Sholas in south Indian montane: Past, present and future

Abstract

The forest, short to medium-boled attaining a height between 15 to 20 m, constitutes the only tropical montane forest in pockets in the montane region of Nilgiris, Anamalai, Palni and silent Valley, southern India. Palynological studies have revealed that these shola forest communities had been wide spread in the past. They originated through gradual invasion of shrubs, and under trees into the grassland, about 35,000 years BP corresponding in time to the last glaciation in the north and were established about 24,000 years BP. The progressive recession of sholas had started around 7,000 years BP. Both biotic and climatic factors have not only reduced the sholas to its present-day minimal size but have also created conditions under which the community has almost completely stopped regeneration outside the sholas. Degeneration and fast receding trend in the shola communities and expanding grasslands and massive plantation of exotic trees reduced the soil as well as above surface moisture which is not conducive for the sholas. If preventive measures are not taken the sholas in near future would ultimately perish.