Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

Flora:
The predominant vegetation of the park is southern tropical, moist, mixed
deciduous type with a substantial eastern portion integrating into dry
deciduous type. The upper tree canopy is dominated by Tectonia grandis,
Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Lagerstroemia lanceolata,
Anogeissus latifolia, Adina cordifolia, Boambax malabaricum, Ficus, and
others. The lower canopy has species such as Kydia calycina, Emblica
officinalis, Gmelina arborea, etc. Several shrubs belonging to Solanum,
Desmodium and Helicteres family are also found but weedy shrubs like
Eupatorium and Lantana dominate the area.
Fauna:
The important predators and carnivora in the park are the tiger, leopard,
wild dog, sloth bear and hyena. The herbivores found in the park areas are
the spotted deer, sam bar, barking deer, four-horned antelope, gaur, wild
boar and elephant. Other mammalians include the common langur, bonnet
macaque, civet cat, jungle cat, leopard-cat, mongoose, giant flying squirrel,
common otter, jackal, mouse deer, hare and pangolin. Over 250 varieties of
birds are also found at the park.
The biodiversity pressures in the park include the loss of crop and livestock,
man/animal conflicts, timber collection, grazing, poaching, smuggling and
increasing tourism.
F or years the forests of Nagarhole were looked upon merely upon as
repositories of timber wealth. The area has been extensively logged and
substituted by plantations, primarily teak covering an area of 90 sq. Kms
and rosewood. Together they constitute about 15% of the area. In recent
years, the increasing acceptance that nature's balance should not be
tampered with, has led to the cessation of timber operations in the core
area.
Profile of the Adivasis in and around the Park
The State of Karnataka has a scheduled tribe population of 19,69,993. 75%
of them live in the Western Ghats, namely the Jenukurubas, Bettakurubas,
Yeravas, Soligas and Paniyars.
[4.38% of Karnataka's pOlJUlation-1991 census I
29 Nilagiris : Fwfing Glory