1,000 Trees Felled in Idukki’s Cardamom Hill Reserve

Speedy Summary

• Nearly 1,000 indigenous trees were illegally felled from the Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) area at Uchilukuth, near Pethotty, in Santhanpara, Idukki.
• The Forest department registered a case for illegal activities involving approximately 11 cubic meters of timber and 50 cubic meters of firewood valued at ₹2 lakh.
• Four earth movers used in the tree felling and construction activities have been seized by authorities.
• The landowner leased 40 acres to an Adimaly resident for cardamom cultivation. Total plot size is 43 hectares.
• Tree pruning is allowed on CHR lands under strict guidelines: girth must be below 30 inches; massive tree felling is prohibited but occurred under the guise of cardamom replanting.
• An environmentalist plans to file complaints with relevant authorities requesting independent verification of biodiversity loss and an assessment of actual numbers of trees cut.
• A separate incident reported large-scale tree felling from nearby CHR lands in Pethotty where around 440 indigenous trees were removed.

Photo: The felled area within CHR showing significant ecological damage.

Indian opinion Analysis

The reported large-scale illegal felling highlights growing environmental vulnerabilities within ecologically sensitive areas like Idukki’s Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR). Indigenous trees contribute significantly to biodiversity preservation and act as crucial buffers against climate change effects. Encroachment under the pretext of agricultural growth or plantation activities risks destabilizing these ecosystems further.

The Forest department’s enforcement actions,including case registration and seizure of machinery,signal a proactive approach but may require deeper systemic interventions like enhanced monitoring or stricter leasing regulations for CHR lands.independent probes into biodiversity losses suggested by activists could offer valuable insights into long-term ecological consequences while ensuring accountability among leaseholders or landowners involved in violations.

Given Kerala’s reliance on such regions for tourism,agriculture,and water resources management,maintaining balance between economic practices like cardamom cultivation and environmental safeguards remains critical.

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