Partially successful attempts to restore grasslands by removal of plantations.

The montane Shola-grasslands habitat supports disproportionately high endemic taxa and is critical for biodiversity conservation in Western Ghats. About 50-85% of the natural habitat has been converted to commercial (Tea) and timber (Acacia, Pine, Eucalyptus) plantations since 1885. In some locations such conversions could have even led to local extinction of a grassland endemic bird.

Decades of research and restoration (Vattakanal Conservation Trust) have documented the die-back of some exotic plantations, while forest species have colonized some plantations with perhaps even a nurse effect provided to the slow growing native plants. Without an ecological understanding these exotic species have been interpreted as invading grasslands. However, natural regeneration is observed in these exotic plantations.

In some places water shortage has led to a public perception that exotic species are to be blamed, leading to a litigation in the state court that recently directed the government to clear all exotic plantations. Researchers and restoration ecologists feel that large scale clearing will be disastrous for the ecology, insisting that restoration must focus on grasslands, targeting young plantations where forest succession has not initiated. Visual media being a strong medium of communications, we propose to produce a documentary to bring out this issue.

This documentary will highlight the following points:

Grasslands and forests are both naturally existing habitats formed before the arrival of humans. These habitats support a high number of endemic and threatened fauna that are the products of millions of years of evolution on these sky islands.

Grasslands were the major targets of historical landscape modification (maps from 1885 indicate a loss of 85% grassland compared to 55% loss of forests).

Exotic plantations did affect water table, but most water consumption is in the initial growth phase that most exotics in the Shola have already completed.

Not all exotic plantations are alike:

Recent research shows that some mature plantations serve as nurse to native forest trees

Some plantations that are adjacent to forests and with substantial native regeneration, nature should be allowed to take its own course

Restoration should be directed to young plantations and recently converted grasslands as forests are doing comparatively well.

The video will be produced in English with technical information for policy makers and also in vernacular language (Tamil and Malayalam) to target a wider audience, to raise awareness in local people, nature clubs and public groups.