Context:
Pampadum Shola in Kerala has become a model of ecological restoration, successfully removing invasive Australian wattle trees (Acacia mearnsii) and reviving native grasslands and biodiversity.
About Pampadum Shola National Park
- Type & Size: Smallest national park in Kerala, covering 1,300 hectares.
- Location: Upper Devikulam taluk, Idukki district, Kerala; near the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border close to Kodaikanal.
- Ecosystem: Part of the shola–grassland mosaic, high-altitude ecosystem of the southern Western Ghats (UNESCO World Heritage site under consideration).
- Hydrological Importance: Source of Pambar and Vaigai rivers, crucial for downstream Tamil Nadu plains.
- Biodiversity Highlights:
- Fauna: Nilgiri marten, Kerala laughing thrush, black-and-orange flycatcher
- Flora: Endemic orchids and ferns
- Grasslands Role: Act as natural aquifers, storing monsoon water and maintaining perennial stream flows.
About Australian Wattle (Acacia mearnsii)
- Origin: Southeastern Australia; nitrogen-fixing, fast-growing species.
- Introduction in India: Early 1900s by the British for tannin, fuelwood, and afforestation; widely planted in Western Ghats during 1960s–70s.
- Ecological Impacts:
- Forms dense canopies, suppressing native flora
- Reduces soil porosity, affecting water retention and biodiversity
- Hydrological Effects: Deep roots deplete aquifers, converting perennial streams into seasonal flows.
- Fire Hazard: Highly flammable; contributed to 2015 Pampadum fire.
