According to a Cree Indian

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Sabrina Fowler
6 years ago
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1 78 The call of ecology According to a Cree Indian proverb, only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the very last fish has been caught will human beings realise that they cannot eat money. Unfortunately, this wisdom of a simple Native American race is lost on most advocates of modernisation and technology, who refuse to believe that they need to learn lessons in ecology. The story is different with Tata Tea, which has, through a process of assimilation and tradition, come to embrace the concept of environmental protection and regeneration. The company has been at the forefront of safeguarding the incredibly rich flora and fauna in and around Munnar, Kerala, the hub of its huge planting operations and a region that has been classified as one of the world s biodiversity hotspots. Tata Tea has, over the years, initiated a number of innovative, extra-statutory practices aimed at limiting the damage being done to the environment and to conserve and restore the biodiversity of the mountainous expanse that is home to the company s operations. The centrepiece of this breathtakingly beautiful spread, from the environmental as well as aesthetic viewpoint, is the Eravikulam National Park. Etymologically, Eravikulam denotes streams and pools. Situated along the crest of the Western Ghats in the high ranges (called the Kanan Devan Hills) of the Idukki district of Kerala, and bordering three of Tata Tea s estates, the park measures 97 sq km and consists of a shola grassland ecosystem that is perched at an average elevation of 2,000 metres above sea level. The sholas are evergreen forests characterised by stunted trees with dense crowns, a thick canopy and small coriaceous leaves. Most of the surrounding knolls and peaks rise 100 to 300 metres higher, and some mountains climb to 2,500 metres. One of these mountains is Anaimudi which at 2,690 metres is the highest peak in India outside the Himalayas.

Tata Tea works to preserve the biodiversity of the Eravikulam National Park in Kerala The ecosystem of the shola grassland has a mixture of tropical and temperate climates.

2 Tata Tea works to preserve the biodiversity of the Eravikulam National Park in Kerala The ecosystem of the shola grassland has a mixture of tropical and temperate climates. The unusual combination of high altitude and low latitude has blessed the area with a profusion of orchids and balsams. The spectacular mass flowering of the shrub Neelakurinji takes place every 12 years. The Eravikulam National Park houses a large number of endemic and endangered life forms, including the largest population of the Nilgiri tahr, around 700 of which graze here. Apart from the tahr, the park is the abode of other little known fauna such as the Nilgiri Marten, ruddy mongoose, small clawed otter, dusky stripped squirrel and of large mammals such as elephant, gaur (Indian bison), deer, tiger, panther, wild dogs, etc. It also harbours about 120 species of birds. Elephants, gaurs and species of the deer family frequently wander off into neighbouring estates, sanctuaries and reserved forests as they prefer the proximity of the sholas, which provide forest cover. The tahr, on the other hand, prefers open grasslands and rock faced cliffs. The Eravikulam National Park is jointly managed by Kerala s Department of Forests and Wildlife, and the High Range Wildlife and Environment Preservation Association (HRWEPA). This association started as a game preservation association in 1928 with the main objective of controlling the indiscriminate killing of animals and preserving the fauna of the area. In 1978, when Tata Tea owned and managed the estates, the game association redefined its objectives to become HRWEPA, and joined hands with the forest department

biodiversity of montane vegetation and the ecological riddles of such ecosystems.

3 80 The ecosystem in and around Munnar in Kerala has a profusion of flora in managing the park. Today this area, along with the neighbouring protected areas and natural forests, is one of the largest conservation areas in the Western Ghats, offering unprecedented opportunities for studying the biodiversity of montane vegetation and the ecological riddles of such ecosystems. The HRWEPA has executives of Tata Tea, the wildlife warden of Eravikulam National Park and the divisional forest officer, Munnar, as honorary members, and eminent environmentalists as its trustees. Since its formation, HRWEPA has received the full support of Tata Tea. A number of ecological challenges have come up in areas close to Tata Tea s plantations. A study undertaken by the French Institute of Pondicherry revealed that the ecosystem of the Kanan Devan Hills is extremely fragile. Any disturbance or change could damage its delicate ecological and economic balance. Approximately 2,200 hectares of the company s holdings is shola jungle and interspersed grasslands. These areas form a part of Tata Tea s holdings as granted land, but they have been retained and form part of the company s protected areas. In the early 1980s, HRWEPA took the initiative of regenerating the degraded shola forests in the company s estates. This undid much of the damage wreaked by forest fires and the disturbance caused by human habitation in this region. Tata Tea ensured that all its estate nurseries raised shola species and planted them in identified areas. Thereafter, a central nursery, established at Madupatty under the supervision of the company s research and development department, undertook centralised planting at these locations. To safeguard the area and to enable its regeneration efforts, Tata Tea engaged security staff in all

4 81 ENVIRONMENT BIODIVERSITY the estates to report any suspicious activity in the protected private forests and the estates. It also appointed Muduvans, local tribals known for their tracking skills, as watchers in the fringe areas to control poaching and encroachment, monitor forest fires and report animal sightings. These watchers report to their respective estate managers, who are designated as honorary HRWEPA wardens. This information is forwarded by each estate to the chairman of HRWEPA, who in turn sends a report to the forest and wildlife department. Another concern is cattle grazing in the fringe estates adjoining the Eravikulam National Park. If not managed well, this can result in the outbreak of disease among wildlife. To mitigate this threat, the veterinary department of Tata Tea monitors the health of the cattle and ensures timely vaccinations. In addition, Tata Tea issues fuel wood, raised in its specially grown plantations, to its employees. This, along with education and vigilance, has resulted in reduced dependence on the forests for fuel wood needs. Further, the company assists the park management in fighting wildfires, which the grasslands are vulnerable to. Visitors to Eravikulam are fascinated by its beauty and serenity, but very few realise how much effort is required to safeguard this haven. The forest and park officials have a hard time containing the menace of marijuana cultivation in the region, which involves both poaching and tree felling. The largest sholas on the western side of the park have been particularly affected. Small-time poaching by setting snares is common along the estate fringes. Sandalwood smuggling in the Anchanand valley means that gangs tend to use parts of the park as a transit route. Unplanned fires during the dry months are also a source of concern and constant vigilance is required to prevent accidents. The sudden tourist inflow has become another major problem. To manage the park more easily, Tata Tea has licensed an area to HRWEPA and the wildlife department for setting up an information and ticketing centre with parking facility. The department now runs its own buses and undertakes guided tours to facilitate planned visits into the park. Tata Tea also funds and supports the High Range Angling Association, which maintains a hatchery for raising rainbow trout fish. The fingerlings raised are released in the streams that flow within the company s holdings. Since trout die in contaminated water, their survival in the streams serves as an ecological indicator of clean water bodies. Tata Tea has also assumed responsibility for the conservation of swamps and streams inside and near its estates. The company maintains about 1,100 hectares under swamps and streams in south India as a protected habitat. This plays a crucial role in the availability of water for groundwater recharging and water

5 82 The Eravikulam National Park is home to the Nilgiri tahr, an endangered species of goat harvesting. Tata Tea has intensified the planting of vetiver in all its estates, because the vetiver plant recharges ground water, is a good soil binder and is renowned for its eco-friendliness. The pesticides used in tea cultivation are registered under the Insecticides Act, Use of such registered pesticides prevents hazards to animals, human beings and the environment. In addition, the company has committed itself to using approved agrochemicals in order to minimise the impact on the environment. This affirms that none of its products and services have any significant adverse impact on the ecology of the region. The challenges have not fazed Tata Tea. It has gone beyond the call of mere duty and transcended the prescriptions of environment statutes to introduce and encourage innovative ways to preserve the biodiversity of the region. At Tata Tea, every day is environment day. The Cree Indians would have approved. Change of hands The ownership of the estates of Tata Tea in Kanan Devan Hills in south India has, since April 1, 2005, been transferred to a new company, Kanan Devan Plantations Company, which now nurtures the various initiatives at Eravikulam and Kanan Devan Hills. Tata Tea has employees serving on the HRWEPA committee and continues to support the cause.

TEN DAYS WILDLIFE TOUR COCHIN PERIYAR-MUNNAR-CHINNAR-ANAMALAI- MUDUMALI-BANDIPUR-KABINI

TEN DAYS WILDLIFE TOUR COCHIN PERIYAR-MUNNAR-CHINNAR-ANAMALAI- MUDUMALI-BANDIPUR-KABINI Day-1 Day-2 Transfer to Periyar Tiger Reserve from Cochin. Check in to a hotel/ resort / home stay. Afternoon visit