Date:04/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/04/stories/2007040401830200.htm

Kerala

Project to set up conservation centre for heritage medicinal plants at Chaliyam

Heritage garden to be promoted as a rare eco-tourism project in reserve forest

A detailed project proposal for setting up a conservation centre for heritage medicinal plants at Chaliyam in the Kadalundi Grama Panchayat limits in Kozhikode district is being submitted by the social forestry wing of the Forest Department, in association with experts in the field and representatives of local self-government institutions, to Minister for Forests Benoy Viswom.

Two sittings of the project visualisation committee had been conducted. Mr. Viswom presided over a meeting held recently to review the progress made.

Assistant Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry, Siddappa is the convener of the committee. The members include Chief Conservator of Forests Gopinath; T.P. Narayanankutty, Director of Eco Tourism; C. Satish Kumar, scientist, Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Centre, Thiruvananthapuram; I.V. Shashankan; and Harilal.

The heritage garden is being promoted as a rare eco-tourism project in the reserve forest area adjacent to the Kadalundi river estuary, a habitat of rare migratory birds, and is already a popular centre that attracted ornithologists and tourists as well.

The Rs. 10-crore project, which envisages planting of 724 varieties of indigenous herbal plants and trees mentioned in the Hortus Malabaricus, is being implemented by the Forest Department in part of the 32 hectares of reserve forest. It is expected to be completed in three years.

As many as 50 varieties of indigenous medicinal species exist at the proposed site, and the remaining varieties too will be planted, Forest Department sources say.

Social forestry wing sources said the garden would be landscaped in such a manner that the cultivation methods of plants could be projected, besides showcasing them for educational and research purposes.

O. Bhakthavalsalan, Kadalundi Grama Panchayat president, said the herbal garden was being set up close to the site of a fish-landing centre and a forest timber auction centre also operated there.

The Chief Conservator of Forests had earlier held discussions with representatives of trade unions and political parties on the proposed herbal garden project, and the need to make necessary changes without causing inconvenience to local activities.The timber auction centre was being shifted to an adjacent two-acre site, Mr. Bhakthavalsalan said.

A meeting to discuss the details of the project was convened by the Forest Department officials recently.

T.V. Balan, district panchayat standing committee chairman, presided. Mr. Bhaktavalsalan, Pilakkad Shanmughan, grama panchayat vice- president, and others participated in the discussions.

Maleeha Raghaviah