Kerala: This flower is a harbinger of destruction

KOCHI: Nearly a year after the massive flowering of

bamboo

in Wayanad, similar phenomenon in the reserve forest under

Neriamangalam

range in eastern Ernakulam is raising concerns of wildlife threat among forest department and tribes people. The gregarious flowering of bamboo, reportedly once in its life cycle, is considered as a sign of mass destruction of the bamboo groves as the plants dry up and die after the blooming.

Forest officials said if bamboo groves, which are the mainstay for elephants, wild gaur and various lower herbivores, are destroyed, there would be scarcity of food for the animals. This might increase man-animal conflicts. It might also lead to scarcity of bamboo, which is used as a raw material in many products.

Tribespeople

said it might affect the wildlife in many ways. Forest officials have informed the higher authorities about the phenomenon and they said a study might be initiated to look into the massive blooming.

“Bamboo flowering is an unusual scene in the Western Ghats. The flowering has been spotted in the bamboo groves in Nagarampara and Valara reserve forests. Tribespeople said gregarious flowering of bamboos happens once in the lifecycle of the plant, which means it could happen only at a gap of 60 to 130 years,” said Nagarampara deputy forest ranger

G G Santhosh

.

Another threat of the flowering is the high probability of forest fire. As the groves dry up in bulk quantity even a slightest spark could lead to massive fires.

“Due to the flowering the production of

Mulayari

(bamboo rice), which is the seed of a dying bamboo shoot, will increase. Mulayari is highly nutritious and costs between Rs 400 and Rs 600 per kg. But if its production increases, it will attract more pests and rodents into the forest, which is dangerous. Some tribespeople said unusual flowering is related to rise in atmospheric temperature but we need a study to find it out,” Santhosh said.


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