By Vishnu, Biodiversity
From March 19 to 20, 2025, a team from Keystone Foundation visited the grassland restoration plot developed by the Kerala Forest Department in Pampadum Shola National Park as part of a training program for Barefoot Ecologists (BFEs). The objective was to study the grassland restoration efforts in the region. A total of 22 participants, including six forest staff from Wayanad, were part of this visit.
Pampadum Shola National Park is the smallest national park in the Idukki district of Kerala and is located on the border with Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. It was declared a national park in December 2003 by the Kerala Forest Department.
On the first day, the team visited the restoration plot in the Pazhathotam area. This site was previously covered by Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) but has now been successfully restored into a grassland ecosystem. In 2018, a fire helped clear the Black Wattle infestation in the area. Following this, in 2019, the restoration process was initiated by the Harithavasantam Eco-Development Committee (EDC) with the support of the Kerala Forest Department. The process began with the planting of grasses and seeds of Shola trees over an initial two-hectare area, which was later expanded to 50 hectares. To prevent soil erosion, eucalyptus and wattle wood were aligned in a contour style across the landscape. The primary aim of this restoration was to reduce human-wildlife conflict and improve water availability in Vattavada. Today, the site is used for eco-tourism, with 18 EDC members from the area actively involved in its maintenance and management.
On the second day, the team visited the Pattiyangal restoration site, where the Kerala Forest Department had initiated restoration work in 2014. Initially, the department had planted Kurinji and Shola plants, but the survival rate was low, leading to a shift in strategy towards planting native grasses. The restoration process at Pattiyangal has been a collaborative effort between the forest department staff, EDC members, students from nature camps, and local communities. The primary grass species used in the restoration include Chrysopogon sp., Sehima sp., Cymbopogon sp., and Zoysia grass (Nilgiri grass). These grasses were planted at a spacing of three feet before the monsoon season, ensuring optimal growth conditions. Protective fencing made from locally available materials was set up to safeguard the restored area.
with them all are procured from the nearest forests
The visit provided valuable insights into grassland restoration, emphasizing the importance of community participation, adaptive restoration strategies, and sustainable ecological practices. The Keystone team and Barefoot Ecologists gained hands-on experience in restoration techniques that can be applied in other regions to support biodiversity conservation.
