Category Archives: Nature

Its Time for Dahlia in Kodagu Districy

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, , ,

 

The courtyards of almost all the houses in Kodagu have been brightened with colourful dahlia flowers months after the onset of rainy season. Dahlia flowers of various colours have started blooming in front of houses attracting visitors.
Different varieties of dahlia flowers found in Kodagu district. DH PhotosGarden lovers start planting dahlia saplings during the onset of rainy season. The flower, which gets rebirth every rainy seasons, start blooming within a month. It does not require any extra care to grow dahlia flowers in the garden. The very speciality of dahlia is that its flowers are not only attractive and colourful, but also are dfferent in terms of size. 

There are many types of dahlia species and each one is different from another. It is said that the plant was introduced to India by a Swedish Botanist Doll in 1789. Kodagu district is famous for the dahlia flowers as it can be seen in majority of houses. People of Kodagu are fond of dahlia flowers that they collect different types of dahlia from their neighbourhood during rainy season. It is very easy to grow dahlia that either a piece of root or stump is enough to reproduce it.

A dahlia plant grown from its root gives flowers of bigger size. A combination of sand and soil will be suitable for the dahlia plants to grow. The plant will give more flowers, if organic manures were used. Timely pruning will make the plant more strong and also will produce more flowers.

“More flowers can be obtained from one plant alone, if it was taken care properly. March-April months are suitable for dahlia plantation. The roots can be preserved in soil after the season so that it can be transplanted in the next season,” says Gayathri Raveendra, a resident of Napoklu.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / DH News Service / Madikeri / Aug 15th, 2010

 

Saving Kodagu District’s Forests

About Kodagu / Coorg, Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
Kodagu district, the micro hotspot of biodiversity along the Western Ghats is considered one of the eight hotspots of biodiversity in the world.
Degradation of natural forests, loss of tree cover and diversity, depletion of ground water resources, economic instability due to continuous and persistent negative impact on the mainstream activity of coffee cultivation in the form of low prices, crop loss, labour problems, increasing human elephant conflicts, land use changes, are some of the pressures calling for attention to save this landscape.

A group of likeminded people and organisations who are stakeholders and are aware and involved in conservation activities came forward to form an organisation which culminated in the Kodagu Model Forest Trust (KMFT).

An eight-pronged strategic plan to address the issues was prepared and programmes designed to rejuvenate the social, cultural, ecological and economic stability of this unique landscape. Accordingly, KMFT has been mobilising support from various organisations, funding agencies, government, research institutions, general public and NGOs who are the stakeholders for maintenance of the health of this landscape.

One such programme through partnership building with NGO-government-community is being implemented in mitigation of Human-Elephant-Conflict (HEC) in the fringe areas of the only National Park of Kodagu, Nagarahole. The project aims to understand the cause for degradation of the natural habitat of elephants, destruction of elephant corridors and work to improve the natural habitat through partnerships. The programme thus conceptualised, initiated and implemented by the KMFT is ‘The Green Village Community Forum’ (GVCF).

The partnership is between the Kodagu Model Forest, Karnataka Forest Department and the Communities living in the problem area consisting of coffee planters, plantation labourers, tribal settlement and the local governing body. The objective is achieved through education and demonstration.

The Department builds the infrastructure, while the community jointly maintains the infrastructure by generating the required funds from within the community and with technical support from the KMFT. Months ago, the GVCF (Thithimathi-Devarapura) was launched, wherein the responsibility of the maintenance of the infrastructure was handed over to the GVCF. An aspect of the programme includes the installation of solar fences and distribution of weather kits to guards.

 

source: http: //www.deccanherald.com / DHNS

 

In 40 Years, Kodagu Stripped of Forests

Nature, Uncategorized, , ,

BRAHMAGIRI (Kodagu)

From 86 to 16 — that’s the percentage of green cover Kodagu lost over the past four decades due to unabated illegal timber smuggling and development initiatives by the government and locals.
“Kodagu, which had about 86% of its land under forest cover in the late 1970s, now has a mere 16%. This includes about 40% which has been converted into coffee estates. If things continue in this way, we may end up with no forest in Kodagu by 2025,” said K M Chinnappa , chairman of Wildlife First, a state-level NGO fighting for environment and wildlife.

He maintained that Unesco’s World Heritage tag is needed to save Kodagu’s precious forests. “I am not saying the district will get back its 86% green cover the moment it is bestowed with the heritage tag. But at least it will put a stop to further destruction,” said Chinnappa, who was with the state forest department for 26 years, before taking voluntary retirement.

Data from various sources collected by NGOs states that dense forests extend to more than 4,102 sqkm and reserved forests to 830 sqkm. The trend shows a net loss of more than 20-26 sqkm every year in greenery.
Environmentalists point out that illegal timber lobbies are active in the region – both from Karnataka and Kerala. They said that despite continuous media reports about the illegal timber trade in nexus with forest officials, there has been little impact. “It is time the authorities wake up and make their stand clear. The depleting forest cover has led to the extinction of many rare animal species and destroyed the habitats of wild animals,” said environmentalist Ravi Chengappa , principal convener of Cauvery Sene.

It’s not that the locals here are not conscious about conservation and environment, but illegal felling of forests continues. Coffee planter C K Ganapathy , residing near Srimanagala forest range close to Brahamagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, said trucks loaded with illegal timber ply frequently from forests in Kodagu but are rarely seized by forest authorities. He pointed out that the issue of Transit Permits (TP), flouting the laws of the district, is one of the reasons for the high rate of timber smuggling.

Going Bald
In 1970s, 86% of Kodagu was forest cover
40% of this land was converted into coffee estates
Development, projects shaved off green cover to 16%
Trend shows annual net loss of 20-26 sqkm

 

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by Manu Aiyappa / TNN / Jun 18th, 2011