The Agasthayamalai or Pothigai hills is known for high levels of endemism of plant species within the Western Ghats, part of the global biodiversity hotspot. With diverse ecosystem services, it plays an important role in sustaining human wellbeing in the region. It has been the focus of many botanical and zoological explorations in the past which continues even today. Ecological studies in the wet evergreen forests of Agasthyamalai region were started in 1990 by a group of researchers who are now associated with ATREE. The main focus in the early years was to look at forest dynamics through long term monitoring of changes in vegetation and phenology of trees to detect trends in turnover rates of tree species, patterns of flowering and fruiting of canopy trees, in relationship with climate change and other anthropogenic factors. Biodiversity exploration and ecological studies have been pioneered in the forest canopies, the last biotic frontier.

Agasthymalai or Pothigai hills
picture credit: Vinod Kumar

The Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre (ACCC) was established in the foot hills of the Agasthyamalai in 2001 as one of several community based conservation centres (CCC) established by ATREE. The overall goal was to understand how ecosystems respond to natural and anthropogenic changes and what governing mechanisms and management regimes exists in the region to address specific biodiversity conservation issues. It was also to reach out to diverse group of local stakeholders, imbibe community knowledge and learnings, and stress the importance of the Agasthyamalai forests to a larger diverse community through research and outreach programs in and around the iconic Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR).

The geographical focus of ACCC is the eastern slopes of Agasthyamalai Hill range that is a source for many rivers that seamlessly merge to form the perennial Tamiraparani river which straddles the two districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi in southern Tamil Nadu (Figure.1). River Tamiraparani is the lifeline that traverses through the parched and arid landscape (12,000km2) sustaining extensive paddy and banana agriculture, harbouring important social, cultural and biodiversity landmarks.

Figure.1 Agasthyamalai range and the Tamaraparani river basin