The Tamil Nadu government is developing a unique biodiversity park in Dindigul district to inculcate cultural, educational and biodiversity values among the public
The entrance to the biodiversity park in Sirumalai Hills, Tamil Nadu. Photo: V Sundararaju
The Government of Tamil Nadu is developing a unique biodiversity park in the Sirumalai hill range in Dindigul district. The main aim is to create awareness for the sustainable management of the ecologically sensitive area.
The state’s forest minister sanctioned an amount of Rs 5 crore for the development of the park in the legislative assembly during 2019-2022. The park is coming up at Agasthiyapuram Beat of Sirumalai West Block-II (RL) in the hill range.
The Sirumalai Hills are spread over 60,000 acres in Dindigul. They are considered to be the spur of the Eastern Ghats. They are located about 25 kilometres from Dindigul town, at an altitude of 400 to 1,650 metres from mean sea level.
The hills are generally undulating in nature, with a few plateaus. They provide suitable habitat for about 895 species belonging to 536 genera of higher plants. The hills act as a repository of several rare and endemic plants.
The lower hill range consists of highly disturbed scrub forest while the major portion of the middle hill ranges are occupied by tropical mixed dry deciduous forest.
The higher elevations are occupied by semi evergreen forest. The woodland savannahs are found along the slopes in the higher altitudes.
Animals like gaur, leopard, spotted deer, mouse deer, barking deer, jackal, sloth bear, wild boar, Indian pangolin, slender loris and several species of reptiles and avifauna are found in the region. It is gradually gaining tourist attention due to its healthy climate,
Several places of interest and scenic views of the surrounding hills covered with forests add attraction to the visitors.
Hence, the establishment of a biodiversity park in the Sirumalai Hills was found to be essential with a view to conserve the natural resources of the area besides inculcating cultural, educational and biodiversity values among the public.
The biodiversity park is a unique landscape of wilderness where ecological assemblages of native plant and animal species in the form of biological communities are recreated in a region.
This park is a nature reserve that harbours the natural heritage of the area and has conservation, education and cultural values and will enhance the quality of the environment.
The underlying principle of the park is to recreate self-sustaining ecosystems with native flora and fauna which are characteristics of the area.
This kind of recreation is very much needed for enhancing the quality of the environment. At the same time, the socio-economic conditions of the local people will also be enhanced.
The main objectives of the biodiversity park are:
The Eco-Tourism Management Committee involving the tribals of the nearby settlement will be in charge of the biodiversity park.
Part of the revenue realised through entry fee and other activities will be shared among the committee members as their livelihood opportunities. The revenue realised will be utilised for maintaining the park in future.
An interpretation centre at the park. Photo: V Sundararaju
Activities undertaken
The administration has removed Lantana camera, an exotic weed that had grown over 25 hectares in the area. The entire 100 hectares that encompasses the park, has been protected with a chain link fence.
Two interpretation centres have been established showcasing the different biodiversity components. Various biodiversity components such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc, have been showcased here.
Hoardings such as ‘Mantises - the Tiger of the Insect world’, ‘Termites and their secret world’, ‘Plant & Tree Hoppers’, ‘Major Moth families and their Representatives’, ‘Strange World of Caterpillars’, ‘Diversity of Geckos in Tamil Nadu’, ‘Our Chelonian (Tortoises & Turtles) diversity’, ‘Lizard diversity’, etc, are being put up to kindle interest about the unknown world of different life forms among students and other nature lovers.
Pathways with paver blocks and roads have been formed inside the park for the convenience of visitors. A battery car will be procured and made available for the elderly, women and children as the park is spread over a hundred acres.
Different types of flowering plants have been planted all around the park and necessary irrigation facilities have been provided. A watch tower has been built to have a panoramic view of the areas around the Sirumalai Hills.
Gazebos / huts made with natural materials so as to merge with the environment have been erected for the convenience of the public who visit the park. A children’s park and an adventure park are also coming up inside the biodiversity park.
Assemblage of nectar plants to attract butterflies and host plants has also been planned. Creation of flowering gardens and procurement of ornamental hedge plants, cactus and palm also are under progress.
It has been planned to establish an arboretum with indigenous species, zodiac garden, orchidarium, fernarium, bambusetum and medicinal gardens inside the park.
About 75 per cent of the works have been completed. The balance works also will be completed once funds are released.
The biodiversity park should become a favourite tourist spot for people not only from Dindigul but from other parts of the state also once it is completed.
Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth
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