Sahyadri ENews: LXXV
Ecological Status of Protected Areas (PA) in Kerala, Sothern Western Ghats
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Introduction

Western Ghats (WG), covering only 5% of India’s total landscape is endowed with sensitive endemic flora and fauna. The region is designated as one of the 36 Biodiversity hotspots in the world. The Western Ghats is spread across six states, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. WG also contains a higher population density, which makes the management of forests and conservation more crucial. The current issue of Sahyadri E-News (Issue 75) focuses on the ecological status of protected areas in Kerala, the southern Western Ghats. The protected areas (PA) are created under a regulatory framework to arrest WG forests from further degradation. There are 16 National Parks, 50 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 3 Conserve Reserves, and 2 Biosphere Reserves in WG. The species diversity is maximum in Periyar Tiger Reserve, having 708 fauna and 1958 floral species, followed by Silent Valley National Park (610 faunal species and 652 floral species), Eravikulam (414 faunal species, 493 floral species) National Park. Tribal settlements were found maximal in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary (12 settlements) followed by Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (11) and Periyar Tiger Reserve (4). The spatial information provided an insight to the diversity of flora and fauna in PA’s of WG with taxonomical details, IUCN status, endemism, uses (of flora) etc.
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. The maximum number of fauna (2261) and flora (3867) species are in Kerala. Endemism in Kerala is 22.03% (flora fauna) and 4.81% as threatened species for the entire flora and fauna species. This information highlights the need for prudent management of ecologically vital regions to sustain water and biodiversity.
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