Kerala moots jumbo corridor linking forests, sanctuaries

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With incidents of man-animal conflict being widely reported in Kerala, the state has embarked on an ambitious project to link its forests and sanctuaries to create a continuous path for the free movement of elephants.
The project that intends to create a continuous corridor from north end to the south will be undertaken using the funds given by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC).Government has submitted the proposal to the Centre for linking seven corridors in northern districts, in which four will require land acquisition. For the first phase, seven corridors — identified by the ‘right of passage (elephant passages of India)’ report 2017 by wildlife trust of India and MoEFCC — have been shortlisted.

They are Begur-Brahmagiri corridor, Pakranthalam corridor, Thirunelli-Kudrakote corridor under Wayanad wildlife division, Kottiyoor-Periya corridor under Kannur wildlife division, Nilambur-Appankappu corridor, Nilambur Kovilakam-New Amarambalam corridor and Mudumalai-Nilambur corridor . Leaving Kottiyoor-Periya, Begur-Brahmagiri, Nilambur-Appankappu and Pakranthalam, the remaining three corridors do not require land acquisition to implement the project.
The corridors will be built with a minimum width of 1km, which will be secured on the sides with natural walls. For the completion of the first phase, government will have to acquire 350 hectares for which the estimated cost is Rs 106 crore. Most of them are private properties.
“The idea was mooted during a discussion between MoEFCC and government officials. Kerala manages its forests capably and it receives less funds compared to the ones where forest management is poor. The Centre has promised us funds for the project,” said top sources.
The proposal states that securing wildlife habitats and corridors is one of the many long-term steps to tackle man-animal conflict. “Elephants create clearings in forest as they move, preventing overgrowth of certain plant species and allowing space for regeneration of others. Elephants consume plants, fruits and seeds. They release seeds when they defecate in other places as they travel. This allows distribution of various plants species,” states the proposal.
But, experts said government need not spend funds on acquiring new land but preserve the traditional forest pathway of elephants. “Human interferences in forest like resorts, cement factories at Walayar should be removed,” said K Venkitachalam of Heritage Animal Task Force, a Thrissur-based NGO.