Eravikulam National Park (18242)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Eravikulam National Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.2228, Longitude: 77.0765
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Area of KBA (km2): 116.72623
Protected area coverage (%): 98.27
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Eravikulam National Park lies along the crest of the Western Ghats in the high ranges of Idukki district of Kerala. The nearest town, Munnar, is accessible by road from Cochin and Kottayam. Till 1975, the High Range Game Preservation Association, Munnar managed this area, when it was declared a sanctuary. In 1978, it became a National Park, mainly to protect the endemic Nilgiri Tahr Hemitragus hylocrius. Eravikulam is the finest example of what remains of the shola grassland ecosystem in the Western Ghats. It is also the best remaining habitat of some highly endangered and endemic mammals such as the Nilgiri Tahr and the Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsi. Anaimudi, at an elevation of 2,695 m is the highest peak in the Western Ghats. At the base of the Anaimudi is the Eravikulam plateau, with an average elevation of 2,000 m. It is part of a larger plateau called the High Ranges. The climate of Eravikulam and areas of similar altitude in the Western Ghats is subtropical. The wind-swept hills and rolling plateaux have grassland vegetation, and the valleys and folds harbour biologically rich forests called sholas. Thus the natural vegetation of the plateau is a mosaic of sholas and grasslands. Eravikulam is perhaps the largest contiguous, undisturbed shola-grassland ecosystem remaining in the Western Ghats. It is definitely the only place where one can now witness the grandeur of the mountains when, once in twelve years, whole tracts are covered by the mass flowering ‘Neelakurinji’ Strobilanthus kunthianus, “the great blue flower of Nilgiri”. About 60% of the Eravikulam National Park is under grassland. Menon (1997) identified three grassland communities based on characteristic spectral radiance value: i) Dichanthium polyptcum- Eulalia pheothrix-Chrysopogon zeylanicus; ii) Arundinella mesophylla-Andropogon lividus-Ishamum indicum-Chrysopogon zeylanicus; and iii) Arundinella purpurea-Chrysopogon zeylanicus-Eulalia pheothrix. About 25% of the Park constitutes shola forest, consisting of Mesia indica, Microtropis ramiflora, Syzigium arnottianum, Ixora notoniana, Ternstroemia japonica, Cinnamomum wightii and Mahonia leschenaultii (Menon 1997). A small percentage of West Coast Tropical Evergreen forest is also seen. About 6% is under rocks and cliffs, an important habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr. MAIN THREATS: Firewood collection; Grazing. The major area of land around the National Park is covered with tea plantations. Private holdings are very few, and such holdings are being planted with coffee, pepper and coconut. There are no villages within the National Park. The only tribal settlement is at Lakkam near Chattamunnar. There are two villages in close proximity, Devicolam and Marayoor. The adjacent lands are being used for the cultivation of tea, coffee, pepper and other agricultural crops. The hill tribes stay within the National Park and are dependent on it for their livelihood. They engage in cultivating lemon grass, and collecting minor forest produce from the adjoining forest areas. The proposed Munnar High Dam project, if implemented, would adversely affect about 50% of the population of the Nilgiri Tahr, as the tunnels of the project would pass through Rajamalai areas. The Anamalayar Dam on the Bhimamalai river of the proposed Pooyamkutty Project also poses a direct threat to this IBA. New settlements near Anakulam and Mankulam in the west are also a threat to the site.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The amphibian Raorchestes resplendens meets A1a/B1 and three birds meet B2. An additional six amphibians, 13 birds, six mammals, one plant and one reptile meet legacy KBA criteria and are in need of reassessment against the Global Standard.
Manageability of the site: This site was originally identified as an IBA/KBA in 2004. The site is managed by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, Munnar Wildlife Division
Delineation rationale: This site was originally identified as an IBA/KBA in 2004: Eravikulam National Park- SitrecID: 18242.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Grassland | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Large dams | Only in the future |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |