Syllabus: Prelims Unit II - Geography of India
About Nilgiri Biosphere
- First UNESCO-declared biosphere reserve in India
- Total area: 5,500 square kilometres
- Spans across three states: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
- Elevation range: 260m (Moyar gorge) to 2,637m (Doddabetta peak)
Geographical Features
- Major Hill Stations:
- Ooty
- Coonoor
- Kotagiri
- Notable Landmarks:
- Doddabetta Peak (2,637m)
- Moyar Gorge (260m depth)
- Protected Areas:
- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
- Mukurthi National Park
Biodiversity Highlights
Endemic Species
- Flora:
- Baeolepis nervosa (medicinal plant used by Irula tribe)
- Native shola species
- Fauna:
- Nilgiri Chilappan
- Star-eyed bush frog
- Nilgiri tahr
- Invasive Species:
- Lantana camara
- Pine trees
- Blue gum eucalyptus
Economic Activities
Traditional
- Tea plantations (colonial-era establishment)
- Indigenous community practices
Contemporary
- Tourism sector
- Agricultural activities
- Circular economy initiatives
Conservation Challenges
- Tourism-related:
- Increased waste generation
- Traffic congestion
- Unsustainable day tourism
- Agricultural:
- Pesticide usage
- Water source contamination
- Fertilizer pollution
Conservation Initiatives
Government Efforts
- Carbon neutrality goals
- Plastic waste elimination
- Endemic species protection
- Invasive species management
Civil Society Organizations
- Clean Coonoor: Public-private partnership
- Keystone Foundation: Indigenous community empowerment
- Nature Conservation Foundation
- WWF initiatives
Indigenous Communities
- Toda Community:
- Ancient inhabitants
- Declining population
- Traditional ecological knowledge
- Irula Tribe:
- Traditional medicine practices
- Local biodiversity knowledge
Wildlife Management
Technology Integration
- Mobile phone-based alert systems
- GPS tracking
- Camera surveillance
- Satellite imagery
- Artificial Intelligence applications
Human-Wildlife Conflict
- Species adaptation to human areas:
- Leopards in urban spaces
- Gaur in tea plantations
- Wild pigs near human settlements
- Conflict resolution strategies
- Early warning systems
Conservation Model
Triple Helix Approach
- Samaaj (Society):
- Public participation
- Citizen science initiatives
- Community engagement
- Bazaar (Market):
- Plantation owners
- Tourism industry
- Local traders
- Farmers
- Sarkaar (Government):
- Forest Department
- District Administration
- State Government
Legal Framework
- Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
- Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve guidelines
