Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

News: Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to survey Agasthyamalai landscape to spot encroachments into forests.

About Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

• Location: It is located in the southernmost end of the Western Ghats spanning the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• It was established in 2001 as a Biosphere Reserve and became part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016.
• It derives its name from the great Hindu Sage Agasthya muni, with its highest peak known as Agasthya Malai (1,868 metres).
• Protected areas: It encompasses the protected areas of-
  • Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
• Climate and vegetation: It has tropical monsoon climate with high rainfall (especially on the western slopes).
• Its ecosystem diversity includes tropical wet evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, montane rain forests and Shola.
• Flora: It is the habitat for over 2,250 plant species, including 405 endemic species and rare medicinal herbs (ex – Arogyapacha).
• Fauna: Animals include the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, Nilgiri tahr, grizzled giant squirrel and birds like Great Indian hornbill.
• Tribes: Agastyamalai is also home to the Kanikaran tribes, one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in the world.