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TITLE: LONG WOOD SHOLA WATCHDOG COMMITTEE-AN EXPERIMENT IN SHOLA MANAGEMENT IN TAMILNADU.
Author: T. Sekar
The Indian Forester Vol 128, No 5, Issue May, year 2002, Page No 485
Abstract

Abstract: Sholas which represent a form of mountain wet temperate forests occur predominately in sheltered pockets of the Nilgiris and Upper Palinis of Tamilnadu. The are also recorded in higher altitudes of Western Ghats in other districts of the state .As sholas constitute a unique ecosystem with was richness in biodiversity and provide many social benefits like sustenance water supply in the hills, their protection has assumed greater significance in the last few decades. Sholas underwent considerable loss due to land use changes, fire and pressure from biotic factors. Protection of shola forests against biotic pressure by way of fencing pockets of Sholas, artificial regeneration of shola tree species in degraded portion and Eco-restoration of old Bluegum (Eucalyptus globulus) area with sholas, fire protection are a few strategies being followed by Tamilnadu forest department to conserve and enhance the condition of shola ecosysytem. To involve the local communities in shola preservation, a few of interested citizens of Kotagiri taluk in Nilgiris District have been formed into a community called 'Longwood Shola Watchdog Committee'. The approaches adopted and activities that being undertaken by this committee and results of such initiatives in Longwood R.F. in Nilgiris north Forest Division Coimbatore Circle are discussed in this paper.