Konni Forest Division

The Konni Forest Division is located in Kerala, India, and covers an area of about 331.66 square kilometres (128.05 sq mi).[1] It is the first reserve forest in Kerala, which was declared on 9 October 1888 under the Travancore Forest Act of 1887.[2] The division is part of the Western Ghats, which were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1 July 2012.[3] The forest area is a repository of many endemic species of the Western Ghats.[4]

Konni Forest Division
Malayalam: കോന്നി വനം ഡിവിഷൻ
Kallar river at Adavi, an eco-tourism destination under the Konni range of Konni Forest Division
Map
Map showing the location of Konni Forest Division
Map showing the location of Konni Forest Division
Location in Kerala
Map showing the location of Konni Forest Division
Map showing the location of Konni Forest Division
Konni Forest Division (India)
Geography
LocationKerala, India
Coordinates9°13′50″N 76°51′07″E
ElevationHighest: 997 m (3,271 ft)
Area331.66 km2 (128.05 sq mi)
Administration
StatusReserve forest
Established9 October 1888
Governing bodyKerala Forest and Wildlife Department
Websiteforest.kerala.gov.in
Ecology
DisturbancePlantation, poaching

Overview

It falls under Karunagappally, Kunnathur and Pathanapuram taluks of Kollam district and Adoor, Kozhencherry taluks of Pathanamthitta district.[5] Consisting of the Konni, Naduvathummoozhy and Mannarappara ranges, the division belongs to the southern circle of the Kerala Forest Department.[6]

The division covers a total area of 331.655 km2 (128.053 sq mi), of which 320.553 km2 (123.766 sq mi) are reserved forest, 11.021 km2 (4.255 sq mi) are reserved land, and 0.081582 km2 (0.031499 sq mi) are government lands.[7] With 8,294 ha (20,490 acres) of teak plantations, it has the largest teak plantation area in Kerala.[7]

Landscape

The main hills in the division are Chelikkalkar (997 m), Iruvallimala (817 m), Thunathumala (721 m) and Kodamala (598 m).[4] Achankovil, Pamba Kallar and Achenkovil Kallar are the primary rivers that originate in the reserve forest.[7]

Climate

The temperature can vary from 21 °C (70 °F) in the rainy and winter seasons to 35 °C (95 °F) in the summer.[7] The months of March and April are the hottest. Rainfall occurs from June to September or November.[4]

Boundaries
Map showing the forest divisions in Kerala

Ranges and stations

In 1894, the forest was divided into ranges.[1] The division consists of Konni, Mannarapara and Naduvathummoozhy ranges and eight stations.[8] The Naduvathummoozhy range is the largest, with 138.93 km2 (53.64 sq mi), and the Konni range is the smallest, covering 62.73 km2 (24.22 sq mi).[9] Konni serves as the division's main headquarters.

Ranges and stations under Konni Forest Division
Range Area Stations
Konni 62.73 km2 (24.22 sq mi) North Kumaramperoor
South Kumaramperoor
Naduvathumoozhy 138.93 km2 (53.64 sq mi) Kokkathodu
Karippanthode
Padom
Mannarapara 130.00 km2 (50.19 sq mi) Chempala
Mannarapara
Pachakanam

Types of forests

Konni forest division has tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.[4] The major forest types of Konni division are:

  • West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests
  • West Coast Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests
  • Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests
  • Wet Reed Brakes
  • Southern Montane Wet Grasslands

Fauna

Mammals

About 29 species of mammals are found in the Konni division. These include tiger, leopard, leopard cat, elephant, gaur, wild boar, jungle cat, wild dog, jackal, common mongoose, stripe-necked mongoose, toddy cat, small Indian civet, barking deer, sambar deer, mouse deer, Indian pangolin, sloth bear, Nilgiri langur, gray langur, Travancore flying squirrel, Indian giant squirrel, Indian porcupine, Indian hare, Indian mole rat, bandicoot rat, bonnet macaque, slender loris and fulvous fruit bat.[7][4]

Birds
Crested serpent eagle photographed in the Konni forest range

Konni division is one of the IBAs (Important Bird Area) of India.[10] About 133 species of birds were recorded from the division. Endemic birds of the western ghats such as Malabar grey hornbill, Nilgiri wood pigeon, white-bellied treepie and white-cheeked barbet are seen here.[4] Although rare, great hornbills are also seen. Pariah kite, Brahminy kite, jungle myna, hill myna, crow pheasant, white-headed babbler, blue-winged parakeet, Indian lorikeet, spotted dove, emerald dove and mountain imperial pigeon are other species found here.[7]

Reptiles

The important reptile species found here are monitor lizard, garden lizard, flying lizard, skink, cobra, king cobra, python, viper, krait, rat snake, tree snake and turtle.[7]

See also

References
  1. "കേരളത്തിലെ ആദ്യത്തെ സംരക്ഷിത വനം : പ്രൗഢിയുടെ നെറ്റി പട്ടം കെട്ടി കോന്നി റിസര്‍വ്വ് വനത്തിന് വയസ്സ് 133 | Malayali Manasu". 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  2. "History - Kerala Forest Department". forest.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  3. Raveendranathan, D. (10 August 2016). "Unesco's World Heritage Sites". Western Ghats and the Bounteous Services Showered on the Planet. Notion Press. ISBN 9781945621734.
  4. "BirdLife Data Zone". datazone.birdlife.org. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  5. "KONNI ODONATE SURVEY" (PDF). www.ties.org.in. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  6. "Forest Divisions List". egreenwatch.nic.in. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  7. Mavelikara, Hari; Mohan Lal, K.N. Syam (2021). Bird Diversity of Konni Forest Division, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala.
  8. "Konni". forest.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  9. "KERALA STATE Forest Divisions and Ranges" (PDF). www.oocities.org. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  10. "Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in India". wiienvis.nic.in. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
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