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