In what could turn out to be a massive food security programme for jumbos, the Kerala state forest department is undertaking a large scale bamboo replantation drive, the staple food of wild elephants, in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which arguably hosts the largest congregation of Asiatic elephants. The south and north forest divisions in Wayanad have together planted bamboo over 140 hectares of forest land this year and over one lakh saplings will be planted next year to ensure sufficient food for the elephants.
Bamboo groves in Wayanad forests were wiped off in recent years due to gregarious flowering of thorny bamboo (Bambusa Bambos) at the end of its lifespan of 30 years, following which they wither away. Although natural regeneration takes place, it is rather slow due to continuous grazing and forest fire in many areas. The withering away of bamboo groves raised fear of famine for elephants and other herbivorous wildlife that migrate from neighbouring Muthumala, Bandipur and Nagarhole sanctuaries to Wayanad forests in search of food and water every summer. “The loss of their staple fodder prompted jumbos to stray into human habitations more frequently. We hope that regeneration of bamboo groves would keep the herds inside the forests,” said P Dhanesh Kumar, divisional forest officer of south Wayanad.
Kumar said the division has planted bamboo in 78 hectares this season and has also created a nursery that has around one lakh saplings which would be planted next year. “Bamboo groves curb soil erosion and conserve soil moisture,” he said. The north division has set a target of bringing 100 hectares of land under bamboo cover and has already planted saplings in 66 hectares.
Wayanad Prakriti Samrakshana Samiti president N Badusha said bamboo groves used to act as a green belt against dry winds from the Deccan plateau thereby playing a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem of Wayanad.
“The challenge would be to protect the seedlings till they are mature by preventing grazing and fire incidents.
The department should rope in Vana Samrakshana Samitis for the purpose,” he said.
Bamboo groves in Wayanad forests were wiped off in recent years due to gregarious flowering of thorny bamboo (Bambusa Bambos) at the end of its lifespan of 30 years, following which they wither away. Although natural regeneration takes place, it is rather slow due to continuous grazing and forest fire in many areas. The withering away of bamboo groves raised fear of famine for elephants and other herbivorous wildlife that migrate from neighbouring Muthumala, Bandipur and Nagarhole sanctuaries to Wayanad forests in search of food and water every summer. “The loss of their staple fodder prompted jumbos to stray into human habitations more frequently. We hope that regeneration of bamboo groves would keep the herds inside the forests,” said P Dhanesh Kumar, divisional forest officer of south Wayanad.
Kumar said the division has planted bamboo in 78 hectares this season and has also created a nursery that has around one lakh saplings which would be planted next year. “Bamboo groves curb soil erosion and conserve soil moisture,” he said. The north division has set a target of bringing 100 hectares of land under bamboo cover and has already planted saplings in 66 hectares.
Wayanad Prakriti Samrakshana Samiti president N Badusha said bamboo groves used to act as a green belt against dry winds from the Deccan plateau thereby playing a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem of Wayanad.
“The challenge would be to protect the seedlings till they are mature by preventing grazing and fire incidents.
The department should rope in Vana Samrakshana Samitis for the purpose,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment