View source for Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

{{Short description|Indian Biosphere Reserve}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox Protected area
| name = Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
 | map = India#India Kerala #India Tamil Nadu
| label = Agasthyamalai BR
| label_position = right
| iucn_category =
| location = [[Kollam District]], [[Thiruvananthapuram District]], [[Pathanamthitta District]], [[Kanyakumari District]] and [[Tirunelveli District]]s
| nearest_city = [[Nagercoil]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Ambasamudram]]
| coordinates = {{coords|8|39|0|N|77|13|0|E|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{convert|3500.36|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| established = 2001
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [http://www.envfor.nic.in/report/0102/chap01.html#role Ministry of Environment & Forests]<br />
[http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/br_agasthiyar.html [[Tamil Nadu Forest Department]]]<br />
Listed under UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves}}
The '''Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve''' is a [[biosphere reserve]] in India established in 2001, located in the southernmost end of the [[Western Ghats]] and includes {{convert|3500.36|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of which 1828&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is in [[Kerala]] and 1672.36&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is in [[Tamil Nadu]]. It encompass the wildlife sanctuaries [[Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary]], and [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve]].<ref>Kerala Forests & Wildlife Dept, Biosphere Reserves.[http://www.keralaforest.org/html/wildlife/bio.htm Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve]</ref><ref name="AGASTHIYARMALAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE">Tamil Nadu Forest Department (2007) retrieved 2 September 2007 [http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/br_agasthiyar.html AGASTHIYARMALAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230000326/http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/br_agasthiyar.html |date=2008-12-30 }}</ref>

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of [[World Network of Biosphere Reserves]] in 2016.<ref name="UNESCO" >UNESCO, World Network of Biosphere Reserves, Agasthyamalai. retrieved 19 March 2016 [http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/20_sites_added_to_unescos_world_network_of_biosphere_reserve/#.Vu834_krLIU World Network Of Biosphere Reserves]</ref> Is also under UNESCO's world list of biosphere reserve

==Location==
ABR straddles the border of [[Pathanamthitta district|Pathanamthitta]], [[Kollam District|Kollam]] and [[Thiruvananthapuram District|Thiruvananthapuram]] Districts in [[Kerala]] and [[Tirunelveli District|Tirunelveli]] and [[Kanyakumari District|Kanyakumari]] Districts in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[South India]] at the southern end of the [[Western Ghats]]. The Biosphere lies Between 8° 8' to 9° 10' North Latitude and 76° 52' to 77° 34' East Longitude. Central location is {{coord|8|39|N|77|13|E|}} <!-- ****** -->.

It is composed of Neyyar,<ref>[http://www.keralatourntravel.com/Kerala-WildLife-Neyyar.asp Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527044846/http://www.keralatourntravel.com/Kerala-WildLife-Neyyar.asp |date=2007-05-27 }}</ref> Peppara<ref>[http://www.keralatourntravel.com/Kerala-WildLife-Peppara.asp Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105092414/http://www.keralatourntravel.com/Kerala-WildLife-Peppara.asp |date=2007-01-05 }}</ref> and Shendurney<ref>[http://www.wildkerala.com/html/forest.htm#hendurney Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226175658/http://www.wildkerala.com/html/forest.htm |date=2007-12-26 }}</ref> Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas of Achencoil,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaforest.org/html/tourism/Palaruvi.htm |title=Achencoil, Kerala |access-date=15 February 2007 |archive-date=13 November 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041113225534/http://www.keralaforest.org/html/tourism/Palaruvi.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Thenmala]], Konni,<ref>[http://www.keralaforest.org/html/tourism/konn.htm Konni, Kerala]</ref> [[Punalur]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]] Divisions and Agasthyavanam Special Division in Kerala.<ref>[http://www.keralaforest.org/html/tourism/agastyar.htm AGASTHYAVANAM BIOLOGICAL PARK, Kerala]</ref> Inclusion of adjoining areas of [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve]] in Tamil Nadu has been approved. The reserve now covers parts of [[Tirunelveli District|Tirunelveli]] and [[Kanyakumari District]]s in Tamil Nadu and [[Thiruvananthapuram District|Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kollam District|Kollam]] and [[Pathanamthitta District]]s in Kerala.<ref name="AGASTHIYARMALAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE"/>
[[File:AgasthyarkoodamPeak.JPG|thumb|right|1868 m high [[Agastya Mala]] mountain]]

== Ecology ==
ABR includes the [[Ecoregions in India|Indian Ecoregions]] of tropical wet evergreen forests,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/agasthyamala/article23596901.ece | title=Agasthyamala | date=19 April 2018 | newspaper=The Hindu | access-date=12 July 2019 }}</ref> [[South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests]], [[South Western Ghats montane rain forests]] and [[Shola]]. It is the habitat for 2,000 varieties of medicinal plants, of which at least 50 are rare and endangered species. Animals include the [[tiger|Bengal Tiger]], [[Asian Elephant]], and [[Nilgiri Tahr]]. Agastyamalai is also home to the [[Kanikkaran|Kanikaran]],<ref>Anuradha, R. V., "Sharing with the Kanis, A case study from Kerala, India" {{cite web|url=http://www.biodiv.org/doc/case-studies/abs/cs-abs-kanis.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123233558/http://www.biodiv.org/doc/case-studies/abs/cs-abs-kanis.pdf |archive-date=2006-11-23 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/ic/wssd/doc2/ch10.html |title=Ministry of Forests and Environment-Report Ch10 Biodiversity/Kanis |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410134300/http://www.envfor.nic.in/divisions/ic/wssd/doc2/ch10.html |archive-date=10 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in the world.<ref>{{cite news | title=Environment Ministry to soon declare Agastyamalai a biosphere reserve | date=3 January 2006 | url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/03/stories/2006010301290400.htm| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125111429/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/03/stories/2006010301290400.htm| url-status=dead| newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | archive-date=25 January 2013}}</ref> [[Ecotourism]] is popular in the area.
[[File:Thenmala Adventure Zone.jpg|Thenmala Adventure Zone|thumb|right]]
Kanikkarans are the Original tribal Settlers in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.<ref>[http://www.nomadline.com/agasthyamalai-biosphere-reserve/ UNESCO World Heritage Site]</ref>

== Management ==
A local committee and a state level Biosphere Management Committee co-ordinate the activities of various departments in the ABR area and ensure the [[scientific management]] of the ABR according to guidelines of the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests.<ref>[http://www.keralaforest.org/html/wildlife/bio.htm Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20040509084830/http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/biosphere.htm Wildlife Institute of India]</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve}}

{{Protected areas of Kerala}}
{{Kerala topics}}
{{Protected areas of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National biosphere reserves of India]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Kerala]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram district]]
[[Category:South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:South Western Ghats montane rain forests]]
[[Category:Geography of Thiruvananthapuram district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kollam district]]
[[Category:Geography of Kollam district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pathanamthitta district]]
[[Category:Geography of Pathanamthitta district]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 2001]]