Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ferns, ENP
Mains level: NA
Eravikulam National Park, located in Munnar, India, is known for its natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, and has recently introduced a new attraction – a Fernarium.
What are Ferns?
- Ferns are a type of vascular plant that reproduces via spores, rather than seeds.
- They have distinctive leaves, called fronds, which are often intricately divided into smaller leaflets.
- Ferns can grow in a wide variety of environments, from rainforests to deserts, and they play an important role in many ecosystems as a habitat for animals, as well as by providing food and shelter for a variety of other plants.
Importance of Ferns
- Ferns are ecological indicators of healthy forests, and the climatic conditions inside the park are suitable for growing ferns.
- Ferns are part of the Epiphytic family and grow naturally in soilless conditions.
- They obtain water and nutrients through leaching from trees, and a large number of ferns are found on trees inside the park.
Fernarium @ Eravikulam
- The Fernarium is a collection of ferns and it is the first of its kind in Munnar.
- Currently, 52 varieties of ferns have been planted, and the plan is to cover all 104 varieties that are found in the park.
- This initiative aims to provide visitors with awareness about the biodiversity of the park.
Back2Basics: Eravikulam National Park
| Location | Perched 7000 ft. above sea level, the Park was a former hunting preserve of British planters |
| Designation | Declared a Sanctuary in 1975, and a National Park in 1978 |
| Significance | Protects the highly endangered mountain goat, Nilgiri Tahr, and is the land of the Neelakurinji flower that blooms once in twelve years |
| Extent | Covers an area of 97 sq. km of rolling grasslands and high-level sholas |
| Climate | Receives heavy showers during the southwest (June/July) and retreating (October/November) Monsoons; one of the wettest areas in the world |
| Topography | Undulating terrain with grass, hillocks, and sholas; highest peak south of the Himalayas, the Anamudi, is located here |
| Vegetation | Majorly covered with rolling grasslands, with several patches of shola forests; important flora includes Actinodaphne bourdilloni, Microtropis ramiflora, Strobilanthus Kunthianus (Neela Kurinji), etc. |
| Wildlife Population | 29 species of mammals, including the endemic Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel, and wild dog; 140 species of birds, including 10 unique to the Western Ghats; more than 100 varieties of butterflies and 20 species of amphibians are also recorded here. |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
