BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT Pillarkan
	Setting | Threats | Knowledge Individuals | Habitat | Life Scape | Management

 

1. Name of the Hotspot: Pillarkan

2. Focal Species: List enclosed

3. Coordinating Team: Dr. N A Madhyastha and Dr. K P Achar.

    Experience/expertise: Ten years experience in Biodiversity Inventorying and monitoring.

4. Investigating Team: N A Aravinda and N A Madhyastha.

    Experience/expertise: Studying birds of the area for more than a decade.

5. Dates of data collection: Since 1998.

6. Process of data collection:

7. Sources of information: Field observations.

8. Number of man-days consumed in data collection: 60 days.(approximately).

(For core area, zone of influence)

1.      Location. 20 kms from Udupi.

2.      Area (in ha or sq.km.): about 124 hactare.

3.      Latitude/Longitude/Altitude:

4.      Village/Town/Taluk/District: Shirva Village, Udupi District..

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

6.      Mode of access (Distance from Railway/Bus station): Shirva is about 20 kms from Udupi.  There are frequent buses to Shirva from :Udupi.

7.      Facilities to stay closest to the hotspot. Excellent Hotels available at Udupi and Minipal.

8.      Tariff (if any) to be paid to visit the hotspots: Nil

9.      Controlling authorities: Karnataka State Forest Department.

10.  Classes of Landscape: Forest.

11.  Water bodies: nil

12.  Human populations: 535

13.  Presence of Scheduled tribes or Nomadic tribes population: SC 100

14.  Livestock:155

15.  Irrigation status & Major crops: NA

16.  Significant forest produce: Nil

17.  Quantities recorded at the Range or Divisional Forest offices: NA

18.  Cooperative societies and their transactions:

19.  Significant fresh water fish productions: Nil.

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

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

22.  Number and type of fishing crafts: Nil

23.  Nearest Fishing landing centres: Nil

24.  Availability of fish processing facilities: Nil

25.  Mining and quarrying activities:.

26.  Sources & extent of air and water pollution: Insignificant.

27.  Prevalence of Human diseases: NA

28.  Prevalence of Livestock diseases: NA

29.  Educational institutions:)

30.  Cooperative societies:.

31.  Youth clubs:.

32.  Ladies clubs:

33.  Active NGOs:

Table – 1

(For core area, zone of influence)

(a)   Preparation of sketch map of the landscape

(b)   Description of Habitat types

1.  Habitat type:.

2.  Local name (if any) Nil

3.  Approximate total area (ha):.143 Hactares

4.  Special significance of the habitat type (if any): Devara Kadu

5.      Management regimes: Forest Dept

Goods and Services provided by the habitat:

Bads and Disservices provided by the habitat: Nil

6.      Significant ecological processes influenced by the habitat type:

7.      Significant man- induced processes influenced by the habitat:

8.      Interacting individuals and institutions (Local.

9.      Activities:.

10.  Interacting individuals and institutions (External):

11.  Activities:.

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

1.      Type and name of the habitat patch:

2.      Change in

Area:.

ii.     Vegetation strata:.

3.      Aquatic habitat change in

(i)                  Catchment area:

            Aquatic fauna:.

(ii)                Aquatic flora. NA

4.      Significant ecological processes influencing the habitat patch:

5.      Significant man induced processes influencing the habitat patch.

6.      Productivity of Goods and Services:

7.      Extent of Bads and Disservices:

8.      Reasons for ongoing changes:

9.      Gainers:

10.  Losers.

11.  Desired changes/Desired future:

12.  Desired management system:

13.  Suggested component for a feasible management plant for that habitat patch

(Fore core area, zone of influence)

(a)   Naturally occurring species of significance:

1. Flora: list enclosed (Dr.K G Bhat)

2. Birds:

Egretta garzetta (Little egrets)

Ardeola grayii (Pond Heron)

Egretta gularis  (Reef Heron)

Bubulcus ibis (Cattle Egret)

Milvus migrans (Pariah Kite)

Haliastur indus (Brahmini Kite)

Amauorornis phoenicurus (White breasted Water hen)

Vanellus indicus (Red Wattled Lapwing)

Dicrurus paradiseus Racket tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis (Drongo)

Acridotheres trisits (Indian Myna)

Alcedo etthis (Small blue kingfisher)

Halcyon smyrnensis (White breasted kingfisher)

Merops orientalis (Small green bee eater)

Metopidius indicus (Bronze winged Jacana)

Saxicola caprata (Bush chat)

Galerida cristata (Crested Lark)

Terpsiphone paradise (Paradise fly catcher)

Copsychus malabaricus (Shama)

Galloperdix lunulata (Spur fowl)

Pavo cristatus (Peafowl)

Columba liva (Pigeon)

Psittacula krameri (Roseringed Parakeet)

Oriolus oriolus (Oriole)

Tyta alba (Barn Owl)

Coracias bengalensis (Blue jay)

Turnix  tanki (Quail)

Trokus griseus (Grey Hornbill)

Centropus sinesis (Crow  pheasant)

Megalaima zeylanica (Barbet)

Dinipium bengalense (Golden Backed woodpecker)

Zoothera citrina (Ground thrush)

(For core area, zone of influence)

(a)    Perspectives of others: The habitat being a temple forest, there are hardly any extraction of tree.  People around want the same sentiment to continue.

2.  Significance of management issues and response options:

The habitat is a reserve forest and hence no management issue arise.

            .

1.      Management issues pertaining to

(a)    Habitat and/or: Rserve Forest

(b)   Species/variety: Customary/Administrative: Forest Department.

(c)    Since how long the arrangements have been in practice:

      More than 150 years.

(d)   Changes if any in management pattern over last 10-15/40-50 years: Nil

2.      Desired changes/Desired future: Nil

3.      Desired management system: Forest and the temple authorities.

4.      (b) Perspectives of Investigators;

             Need to be preserved as such, because the forest shows some Western Ghat elements, which are not seen in the nearby forests. 

This is also a place for recreation and study.     

(c) Desired and feasible pattern of management that should be promoted in the opinion of the investigators;

             Joint management system involving village Panchayat, temple authorities and the forest department.

            .

 (d) Suggested strategy for promoting the desired patterns of management and the communication needs for the purpose;

            Cultural, religious, recreational, scenic, tourist significance of the hotspot; The hotspot is the only thick forest near by Udupi and hence has great educational significance.

This is also a place picnic for its natural beauty.

This being a temple forest this has religious significance as well.

1. Ecological evaluation of the hotspot:

2. Suggested follow up investigations:

3. Any other suggested follow up;

            Dr. K G Bhat has made an inventory of flowering plants of the area.  We have made a check of birds. There is need for documentation of other floral and faunal types.  The hot being a compact area of about 250 acres, it is easy and worthwhile to make such an attempt.

            The department of forest  is also doing some afforestation programme in the area , so the impact of such an attempt on the existing flora and fauna may be evaluated.