Kerala - Kollam   

Nature's unique garden

Ignatius Pereira

KOLLAM: It is by all standards a spectacular spot in the Western Ghats — an enclave of more than 7 sq. km. covered by dwarf trees. Named Chinnapul, this area is nestled on the Pandi Motta mountain range of the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Kollam district.

The Chinnapul valley, located 1,800 metres above sea level, has nurtured hundreds of mature trees that are no more than 25 to 30 feet tall. These tree species found outside the valley are almost 200 feet in height. At first sight, Chinnapul appears to be a bonsai garden nurtured by nature. There is not a single tree in the valley that can be called tall. Even the reed bushes have stunted growth.

Though the Kerala Forest Department, which manages the wildlife sanctuary, is aware of the `unusual' woodland, no studies have been carried out in the area. This is mainly because it is situated inside a core area of the sanctuary, and the Department does not want it to be disturbed.

Conservator of Forests (Kollam) K.J. Varghese said the trees stand on terrain that is basically grasslands in high altitude. He said the majority of tree species found in this valley are those growing outside the valley as normal tall trees reaching 180 to 200 feet. "But, inside the valley they have a strange stunted growth."

He said he had not come across any such phenomenon in other parts of the wildlife sanctuary or other forest areas of the region.

President of the Shendurney Eco-Tourism Eco Development Committee G. Thomaskutty said the dwarf tree valley was nature's unique garden.

Mr. Thomaskutty, who leads trekking teams into the area on behalf of the committee with special permission from the Forest Department, said even the climatic condition in the valley changes by the minute. He says the valley comprises a big collection of bonsai trees created by nature and it is essential that the whole area needs to be carefully protected.

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