Introduction

Study Area National park » Anamudi Shola National Park ⦁ Eravikualam National Park ⦁ Mathikettan Shola National Park ⦁ Pambadum Shola National Park ⦁ Silent Valley National Park ⦁ Parambikulam Tiger Reserve ⦁ Periyar Tiger Reserve & National Park Santuries» ⦁ Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Chulannur Peafowl Sanctuary ⦁ Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Peechi –Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary ⦁ Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary ⦁ Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Results and Discussion ⦁ ANAMUDI SHOLA NATIONAL PARK ⦁ ERAVIKUALAM NATIONAL PARK ⦁ MATHIKETTAN SHOLA NATIONAL PARK ⦁ PAMBADUM SHOLA NATIONAL PARK ⦁ SILENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Conclusion

References

Conclusion

The Western Ghats, is a biodiversity hotspot and the greatest treasure of natural resources, serving humankind with water and food security. It plays a major role in moderating climatic and hydrological services for southern India. The Western Ghats is the richest habitat of flora and faunal species, and many protected areas were created to minimise the anthropogenic influences. There are 15 National Parks, 47 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 6 Conservation Reserves, many reserve forests and other protected areas. The two International Biosphere Reserves are situated in this mountain range, which shows the importance of the Western Ghats. The current study has illustrated the diversity of flora and fauna in the protected areas across the Western Ghats. As per the literature review of 525 articles, a maximum number of species are in the PAs of Kerala and Silent Valley has the maximum number of species diversity and endemism. Silent Valley National Park has 610 fauna species, of which 413 are endemic. Similarly, in the case of flora, there are 652 flora species, including 151 endemic species. Most of the threatened species were also found in the Silent Valley National Park, 43 endemic fauna and 23 endemic floras.
The maximum number of fauna and flora species is in Kerala (2261 fauna and 3867 flora). Kerala State forms a significant part of the southern Western Ghats and has the highest number of PAs in the Western Ghats. Area covered by evergreen forest and Shola forest are higher in Kerala with a variety of flora and fauna species. Endemism in Kerala is 22.03% (flora fauna) and 4.81% as threatened species for the entire flora and fauna species.

Conservation Measures
⦁ Restrict activities that lead to large scale land cover changes and deforestation;
⦁ rehabilitate human settelements (located in core area) to the better livable condition location with the infrastructure and education facilities;
⦁ restore degraded forest patches with native plants;
⦁ restrict monoculture plantations and developmental activites in protected areas;
⦁ involve local communities in forest conservation activites ;
⦁ awareness programmes- students and elders of effects of deforestion; afforestation of degraded forest ;
⦁ reduce human-animal conflict by enriching animal corridor with food and fodder species, restricting traffic through protected areas etc.; and
⦁ regular monitoring through laest techniques camera trap, etc.