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{{Short description|Forest division in Kerala, India}}
{{Infobox forest
|image=Adavi Eco Tourism.jpg
|image_caption=[[Kallar River (Pamba)|Kallar river]] at [[Adavi, Kerala|Adavi]], an eco-tourism destination under the Konni range of Konni Forest Division
|region=[[Kerala]]
|website=https://forest.kerala.gov.in/
|native_name={{lang|ml|കോന്നി വനം ഡിവിഷൻ}}
|native_lang=ml
|country=[[India]]
|name=Konni Forest Division
|authority=[[Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department]]
|area={{cvt|331.66|km2}}
|coordinates={{coord|9|13|50|N|76|51|07|E}}
|established={{date|09-10-1888}}
|map_caption=Location in Kerala
|status=[[Reserved forests and protected forests of India|Reserve forest]]
|disturbance=[[Plantation]], [[poaching]]
|elevation='''Highest''': {{cvt|997|m}}
|map=India Kerala#India
|relief=1
}}
The '''Konni Forest Division''' is located in [[Kerala]], India, and covers an area of about {{convert|331.66|km2}}.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2021-10-11 |script-title=ml:കേരളത്തിലെ ആദ്യത്തെ സംരക്ഷിത വനം: പ്രൗഢിയുടെ നെറ്റി പട്ടം കെട്ടി കോന്നി റിസര്‍വ്വ് വനത്തിന് വയസ്സ് 133 |work=Malayali Manasu |url=https://malayalimanasu.com/kerala/%e0%b4%95%e0%b5%87%e0%b4%b0%e0%b4%b3%e0%b4%a4%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%a4%e0%b4%bf%e0%b4%b2%e0%b5%86-%e0%b4%86%e0%b4%a6%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%af%e0%b4%a4%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%a4%e0%b5%86-%e0%b4%b8%e0%b4%82%e0%b4%b0%e0%b4%95/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is the first [[List of protected areas of Kerala|reserve forest]] in Kerala, which was declared on {{date|09-10-1888}} under the Travancore Forest Act of 1887.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History - Kerala Forest Department |url=https://forest.kerala.gov.in/index.php/about-us/2022-11-29-05-45-17/forest-dept-history#:~:text=The%20Travancore%20Forest%20Act%20came,as%20Reserve%20forests%20in%201889. |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=forest.kerala.gov.in}}</ref> The division is part of the [[Western Ghats]], which were designated as a [[UNESCO]] [[List of World Heritage Sites in India|World Heritage Site]] in {{date|01-07-2012}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Raveendranathan |first=D. |title=Western Ghats and the Bounteous Services Showered on the Planet |publisher=[[Notion Press]] |date=2016-08-10 |isbn=978-1-945621-73-4 |language=en |chapter=Unesco's World Heritage Sites}}</ref> The forest area is a repository of many endemic species of the Western Ghats.<ref name=":1" />
==Overview ==
It falls under [[Karunagappalli|Karunagappally]], [[Kunnathur, Kerala|Kunnathur]], and [[Pathanapuram]] [[Tehsil|taluks]] of [[Kollam district]], and [[Adoor]], [[Kozhencherry]], and [[Konni, Kerala|Konni]] taluks of [[Pathanamthitta district]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=Pradeepkumar T. |display-authors=etal |date=2014 |title=Report of the First Konni Odonate Survey |website=Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences |url=https://www.ties.org.in/collection/reports/reports-140621162366554171.pdf#page=8 |access-date=2023-06-30}}</ref> Consisting of the Konni, Naduvathummoozhy and Mannarappara [[Forest range|ranges]], the division belongs to the southern circle of the [[Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department|Kerala Forest Department]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forest Divisions List |url=https://egreenwatch.nic.in/Masters/Public/DivisionsViewList.aspx?idq=18 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=egreenwatch.nic.in}}</ref>

The division covers a total area of {{cvt|331.655|km2}}, of which {{cvt|320.553|km2}} are reserved forest, {{cvt|11.021|km2}} are reserved land, and {{cvt|0.081582|km2}} are government lands.<ref name=":0" /> With {{cvt|8,294|ha}} of [[teak]] plantations, it has the largest teak plantation area in Kerala.<ref name=":0" />

==Landscape ==
The main hills in the division are {{lang|ml-Latn|Chelikkalkar}} (997 m), {{lang|ml-Latn|Iruvallimala}} (817 m), {{lang|ml-Latn|Thunathumala}} (721 m) and {{lang|ml-Latn|Kodamala}} (598 m).<ref name=":1" /> [[Achankovil]], [[Kallar River (Pamba)|Pamba Kallar]] and Achenkovil Kallar are the primary rivers that originate in the reserve forest.<ref name=":0" />
==Climate==
The temperature can vary from {{cvt|21|C}} in the rainy and winter seasons to {{cvt|35|C}} in the summer.<ref name=":0" /> The months of March and April are the hottest. Rainfall occurs from June to September or November.<ref name=":1" />
==Boundaries==
[[File:Kerala_forest_divisions.pdf|thumb|Map showing the forest divisions in Kerala ]]
* '''North:''' [[Vadasserikara|Vadasserikkara]] and [[Ranni, Kerala|Ranni]] ranges of [[Ranni Forest Division|Ranni division]]
* '''South:''' Pathanapuram range of [[Punalur]] division
* '''East:''' Kallar and Achenkovil ranges of Achenkovil division
* '''West:''' [[Arabian Sea|Arabian sea]]
==Ranges and stations==
In {{date|1894}}, the forest was divided into ranges.<ref name=":2" /> The division consists of Konni, Mannarapara and Naduvathummoozhy ranges and eight stations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Konni |url=https://forest.kerala.gov.in/index.php/reserve-notifications/territorial/konni |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=forest.kerala.gov.in}}</ref> The Naduvathummoozhy range is the largest, with {{cvt|138.93|km2|abbr=none}}, and the Konni range is the smallest, covering {{cvt|62.73|km2}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KERALA STATE Forest Divisions and Ranges |url=http://www.oocities.org/gislink/ker_ranges.pdf |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=www.oocities.org}}</ref> [[Konni, Kerala|Konni]] serves as the division's main headquarters.
===Ranges and stations under Konni Forest Division===
{| class="wikitable"
!Range
!Area
!Stations
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Konni'''
|rowspan="2" | {{cvt|62.73|km2}}
|North Kumaramperoor
|-
|South Kumaramperoor
|-
| rowspan="3" |'''Naduvathumoozhy'''
|rowspan="3" | {{cvt|138.93|km2}}
|Kokkathodu
|-
|Karippanthode
|-
|Padom
|-
| rowspan="3" |'''Mannarapara'''
|rowspan="3" | {{cvt|130.00|km2}}
|Chempala
|-
|Mannarapara
|-
|Pachakanam
|}
==Types of forests==
Konni forest division has [[Tropical evergreen forests of India|tropical evergreen]] and semi-evergreen forests.<ref name=":1" /> The major forest types of Konni division are:
* West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests
* West Coast Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests
* Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests
* Wet Reed Brakes
* Southern Montane Wet Grasslands
==Fauna==
===Mammals===
About 29 species of mammals are found in the Konni division. These include [[tiger]], [[leopard]], [[leopard cat]], [[Asian elephant|elephant]], [[gaur]], [[wild boar]], [[jungle cat]], [[Dhole|wild dog]], [[jackal]], [[Indian grey mongoose|common mongoose]], [[stripe-necked mongoose]], [[Asian palm civet|toddy cat]], [[small Indian civet]], [[Muntjac|barking deer]], [[sambar deer]], [[Chevrotain|mouse deer]], [[Indian pangolin]], [[sloth bear]], [[Nilgiri langur]], [[gray langur]], [[Travancore flying squirrel]], [[Indian giant squirrel]], [[Indian crested porcupine|Indian porcupine]], [[Indian hare]], [[Lesser bandicoot rat|Indian mole rat]], [[Greater bandicoot rat|bandicoot rat]], [[bonnet macaque]], [[slender loris]] and [[Leschenault's rousette|fulvous fruit bat]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Mavelikara |first1=Hari |title=Bird Diversity of Konni Forest Division, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala |last2=Mohan Lal |first2=K.N. Syam |year=2021 |pages= |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=BirdLife Data Zone |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/konni-reserve-forest-iba-india/text |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=datazone.birdlife.org}}</ref>
===Birds===
[[File:Crested_serpent_eagle_ചുട്ടി_പരുന്ത്_03.jpg|thumb|[[Crested serpent eagle]] photographed in the Konni forest range]]
Konni division is one of the IBAs ([[Important Bird Area]]) of India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in India |url=https://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/IBA_8463.aspx |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=wiienvis.nic.in}}</ref> About 133 species of birds were recorded from the division. Endemic birds of the [[Western Ghats|western ghats]] such as [[Malabar grey hornbill]], [[Nilgiri wood pigeon]], [[white-bellied treepie]] and [[white-cheeked barbet]] are seen here.<ref name=":1" /> Although rare, [[Great hornbill|great hornbills]] are also seen. [[Black kite|Pariah kite]], [[Brahminy kite]], [[jungle myna]], [[Gracula|hill myna]], [[Greater coucal|crow pheasant]], [[white-headed babbler]], [[blue-winged parakeet]], [[Vernal hanging parrot|Indian lorikeet]], [[spotted dove]], [[Common emerald dove|emerald dove]] and [[mountain imperial pigeon]] are other species found here.<ref name=":0" />
===Reptiles===
The important reptile species found here are [[monitor lizard]], [[Calotes|garden lizard]], [[Draco (lizard)|flying lizard]], [[skink]], [[cobra]], [[king cobra]], [[Pythonidae|python]], [[Russell's viper|viper]], [[Bungarus|krait]], [[rat snake]], [[tree snake]] and [[turtle]].<ref name=":0" />
==See also==
* [[Wildlife of Kerala]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Protected areas of Kerala]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of India]]
[[Category:Western Ghats]]

Konni Forest Division - Revision history

GenevaHarcus: Put Up Data