Mini Nilgiri reserve

a biosphere reserve on the lines of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve ( nbr ) is being developed at Anaikatti, 35 km from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The Coimbatore Zoological Park Society ( czps ) is developing the miniature nbr , where the emphasis would be on the conservation of both flora and fauna. "The main aim of the new reserve, spread over an area of 72 hectares, is to create a holistic environmental resource centre within the nbr ," says G Rangaswamy, secretary of czps . Till now 6,500 rare species of trees have been planted in the reserve. This project, according to czps , is aimed not only at conservation but also towards education. Forest officials have already started using the reserve for their research activities.