The founding fathers of the teeming tea plantations in the High Range embarked on a venture in November 1928 called the High Range Game Association. The main objective of this Association was to control and regulate the indiscriminate killing of animals with a view to preserving the varied fauna of the beautiful and pristine Kanan Devan hills of Munnar, also known as the High Ranges. The members of the Association were appointed as honorary Wildlife Wardens, to function as custodians of the faunal & floral wealth in areas designated to them within the Kanan Devan Hills. In tune with the changing times, when newer ecological perspectives emerged globally, the Association evolved with the times, and formulated a dynamic plan for comprehensive environmental management and sustainable development in the High Ranges, and in 1988, was renamed as the ‘High Range Wildlife and Environment
The Association and its members are actively involved in wildlife preservation and helping the Muthuvans, the indigenous hill tribe of this area, in many ways than one. The prime objective of the Association is to continue and improve upon the efforts of nature conservation in the High Range started by the pioneer planters. To achieve this objective, the Association takes up the following activities:
Regeneration of degraded ‘shola’ forests –(Evergreen deciduous woods and thickets) – with native species in the High Range
Assisting the Wildlife Warden of Eravikulam National Park in managing the National Park and in taking wildlife census.
Maintaining a daily Wildlife sighting record of the Kanan Devan Hills with support of the KDHP Co.(P) Ltd.
Appointing Muthuvans as watchers, providing them social assistance and medi-care and facilitating liaison between the Muthuvans and the Government Departments concerned for promoting the tribal welfare schemes of the Government.
Assisting research activities in the High Range.
Forming nature clubs and organizing nature camps and classes for school children in this part of High Range
Educating the public and the school children on wildlife and environment by arranging films, videos, slide shows,Conducting competitions on essay writing, painting, collection of wildlife albums and wildlife photography for school children in connection with wildlife week celebrations to create nature awareness among children.
Arranging Nature Awareness Workshops, Seminars and Conferences by eminent ecologists, environmental activists and like-minded individuals and NGOs thereby facilitating an eco-dialogue amongst all stakeholders
Arranging treks and trips to other Sanctuaries for its members.
Taking up issues related to tourism with a view to curbing its adverse effects on nature including banning the use of plastics in Munnar and actively participating in the “Clean Munnar” campaign.
Joint Management of Eravikulam National Park: The famous Eravikulam National Park spread over an area of 97 square kilometers, and located in the High Ranges, is an integral part of the vast stretch of forests extending from Anamallais to the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu. The park is unique with the shola grassland ecosystem at an average elevation of 2000 Metres. The climate here is temperate. The rolling grasslands hold the thin topsoil. And the area has remained undisturbed by human agency from time immemorial. Considering the ecological, floral, faunal and geo-morphological significance of this area, it is listed as one of the environmental ‘hot-spots’ in Asia.
The Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), an endangered and extremely rare type of mountain goat is protected in this Park. More than half of the total world’s population of these goats, numbering more than one thousand is here. Indian Gaur, Malabar Squirrel and a wide range of wild animals including Nilgiri Langur, barking deer, wild dogs, leopard cats and tigers are the pride of the High Range.
The Eravikulam area was under the control of the erstwhile Kanan Devan Hills Produce Company Limited and maintained as a wildlife reserve by the Company for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, well before the concept of Wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks came into force. This area was handed over to the Government of Kerala in 1971. Before the land use could be changed and such a rich biological hotspot misused, the timely intervention of the HRW&EPA, enabled the area to be declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975.
Preservation Association’ (HRW&EPA). The Association was registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act 1955, in March 1990. The members of this Association are Officers, belonging primarily to the major commercial tea plantation companies operating in the district. The important initiatives and activities of the Association are funded annually by the K.D.H.P.Co.(P) Ltd. The conservation effort of the HRW&EPA and its funding by a Company can be considered a unique foundation for bio-diversity conservation in the Indian corporate history. After the exit of Tata Tea Ltd. from the plantation operations here, the KDHP Co.(P) Ltd. has espoused the HRW&EPA with the same spirit and zeal for environment conservation in this region.
And in 1978, the area was upgraded as a National Park. Recognising the role of the HRW&EPA in the preservation of the area & its significant contribution to nature conservation, the Expert Committee of the Central Government, recommended that this park be jointly managed by the Kerala Forest Department and the HRW&EPA. The continuing joint management of this National Park by the Forest Department in collaboration with HRW&EPA supported by KDHP, is a classic example of Corporate Environmental Responsibility in India.
Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Private Limited
www.kdhptea.com
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