BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT Nallur Tamarind Groove
	Setting | Threats | Knowledge Individuals | Habitat | Life Scape | Management

 

1.      Name of the Hotspot: Nallur Tamarind Groove

2.      Focal species: 

a.      Plants

Wood Apple (Ferronia elephantum), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) Neem (Azadirachta indica), Jagalganti (Diospyrus montana), Uppi gida (Balanitis roxburghii), Taggi gida (Gmelina asiatica), Bore hannu (Zizyphus jujube)

b.     Mammals:

Jackals, Porcupine, Black napped Hare, Pangolin, Slender Loris

c.       Reptiles:  

Russell’s Viper, Cobra, Saw Scaled Viper, Rat Snake

d.     Birds:  

Barn Own, Mottled Wood Owl, Great Horned Owl, Redstart, Fantailed Flycatcher.

(List attached)

e.      Fishes:  Nil

3.      Coordinating Team:  None

4.      Investigating Team: Manjunath P, Pramod Subbarao, Harish Bhat & Akshay Heblikar

            Experience/expertise: Naturalists and Researcher

5.      Dates of data collection: 02-10-2003, 05-10-2003 & 12-10-2003

6.      Process of data collection: Field visits, Interviews.

7.      Sources of information: Local Villagers

8.      Number of man-days consumed in data collection: 10 Days.

(For core area, zone of influence)

1.      Location:             Nallur Tamarind Groove

Mallepura, Devanahalli Taluk

Bangalore Rural District

2.      Area (in ha or sq.km.): 30 Acres.

3.      Latitude/Longitude/Altitude: 

Latitude:

Longitude:

Altitude:

Temperature: 13°C - 34°C

Rainfall: 380 mm Approx.

4.      Village/Town/Taluk/District:  Mallepura, Devanahalli, Bangalore Rural District

5.      Maps (kind of map and the scale):

6.      Mode of access (Distance from Railway/Bus station):

Nearest Airports: Bangalore

7.      Facilities to stay closest to the hotspot:  Lodging at Devanahalli & Chickballapura

8.      Tariff (if any) to be paid to visit the Hotspots:  None

9.      Controlling Authorities: Forest Department, Bangalore Rural

10.  Classes of Landscape:  Scrubby Patch interspersed with Tamarind Trees

11.  Water bodies:  Very small pond

12.  Human populations: Nil within the groove

13.  Presence of Scheduled tribes or Nomadic tribes population:  None

14.  Livestock: Sheep, Cattle & Goat.

15.  Irrigation status & Major crops:  Seen only at the periphery

16.  Significant forest produce:  Tamarind

17.  Quantities recorded at the Range or Divisional Forest Offices: 

18.  Cooperative societies and their transactions: NA.

19.  Significant fresh water fish productions:  NA.

20.  Disposal of fishing rights (Leasing/Auctioning/License): NA.

21.  Significant estuarine & marine fish/shell fish productions: NA.

22.  Number and type of fishing crafts: NA.

23.  Nearest Fishing landing centres: NA.

24.  Availability of fish processing facilities: NA.

25.  Mining and quarrying activities: NA.

26.  Sources & extent of Air and Water pollution: NA.

27.  Prevalence of Human diseases: NA.

28.  Prevalence of Livestock diseases: NA,

29.  Educational institutions: None

30.  Cooperative societies: None

31.  Youth clubs: NA.

32.  Ladies clubs: NA.

33.  Active NGOs: INCERT, Green Cross and individual effort of a local resident Mr.Narayanaswamy.

Inventory of two kinds of activities affecting the core area as well as zone of influence

Table – 1

Table-2

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Preparation of sketch map of the landscape

1.      For zone of influence

2.      For zone of influence

b.     Description of Habitat types

1.      Habitat type:  Thorny Scrub

2.      Local name (if any):  Nallur Chintalu

3.      Approximate total area (ha): 30 Acres

4.      Special significance of the habitat type (if any):  Well Protected as it is believed to be a sacred groove by the local villagers. Two temples believed to have been built during the Chola rule are in ruins of which one temple – Gangamma temple is being renovated currently. The other temple, Gopalaswamy temple – having very spectacular carvings of the childhood of Krishna, is still in ruins, do not have any protection. The old trees seems to be protected due to the taboos that anyone using the materials from that place will have an evil spell casted over throughout their life.

5.      Management regimes:  Forest Department

6.      Goods and Services provided by the habitat: Grazing patch & fuel wood.

7.      Bads and Disservices provided by the habitat: Nil

8.      Significant ecological processes influenced by the habitat type:  More than 10 local varieties of tamarind trees serve as Gene Bank.

9.      Significant man- induced processes influenced by the habitat: Nil.

10.  Interacting individuals and institutions (Local): Nallur Villagers, Temple Authority.

11.  Activities:  Grazing, Fuel Wood Collection, Festival (Annual Jathre).

12.  Interacting individuals and institutions (External): INCERT, Green Cross & Mr.Narayanaswamy.

13.  Activities: Bird watching and nature education through periodic visits with educational institutions.

c.       History of important habitat patches over 10-15/40-50 years

The area was under the rule of the cholas and the entire sacred grove area was earlier a fort called ‘Nallur Kote Patna’. The king had only one daughter whom he did not wish to marry to the prince of Dalikote. But the queen and the princess were interested in the wedlock. Due to this reason, the whole army from Dalikote surrounded the fort for one week. The princess sent a note outside to the prince saying that there was only one source of water to the kingdom, which is the Olle neeru kere, a tank outside the fort. She also indicated that a few petals and leaves of the flowers must be thrown to the tank that would whirl and indicate the existence of the spring source. Then they must drain the spring and make the tunnel to enter inside the fort, which was the only way to enter. Then the army could invade inside, conquer the fort and the princess could be married. The Dalikote army did the same and thus the kingdom was also looted. Before this incidence, the king could sense danger and he buried all the gold coins and jewelry along with tamarind seeds all over the kingdom so as to recollect the buried place of gold later on. The tamarind trees now existing are believed to be those sown seeds, grown into huge trees. There are about 130 old tamarind trees, aging to about 600 – 800 years! The largest tree is having the circumference of 20 feet and a height of about 30 feet. All these old trees have artistic warty markings on the stem. The yield from these tamarind trees is auctioned every year by the forest department.

1.      Type and name of the habitat patch:  Nallur Chintalu

2.      Change in

i.                    Area:  Shrunken due to Encroachment

ii.                 Vegetation strata:  Scrub Jungle, Open Area

3.      Aquatic habitat change in

i.                    Catchment area:  NA.

ii.                 Aquatic fauna: NA

iii.               Aquatic flora: NA

4.      Significant ecological processes influencing the habitat patch:  Protected due to existence of Tamarind Trees and the taboos of being casting the evil spell if the trees are cut.

5.      Significant man induced processes influencing the habitat patch: Uncontrolled grazing & fuel wood collection.

6.      Productivity of Goods and Services: Tamarind Collection – ripe & unripe

7.      Extent of Bads and Disservices: NIL

8.      Reasons for ongoing changes: Improper protection or fencing & regulation.

9.      Gainers:  Shepherds & Locals.

10.  Losers:  Nil.

11.  Desired changes/Desired future: Needs to be fenced, Guard to regulate fuel wood collection, control grazing, and proper protection by means of fencing.

12.  Desired management system:  To be managed by local organization along with Karnataka Forest Department. Local individuals to be given the right to protect the patch and the tamarind need to be auctioned by the locals only or provide compensation on the dependent villagers or to the gram panchayat.

13.  Suggested component for a feasible management plan for that habitat patch:  Fencing, regulating, protecting the patch and in turn protecting the Tamarind Gene Bank.

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Naturally occurring species of significance

1.      Flowering plants:

2.      Lichens: Crustose and foliose

3.      Insects:

v     Butterfly

4.      Amphibians:

5.  Reptiles:

v     Lizards

v     Snakes

6.      Birds:

7.  Mammals:

Additional information on species of significance

1.      Most common local name of the species (Language):

2.      Scientific name of the species: See the table above.

3.      Habitat favoured:  Scrub forest

4.      Value to local community: Not much use.

5.      Major uses/ill effects:  NA

6.      Value of global relevance (as Rare, Threatened or Endangered):

b.     Inventory of significant varieties of domestic plants/animals:

1.      Local name of Species:  Hunasemara, Chintapandu

2.      Scientific name of species: Tamarindus indicus

3.      Local name of variety:  Sihi Hunase, Kempu Hunse, Dodda Hunase

4.      Language employed: Kannada & Telugu.

5.      Distinctive features of the species/varieties: Very Unique, Sweet, Sour, Lot of Pulp

6.      Value to local community: High

7.      Major uses: Traded, Used in Cooking.

8.      Value of global relevance (as rare, threatened or endemic etc.):  Variety is supposed to be endemic, one need to study them carefully.

c.       History of significant species/varieties

1.      Most common name of the species: NA.

2.      Scientific name: NA.

3.      Most common local name of variety: NA.

4.      Existing management authority: NA.

5.      Fish breeding season: NA.

6.      Fishing methods (Types of nets used): NA.

7.      Existing management authority: NA.

8.      Current level of abundance: NA.

9.      Trend in abundance in last 10-15/40-50 years: NA.

10.  Significant ecological processes influencing the species/varieties: NA.

11.  Significance man induced processes influencing the species/variety: NA.

12.  Reasons for the ongoing change: NA.

13.  Gainers (Internal/External): NA.

14.  Losers (Internal/External): NA.

15.  Desired changes/Desired future: NA.

16.  Desired management system: NA.

17.  Suggested component for a feasible management plan for the species/variety: NA.  

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Perspectives of others

1.      Desired response options of different members of local or outside communities/institutions/government agencies/industrial or mining undertaking etc. to be recorded): According to the temple priests and locals they feel that the collection of fuel wood for use and annual festivals need not be regulated. But naturalists feel that grazers & fuel collectors to be regulated.

2.      Significance of management issues and response options:

3.      Management issues pertaining to:                       

a.      Habitat and/or:  Protecting as it is with much interest.

b.     Species/variety:  Tamarind Gene Pool to be protected and maintained

4.      Customary/Administrative:           Temple Authorities & Karnataka Forest Department

5.      Since how long the arrangements have been in practice:  Five Years

6.      Changes if any in management pattern over last 10-15/40-50 years:  No Change

7.      Desired changes/Desired future:  Karnataka Forest Department along with locals should protect the Tamarind Groove.

8.      Desired management system: 

b.     Perspectives of Investigators:  Karnataka Forest Department should fence the whole area and look after by appointing a guard. Villagers need to be considered and taken into confidence while deciding on the management of this patch.

c.       Desired and feasible pattern of management that should be promoted in the opinion of the investigators:  Proper Protection, Regulated Movements of Public, provide incentives to the local villagers towards conservation of the patch and also an alternative source of fuel wood. Archeological Survey of India to be consulted for rejuvenating the temple structures and preserve the same.

d.     Suggested strategy for promoting these desired patterns of management and the communication needs for the purpose:  To be implemented the above by KFD.

e.      Cultural, religious, recreational, scenic, tourist significance of the hotspot: Annual Festival (Jathre) takes at the Temple in this place.  The villagers from 12 villages perform yearly worship every year, 15 days after the Ugadi festival.

f.       Ecological evaluation of the hotspot:  To be protected as it is Tamarind Gene Bank.

g.      Suggested follow up investigations:  Periodical monitoring and inventory of flora & fauna.

h.     Any other suggested follow up:

–       Educate locals about conservation, importance of the sacred grove and provide alternative source of income if they are to be kept away from the patch.

–       Declare it as a heritage site and protect it.

–       Organize educational tours to the hotspot.

–       Periodic census of flora and fauna to be carried out.