Sumesh Soman, the new District Forest Officer (DFO) of the Nilgiris Forest Division, which was formed recently after the merger of Nilgiris North and South divisions, said the Forest Department will work towards regulation of tourism in forest areas, removal of invasive species of flora from the landscape, and mitigation of human-animal conflicts in the region.
With the rearrangement of the forest divisions, the Segur and Singara forest ranges in the Sigur plateau, which were previously with the Nilgiris North Division, have been handed over to the control of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, along with the Thengumarahada Section.
Mr. Soman said that the Forest Department was working towards mitigating human-animal conflicts across the 12 forest ranges, and the more than 250 patches of reserve forest dotted across the division. “We have made minor interventions, as there are many hotspots here where conflict between humans and gaur occur,” said Mr. Soman.
The areas frequented by gaurs have been identified, and steps were on to create awareness among people in human settlements nearby, he said. “We also do a roll call everyday, with anti-poaching watchers being asked to report on the movement of animals and of any other information to their respective range officers in the conflict-prone zones,” he said.
Invasive flora
The Forest Department was also assessing the extent of growth of mature species of invasive flora such as wattle, blue gum and eucalyptus trees, and will begin their removal in a phased manner.
“Around 15 hectares of plantations have already been removed in the Kodanad and Kotagiri area, and we are identifying the extent of the total acreage covered by the trees across the division,” he said. The Forest Department is also working on regulating tourism at many places located inside reserve forests in the district, including the Doddabetta Peak, Ninth Mile Shooting Medu and Needle Rock View Point. “We are looking at strategies to minimise vehicular traffic to these areas, preventing pollution and littering, while also providing more facilities such as toilets, which can only be set up as temporary structures due to the nature of the Forest Protection Act,” he added.