive report on the extent of encroachments and suggesting restorative measures.
• Will provide guidelines for the rehabilitation of affected communities, such as those evicted from forest lands.
• Areas included in the CEC survey
  • The Periyar Tiger Reserve
  • Kalakad and Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR)
  • Meghamalai and Tirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuaries
  • Sivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Sanctuary

Reference

The Hindu | Forest Survey for Agasthyamalai