07_chapter 3

111. STUDY AREA

STUDY AREA

The present study was conducted in two major hill ranges viz. the Shervarayan

and the Kalrayan hills of the Eastern Ghats, south India (Fig. 1). In the Shewarayan

hills, Sanyasimalai R e s e ~ e Forest located in Yercaud taluk, was selected. In the

Kalrayan hills two study sites viz. Vellimalai ana Devanoor forests were selected.

The Shervarayan hill sites:

The Shewarayan hill is one of the major hill ranges on the southwest of the

Eastern Ghats, located in Salem district of Tamil Nadu between 1 lo 45' and 11' 55' N

latitude and 78" 11' and 78' 20' E longitude (Figs.] and 2). It covers an area of 470

km2 The elevation ranges from 400 - 1600 m above mean sea level. They are rich in

Archaean chamokites with a few belts of granite gneiss (Krishnan, 1956). Soils are of

brown calcareous type

The forest receives both southwest (June - September) and northeast (October

December) monsoon rains, but the latter brings copious rain. The mean annual

rainfall for 15 years (1972 - 1986) was 1335 mm and the mean monthly rainfall for

the same period was107 mm (Fig.3a). The mean annual number of rainy days was 63.

Atmospheric temperature ranged from a minimum of 11°C (in December - January)

to a maximum of 30°C (in April-May), while humidity ranged from 65 % to 87 % for

I0 years (1 976 - 1986) (Senthilkumar and Krishnamurthy, 1992).

Fonr t types and their status

The vegetation varies considerably with elevation. The foothills harbour scmb

vegetation up 16 400111; dry and mixed deciduous forests occur between 400 - 1200 m

and Kmi-evergreen forests between 1200 - 1600 rn. The study site Sanyasimalai

Reserve Forest in Yercaud is in semievergreen forest, where all the four I-ha study

g. 1. Map showing study sites Shervmyan hills Kalrayan hills near Salem and Kallakurichi towns in

mil Nadu, India

Fig. 2. Detailed map of Yeicaud taluk showing Sanyasimalai (SM) Reserve forest in the Shewarayan hills

Fig 3a RainEall aod rainy days for IS years (1972-1986) at Yucard in Shemarayan hills, Eastem Ohats.

Jan Fcb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Da

Months [ t Rainfall *Rainy days 1

Fig. 3b Temperature diagram for 8 years (1985-1993) in Kalrayan hills.

Jan Mar May July Sep Nov

Months

Fig 3c Rainfall and rainy days for 14 years (1972-1985) in Kalrayan hills

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Months

t R P i n f a l l -+-Rainy days

plots of this work are located (Fig.2). When compared to its adjoining forest arcan

such as Nagalur, Karadiyur and Panipadi. Sanyasimalai RF. mnains relatively

undistubed (hslrshmanan, 1990). Photographs of the study plots. selected plant

species and human interference in Sanyasimalai forests are provided in Plates 1 to 8.

Within the study site there is no human habitation. In the Shervarayan hills,

coffee is a major plantation crop, besides oranges in high elevations. Silver oak

(GreviIlea robusra) is cultivated as a shade tree in plantation areas. Other crops l i e

pepper, pomegranate, clove, cardamom and a few hill vegetables arc also cultivated

(Stalin et al., 1991). In some portions of the hills aluminum ore e m t i o n and

quarrying are undertaken.

The Knlrayan hill sites

The Kalrayan hill range is situated in Sankarapwam taluk, at the extreme west

of Villupwam district in Tamil Nadu, south India. It is bounded on the north by

forests of Thiruvannamalai district, on the west by forests of Dharmapuri district, on

the south by forests of the Shervarayan hills and on the cart by Sankarapunun taluk

township. The Kalrayan hills occupy an area of 1000 km2. The entire hill eact lies

between 1 lo 38' and 12" Ol' N latitude and 78' 37' and 78" 51' E longitude (Figs.1 and

4). The elevation ranges from 300 - 1000 m. The maximum and minimum

temperatwe being 40°C during summer (April - June) and ll°C during winter

(November - January) (Fig 3b). The mean annual rainfall for the nearest town

Kallakurichi (70 km away) was 971 mm during the 14 years (1972 - 1985) (Fig. 3c).

Mean annual number of rainy days was 50. Major streams in the area include

Manirnukhtar, Gomukhi and Mayura.

(a) O v e ~ e w of Sanyasikaradu section of Sanyasimalai reserve forest, Yercaud.

Eastern Ghats, where the study plot SMI is located. Native hardwood forest mixed

with a few trees of the introduced conifer, Callitris cupressformis can be noticed.

(b) Liana, Gnetum ula twining around Meiiosmapinnara in plot SMI. At he extreme

left is a sapling of Embelia beraal, with large leaves.

Plate 2

(a)

Plate 2

(a)

(a) A regenerating site with dense saplings of Sarcococca saligm and Psychopia

octosulcata in the foreground in plot SMI.

(b) Regeneration site of plot SM2 with abundant Pqchotrra ocrosulcara saplings.

Plate 3

(a)

Plate 4

(a) A view of plot SM3 in Sanyasirnalai area.

(b) A portion of plot SM3, depicting the dense forest stand. lo the middle, two ne.

wightiana trees and an Embelia basaal with pale bark, leaning on it can be seen.

Plate 4

(a)

Plate 5

(a). A multi-stemmed Vaccinium neilghemense in plot SM3. Many individuals of this

species are multi-stemmed in the study plot.

(5). A view of plot SM4 and adjoining conifer (CaNitris cupressiformis)-mixed ma

in Sanyasimalai peak.

Plate 5

(a)

Plate 6

(a) Plot SM4 is unique ~ i t h sloppy terrain and many trees leaning towards the slope.

0) The lower portion of plot SM4 contains many erect trees.

Plate 6

(a)

Plate 7

(a) Dalbergra latifolra in full bloom during Ma) 1993 in plot SM4.

(b) A voluminous Canthiurn dicoccurn tree with first branching at 2.5m height and a

dense colonization of epiphytes, mostly composed of mosses and Peperornia sp.

Plate 8

(a) Logg~ng near Sanyas~malai sites. Yercaud. A ponion of logging area and cut bases

of the conifer, Callinis cupresslformrs can be seen.

(b) Fuel wood collection around Sanyasirnalai R.F.

Plate 8

(a)

Fig. 4. Detailed map of Kallakurichi taluk showing Vellimalai and Devanoor areas located in Jadaya gounden jaghir

NORTH ARCOT DISTRICT

SALEM DISTRICT

Not to scale

Most part of the hills is of gneissic rocks in the Archaean system; magnetic,

granite, charnokites and black granites also occur in a few places. The soil type varies

from red loam to black clay. Soils in the plateau are generally shallow.

Forest types, their status and the extent of disturbances

The foothills and the outer slopes up to an elevation of 300 m, harbour

'southern tropical thorn forest' (scrub) (type BA/DSI of Champion and Seth, 1968).

Southern mixed deciduous forest (type 5.41'23 of Champion and Seth, 1968) occurs

between 300 - 680 m. The hill tops between an elevation of 680 - 900 m harbour

pockets of semi-evergreen forest locally called 'sholas' and they are ofien omitted on

vegetation map Kalrayan hill range is divided into smaller units called 'jaghirs'.

There are three jaghirs vrz. Ariya gounder jaghir (area 15,000 ha), Kurumba gounder

jaghlr (25,000 ha) and Jadaya gounder jaghir (30,000 ha)(Fig.4). Two study sites vrz

Vellimalai and Devanoor forests located in Jadaya gounder jaghir, were selected for

the study. The jaghir areas come under the Tam11 Nadu preservation of Private forest

Act of 1949.

Vellimalai forest is located within 100 - 300 m distance of Vellimalai village.

Devanoor forest is 6 krn away from Vellimalai. Study plots VM 1, VM 2 and VM 4

arc situated in Jadakaliyamman solai of Vellirnalai and plot VM 3 is located in

Adhiraman solai of Devanoor. Photographs of the hill views, study plots, forest stands

and selected plant species and forest-human interaction, are provided in Plates 9 to 16.

Both Vellimalai and Devanoor forests remain in its present form partly owing

to the presu~ce of primitive type of temples situated well within the forest and hence

they ax temple forests (or sacred groves) called locally 'kovilkadu'. In Vellimalai

forest, only unshaped stones are considered as deity, whereas in Devanoor forest a

Plate 9

(a) A view of the Kalrayan hills in the Eastern Ghats showing forest areas and

clearing for cult~vation. On the right is a portion of Vellimalai forest. At extreme nght

is the palm, Car)ota wem, which was also, encountered in the study plot VM4

0) A view of plot VMI in Vellimalai forest on the right side and the adjacent hill

forest clearing. Foothills have already been converted as agricultural lands.

Plate 9

(a)

Plate 10

(3 Stand view of plot VM2 with a large .Yothopegla heyneana (middle), Ceirir

ph~iippensis (nex right) and Diosp!,ros o~ollfolio (extreme right)

(b) A well-branched, upper canopy species Spondiaspinnara in plot VM2.

Plate 10

(a)

Plate 11

(a) An evergreen, middle-canopy species Alphomea sclerocarpa. with profuse

fruiting branches This tree occurred in all plots of VM.

@) Alphomea sclerocarpa - fruiting Wigs and fruits. Cluster of berries (1 to 3 per

cluster) and cut-open berries with seeds embedded in fleshy mesocarp.

Plate 11

(a)

Plate 12

(a) A view of Vhl3 in the relatnel!: undisturbed Devanoor forest, dep~ctlng stand

density and Kal~ (the Goddess d e p ) temple within the forest. Boulders are plentiful

dispersed throughout h s site.

@) Another portion of plot VM3 in Devanoor. The liana Grewra rhamnifolia is seen

in the middle between a large Celrrs philippenris and a shortly-buttressed Norhopg~a

hepeanu

Plate 12

(a)

Plate 13

(a) Fuelv.ood and cuny leaves (Murrma koenlgri) collections were uitnessed in plot

VM3.

(b) A portion of plot VM4 depicting a bushy undergrowth. Lantana camara invaded

in disturbed areas as seen in the foreground.

Plate 13

(a)

Plate 14

(a) The middle canopy tree Diospjros o~alrfolra in plot VM1 entangled with thorn

lianar. Acacia torto and Pterolohrum hexa~efalum.

(b) A portion of middle canopy of Margari~aria indica with profuse fruiting branches,

encountered in plots VM3 and VM4.

Plate 14

(a)

Plate 15

(a) Slashed and burned and burning forest areas In Vell~malai. Onl? for 3 years these

areas are used for pearl millet and coarse-millet cultivat~on, la~er shift~ng to new

patches.

(b) A slashed and burned portion of Vellimalai hilltop with a few trees remaining

Encroachment of foren lands by local people for cultivation, with boundaries marked

by stone walls and coppicing of the poisonous plant, Cleisronthus collinus in the

burned areas can be seen

Plate 15

(a)

Plate 16

(a) Vellimala forest area is shrinking with tlrne due to expanding agricultural lands

(b) Forests are shaved and lands made ready for seasonal cult~vation. A tall Strychnoi

nm-vomrco tm spared, because it yields seeds of medicinal value, sold by local

people to conaaaors.

Plate 16

(a)

propcrly cl~cnrvcd grw~itc idol.ofGoddess 'Kali', is placed inside a stone-blocked and

thatched structure (Plate l2a).

Vellimalai forest being proximal to Vellimalai village, partly disturbed by

slash and bum type of agriculture and various resource harvests such as gathering

seeds of trees such as Sfrychnos nu-vomrca and Termrnalia chebula. A portion of the

Ib~cst is nlso disturbcd by lclting cattle Tor browsing and grazing. Boles oftrees such

as Canrhium dicoccum, Cassra fistula, Celfis phrlrppensrs, D~ospyros ebenum, D

ovalfolra (Plate 14a) and Nofhopegra heyneana are cut for making agricultural

implements. Devanoor forest is relatively less disturbed a s they are located away from

human habitation, and also the fear on the Goddess deity in an improved form of

temple therein; but, occasional fuel wood collection, gathering of fallen twigs and

collection orcurry leaves (Murrya koenrgrl) were witnessed (Plate 13a).

l luman habitation and cultivation

The tribals inhabiting these hills include Kurumba gounder, Sadaya gounder,

Malai gounder and Ariyan. Their major l~velihood is cattle farming, agriculture,

fuelwood collection etc. Women and children over 10 years during fruiting seasons

gather seeds of Sfrychnos nu-vomica and Terminalra chebula and sell them to

merchants for a low price.

Around the study areas in Vellimala~ and Devanoor, the local tribals have

converted a substantial portion of forests Into cultivated lands. Once in three years a

new area of the forest is being selected (shifting cultivation) for cultivating crops such

as pearl millet (Permiserum ryphoides), ragi (Eleusine corocana), 'varagu' (Paspalurn

scrobiculatum), thinai (Setaria italrcu), soya bean (Glycine n l a ) etc. Under tree

planting programme, in Vellimalai and its surroundings state forest department has

48

planted trees such as Dalbergio lafifolia, Grevillea robusta, Morus alba, Pinus

caribaea, Sanlalum album, Terminalla chebula etc. In addition 70 ha area has been

brought under fuel wood plantation, 15 ha for cultivating crops such as tapioca, red

gram and paddy for tribal welfare.

Wildlife

Presently, animals like Indian guar, sloth bear, wolf, fox, bonnet macaques,

and wild boar are seen in remote areas in the upper reaches in Devanoor and its

nearby Innadu forests. During fruittng seasons sloth bears visit, Vellimalai forests.

Game b~rds, grey jungle fowl, Grey partridge, green pigeon, nng dove, cuckoos, pea

fowl and quails are common in the forests.