In a first, the tree fern named the flagship icon of a national park | Kochi News
Idukki: In a first, a tree fern was selected as the flagship species of a national park in the state.
Cyathea crinite, a tree fern species, will be the icon of conservation in Anamudi Shola National Park in Idukki for the next 10 years.
The new management plan for the protected area has been approved by the state chief game warden.
Salish Menachery, wildlife assistant at Eravikulam National Park, said Cyathea crinite is a rare and very limited endemic species. It grows in shady banks along streams in evergreen forests and Shola (high altitude temperate humid tropical forests between 1,500 and 2,200 m above mean sea level) and is found in the Western Ghats and elevated wetlands in Sri Lanka.
The habitat of this species is highly fragmented and it is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Mannavan Shola of Anamudi Shola National Park is one of 15 sites where the species has been found, the official said.
Munnar Wildlife Custodian R Lakhmi said there is a growing population of Cyathea crinita in the Manavanshola area in Anamudi Shola National Park.
“Normally, a major species in each park is selected for the management plan and it aims to give more importance to the conservation of the species. We can see the fern in most parts of the park. Once approved, the management plan will intensify conservation activities for the plant over the next 10 years, ”she said.
According to officials, all protected areas have a flagship species as a conservation icon that is mentioned in the management plan.
The management plan was prepared by Munnar Wildlife Warden R Lekshmi, Range Forester Sameer MK, Wildlife Assistant Salish J Menachery and Biologist Bhavdas, under the guidance of Anoop KR, Field Director (Project Tiger) Kottayam.
Recently, the galactic frog (Melanobatrachus indicus) was selected as the flagship species of Mathikettan Shola National Park in Idukki.
Cyathea crinite, a tree fern species, will be the icon of conservation in Anamudi Shola National Park in Idukki for the next 10 years.
The new management plan for the protected area has been approved by the state chief game warden.
Salish Menachery, wildlife assistant at Eravikulam National Park, said Cyathea crinite is a rare and very limited endemic species. It grows in shady banks along streams in evergreen forests and Shola (high altitude temperate humid tropical forests between 1,500 and 2,200 m above mean sea level) and is found in the Western Ghats and elevated wetlands in Sri Lanka.
The habitat of this species is highly fragmented and it is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Mannavan Shola of Anamudi Shola National Park is one of 15 sites where the species has been found, the official said.
Munnar Wildlife Custodian R Lakhmi said there is a growing population of Cyathea crinita in the Manavanshola area in Anamudi Shola National Park.
“Normally, a major species in each park is selected for the management plan and it aims to give more importance to the conservation of the species. We can see the fern in most parts of the park. Once approved, the management plan will intensify conservation activities for the plant over the next 10 years, ”she said.
According to officials, all protected areas have a flagship species as a conservation icon that is mentioned in the management plan.
The management plan was prepared by Munnar Wildlife Warden R Lekshmi, Range Forester Sameer MK, Wildlife Assistant Salish J Menachery and Biologist Bhavdas, under the guidance of Anoop KR, Field Director (Project Tiger) Kottayam.
Recently, the galactic frog (Melanobatrachus indicus) was selected as the flagship species of Mathikettan Shola National Park in Idukki.
