The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) is preparing to designate two additional locations as biodiversity heritage sites: Kalasamala in Thrissur district and Edayilakkad Kavu in Kasaragod district. This initiative follows the board's declaration of approximately 57 hectares of mangroves in Ashramam, Kollam, as the state's first biodiversity heritage site in 2019.
Selection Criteria
According to KSBB member secretary V Balakrishnan, Kalasamala and Edayilakkad Kavu were identified based on their rare plant species, trees, and rich biodiversity. Kalasamala, already protected as a biodiversity site, is home to the endangered Kulavetti trees (Syzygium travancoricum), which are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The area is also a popular eco-tourism destination.
Similarly, Edayilakkad Kavu is an island on the Tejaswini River near Nileshwar, known for its rich biodiversity, including rare and endangered plants and mangroves. It features a sacred grove spanning six hectares.
Conservation Efforts
Balakrishnan stated that steps are being taken to declare these two locations as heritage sites to ensure their maintenance and preservation. “The sites are selected based on richness of biodiversity, traditional knowledge, presence of rare and endangered plants and animals in natural settings,” he added.
Under the Biological Diversity Act of 2002, the state government, in consultation with local self-government bodies through state biodiversity boards, can identify areas rich in biodiversity and cultural importance and declare them as biodiversity heritage sites. Once declared, these sites will be protected and maintained by the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of local bodies. This designation will enhance protection, as BMCs will monitor the sites and receive funds, including from the National Biodiversity Authority, Balakrishnan explained.
Local Biodiversity Heritage Sites
In addition to these, the state government has declared about 10 sites as local biodiversity heritage sites to preserve local biodiversity in grama panchayats. Most of these sites, identified by local BMCs, feature rare plants, trees that are over 200 years old, and unique ecosystems.
Examples of local biodiversity heritage sites include a 200-year-old cashew tree at Pandalam Thekkekara, the Pannivelichira wetland ecosystem in Mallapuzhassery, Pathanamthitta, two 250-year-old champakam (Golden Champa) trees at Anjuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram, a 150-year-old nattu maavu (mango tree) in Chirayinkeezhu, a 200-year-old banyan tree and wetland at Mudakkal in Thiruvananthapuram, and a 250-year-old nattu maavu with an endangered tree lizard at Ayarkunnam on the banks of the Meenachal River.
One site at Moliyar grama panchayat in Kasaragod hosts 25 species of fish in its wetland. Most of these sites are on government land, though KSBB also declares private land as heritage sites with the owner's permission, Balakrishnan noted.
Success Stories
Over the past seven years, Kerala has seen numerous success stories in habitat restoration, protection of flora and fauna, biodiversity parks, butterfly parks, and other conservation activities across the state.
