NATIONAL PLANT CONSERVATION PROGRAMME

 

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South Zone

 
Institution  COMMUNITY AROBIODIVERSITY CENTRE, M S SWAMINATHAN RESEARCH
 FOUNDATION PUTHOORVAYAL P.O. WAYANAD, KERALA
Project Title  Conserving 10 Rare, Endangered And Threatened
 Plant Species For The   Livelihood Security of The
 Tribal And Rural Communities of Wayanad District, 
 Kerala.

Duration

Total Grant
(INR in Lakhs)

Project
Leader(s)
 Dr. N. Anil Kumar / Mr. M.K. Ratheesh Narayanan

2 year

4.75

Summary of Aims/ Objectives of the Project
Ten important flowering plant species (2 trees; 3 shrubby climbers; 1 cane; 1 reed; 1 epiphyte; 2 tuberous herbs) that are prioritized after consulting various user groups will be advocated to conserve and use in a sustainable manner. These species are in use for various purposes like making baskets/mats, health care needs, and food security among the local communities of Wayanad district in Kerala. If these species are multiplied in large numbers and made available to communities, it would certainly be a timely help to the poorest tribal and rural communities. It also will be a significant step towards integrating conservation of biodiversity with the ecological, food, health and livelihood security of the poorest of poor forest/wilderness dependent communities. For this, the 10 plant species identified, which are important in many ways would be mass multiplied, domesticated, conserved in-situ, and cultivated and marketed in a participatory manner. The project will contribute to the recognition of traditional knowledge and skills in the conservation and utilization of rare and endangered species. It will also bring the forest officials more closely to forest dwelling communities in terms of the sustainable management of the wild resources. Finally, the most vital benefit to the society is the long-term conservation of ten highly potential species for their future options.

The project aims to achieve the following four integrated objectives by way of linking with the ongoing activities of the Community Agrobiodiversity Centre of MSSRF:
 
  1. Identification of innovative approaches that effectively link conservation of endangered species with the improvement of livelihoods
  2. Increased availability of 10 most needful plant species to communities/industries by ensuring the conservation of its wild resource base and ex-situ levels
  3. Enhanced food, health and livelihood security of forest- dwelling communities through the utilization of the prioritized species
  4. Improved awareness of local institutions and policy-making set-ups on conservation and sustainable use of the 10 species selected
LIST OF PLANT SPECIES SELECTED FOR THE PROJECT

Plant Group

Name of Species

Remarks

 ORNAMENTAL
 ORCHIDS
 Ipsea malabarica Jerdon  The Malabar Daffodil Orchid.
 Believed to be extinct till it’s
 rediscovery from silent valley.
 Seasonal, but with beautiful showy
 flowers.

 Dendrobium aqueum Lindl.

 A rare orchid endemic to Southern
 Western Ghats with robust,
 pendulous spikes with large white
 fragrant flowers. Certainly could be
 introduced in gardens.
 MEDICINAL,
 WILD FOOD
 OR OTHER
 WISE USEFUL
 PLANTS

 Sarcostigma kleinii W.& Arn.

 A rare liana. Once an important
 source for oil for treating  rheumatism, ulcers, leprosy and
 skin diseases and lighting 
 traditional  lamps. This also could 
 be cultivated  in forest areas.

 Aristolochia tagala L.

 A species of high commercial
 demand. Not known in cultivation.
 Ready buyers to take this drug in
 large quantities.

 Calamus thwaitesii Becc.&
 Hook

 Once a much used rattan, now rare
 and threatened due to
 overexploitation. This could be
 multiplied through seeds and
 cultivated like any common
 undershrub.

 Embelia ribes A.DC.

 This is a multipurpose climbing
 shrub. Widely known as a medicinal
 species.
 Dioscorea hamiltonii Hook.f.  This yam is getting extremely rare
 due to some biological factors?
 Once a much consumed species by
 all the  forest dependent
 communities.
 Mangifera indica L. A wild
 variety with small fruits
 This was one of the most common
 varieties of Mango in their culinary
 preparations. But it is not available
 as it used to be because of its
 disappearance from outside forest
 areas.
 Ochalndra travancorica
 Gamble
 The highly exploited forest resource
 for its pulp value by industry. Local
 people struggle now for its collection
 for the preparation of baskets, mats
 etc. This could be multiplied and
 planted in forested areas.
 Garcinia indica (Thouars)
 Choisy
 The wild camboge. Now highly
 valuable for its commercial use as
 fat reducer. Once this also was
 conveniently available outside the
 forest areas, but now restricted only
 in forests, that is not been accessed
 in general by communities.
 
Expected Outcome

Objective

Activity

Result

 Identification
 of innovative
 approaches
 that
 effectively
 link
 conservation
 of
 endangered
 species with
 the
 improvement
 of livelihoods
 Survey the biodiversity
 hotspots and
 documentation of TK
 related to the target  
 species identified
 A comprehensive Report highlighting
 the taxonomy, ecology, threats,
 conservation and ethno-botanical
 aspects of the 10 species specifically
 and several others in general
 Increased
 availability
 of 10 most
 needful plant
 species  to
 communities
 /industries by
 ensuring
 their
 conservation
 Development and
 dissemination of protocols
 for the micro-propagation
 of the selected species
 Report on the protocols for the micro
 propagation of the 10 species
 Establishment of
 conservation gardens of
 the 10 species at different
 levels -communities, NGOs
 and Educational institutions
 Report on the agro-technology for
 the cultivation of the 10 species
 Conservation gardens and plant
 nurseries at different levels-
 households, school & colleges, etc.
 Large -scale cultivation of
 the three medicinal species
 in the list involving
 tribal/rural communities
 Cultivation trials of three medicinal
 plants and three orchids
 Enhanced
 food, health
 and
 livelihood
 security of
 forest-
 dwelling
 communities
 through the
 utilization of
 the
 prioritized
 species
 Planting/introduction of the
 three wild food species
 listed in commonly
 accessible landscapes.
 Convenient availability of the species
 that are in demand.
 Improvement of agro-
 technologies for cultivation
 of the medicinal and wild
 food plant species.
 Semi-domestication and planting of
 three wild food species in forest
 areas
 Market tie-ups with the
 leading pharmaceutical
 companies.
 Establishment of market tie-ups for
 selling the cultivated harvests.And
 wider self use of the products/raw
 materials in demand
 Improved
 awareness of
 local
 institutions
 and policy-
 making set-
 ups on
 conservation
 and
 sustainable
 use of the 10
 species
 Awareness raising
 campaigns,
 workshops/seminars,
 training of trainers at
 various levels with a view
 to disseminate approaches
 and technologies in
 conservation and
 development.
 Designing a Database that gives all
 available information on the 10
 species selected.
 Production of printed and
 electronic communication
 modules for conservation
 of the species.
 Printed publications in local language
 and English.
 Documentation of case
 studies on conservation of
 the 10 species by
 communities/individuals.
 Gernplasm collection of all the
 species listed and a mother nursery
 at the Centre.
Nilgiri
Institution  COIMBATORE ZOOLOGICAL PARK AND CONSERVATION CENTER1318, AVINASHI
 ROAD, PEELAMEDU COIMBATORE 641 004, TAMIL NADU 
Project Title  An arboretum for endemic and endangered flora of 
 The Nilgiri   Biosphere Reserve. 

Duration

Total Grant
(INR in Lakhs)

Project
Leader(s)
  B.Rathinasabapathy/ B.Rathinasabapathy

2 year

5.39

Summary of Aims/ Objectives of the Project

The role of plants at the Coimbatore Zoological Park Society (CZPS) took a major turn in 1994 when the CZPS decided to develop the zoo as a Bio park of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve (NBR). Consequently the spectrum of plant species selection has been narrowed down to native Western ghats species from earlier idea of native Indian species. The Western Ghats with 63% of endemic among its tree flora is one of the most important centers of endemism. The zoo is looking forward to launch a project on botanic education with the help of IIN-India Funds. The project envisions to expose students, public and scientific institutions to botanical diversity of the NBR. The CZP has so far propagated and planted 349 species of 95,032 seedlings in eight different vegetation zones. Of which 32 species are endemics and 7 species are endangered. It has 10 years of experience in afforestation efforts and its model 15-acre rainforest is already 9 years old. CZP has the basic infrastructure relevant expertise in nursery techniques to raise the plants.

CZP has also developed computer software for managing the enormous quantity of data generated on account of its day-to-day botanical studies and activities. Named after India’s largest pod bearing climber -Entada rheedii- The ENTADA programme takes in to account of collection, propagation, planting, mortality, disposal and museum specimens.

The specific aims & objectives of the project are:
 

  1. Establishment of an arboretum of 100 endemic and endangered plants of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
  2. Standardization of the techniques for production of seedlings in the nursery for endemic and endangered taxon.
  3. Field demonstration about the relationship that plants has developed with their environment.
  4. Functioning as an interpretation center for plants identification their conservation and utilitarian values and potentials.
     
Expected Outcome
  • Addition of 100 species of endemic and endangered plants of NBR to the CZP arboretum.
  • Establishment of a Green house, Mist tent, and enhancement of the existing Museum facility.
  • Development and management of a herbarium so that it will serve as a resource center for plants identification.