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
