Even as the government has suspended its plans to declare 364.5 hectares of land at Chinnakkanal as reserve forest, greens have called for urgent steps to protect Pappathi Chola, a biodiversity hotspot, which is part of the area.
Pappathi Chola, known for its high butterfly population, derived its name from the Tamil word Pappathi meaning butterflies. ”While Pappathi means butterfly, Chola means shola land. Many butterflies reach the area during their migratory course from the rain shadow forests of Tamil Nadu back to the higher elevations of Munnar,” said Suresh Elamon, a naturalist.
Pappathi Chola is also regarded as a hub of balsams (Impatiens balsamina) and rare varieties of orchids. “It is located right in the middle of the Chathurangappara hills and Mathikettan shola. Last year, the region witnessed the blooming of Neelakurinji,” said a noted botanist.
