Researchers record 3,261 flowering plant species in Agasthyamalai Reserve

A research team from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) in Keralam has compiled a comprehensive checklist recording 3,261 flowering plant species in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. The newly published checklist highlights the rich botanical diversity housed within this protected landscape in the Southern Western Ghats, reaffirming its critical standing as a global biodiversity hotspot requiring urgent, focused conservation measures.

Located at the southern tip of the Western Ghats, the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve spans across Keralam and Tamil Nadu. Established in 2001, it was included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016. The region is renowned for hosting high concentrations of endemic flora, medicinal plants, and fragile tropical forest ecosystems. It is also home to the Kanikaran tribe, one of the oldest surviving tribal communities in the Western Ghats.

The checklist details 3,261 angiosperm species, representing nearly 18 percent of India's total flowering plant flora within a single biosphere reserve. Out of these recorded species, over 600 species are endemic to the Western Ghats, with several classified as critically endangered or vulnerable under the IUCN Red List. The study provides baseline taxonomic data essential for monitoring environmental changes and habitat fragmentation.

This research enhances baseline ecological understanding required for implementing targeted biodiversity conservation frameworks under the Convention on Biological Diversity. For UPSC and SSC examinations, this development is relevant for Environment and Ecology questions. Students can expect Prelims MCQs regarding Biosphere Reserve locations, UNESCO status, and endemic species, along with Mains questions on Western Ghats conservation and tribal co-management strategies.