Sholas come under the broad class of Tropical Montane Forests. Tropical Montane Forests are found in Central and South America, Africa and Asia. The sholas that are found in South India above 1700 metres are often referred to as tropical upper montane rain forest and montane temperate forests. Endemism and rarity are common among shola species as they cannot migrate and survive in different altitudinal and climatic conditions. The trees and smaller plants of the ecosystem colonise the depressions in expansive mountain ranges covered with high altitude grasses. These grasslands themselves harbour several rare and endemic species. The biodiversity of shola grasslands holds great potential for use in biotechnology and related areas. The economic and ecological importance of these forests is tremendous. This calls for increased efforts for conservation. |
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The sholas, which cover
only a small percentage of total forest area in Kerala
and Tamil Nadu, are shrinking. This needed to be
stemmed. Kerala has declared some patches of sholas in
Idukki district as national
parks in 2003. However, contiguity of these areas
with other protected areas has not been ensured. Scientists M. P. Nayar and A. R. K. Sastry (Red Data Book of Indian Plants) and K. M. Mathew and K. T. Mathew of the Rapinat Herbarium, Thiruchirapalli, have identified more than 75 shola species which are under threat in the Palani hills alone. There is need for protection of the remaining shola forests to conserve the biodiversity. (More on flora)  Custom Search
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