The Nilgiri Biosphere: A Conservation Journey

• India’s first UNESCO-declared biosphere spans over 5,500 square kilometers across three states.

• Home to endemic flora and fauna, including medicinal Baeolepis nervosa plant, Nilgiri Chilappan, and star-eyed bush frog.

• Despite increased human activity, the tourism sector is less sustainable.

• Local communities are implementing sustainability initiatives like ‘Clean Coonoor’ and the Keystone Foundation.

• State government and district administration aim to go carbon neutral, stop plastic waste, conserve endemic species, and reduce invasives.

• The Toda community, who have lived in the Blue Mountains for millennia, is a must on the tourism trail.

• The biosphere is home to the largest protected forest expanse in the country.

The Rise of Nature Conservation and the Role of Storytelling

• The global trend of nature lovers is gaining popularity.

• Non-governmental organizations like the Nature Conservation Foundation and WWF have shown that technologies like early warning systems and GPS tracking reduce dangerous wildlife encounters.

• Conservation efforts must involve cooperation of society, samaaj, and the bazaar.

• The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972/The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, does not fully protect all wild animals.

• A trust network of all interested in biodiversity conservation is needed.

• Storytelling is crucial in creating communities for conservation.