Biodiversity park in Ayyappancovil wins Vanamithra Award for conservation efforts

A two-acre biodiversity parkland adjacent to the Idukki reservoir astatine Ayyappancovil, located on the Kattappana–Kuttikkanam State Highway, has emerged arsenic a thriving hub for uncommon medicinal and exotic flora. Visitors tin presumption a dense attraction of uncommon and ineffable species, immoderate of which are profoundly rooted successful past lore.

Among the highlights are the neelakoduveli (plumbago auriculata), a uncommon works described successful the Puranas, alongside mahavilvam (aegle marmelos), somalatha (sarcostemma acidum), the kamandalumaram oregon calabash histrion (crescentia cujete), puthranjeeva (putranjiva roxburghii), and kayampoo (memecylon umbellatum). The parkland was envisioned and developed by section historiographer Manoj Mathirappally connected his idiosyncratic land.

“The kamandalu tree, whose hollowed-out gourds were historically utilized by sages to fetch water, is 1 of our cardinal features,” said Mr. Mathirappally. “We person besides cultivated reddish ginger, kayampoo, maramulla (murraya paniculata), kalyana saugandhikam (hedychium coronarium), churakkalli (jatropha multifida)—which serves arsenic a earthy bandage—and kalluvazha (ensete superbum), a chaotic banana assortment whose fruits are packed with ample seeds and uncommon reddish gel aloe vera,” helium said.

He added, “We besides diagnostic madhuram kolli (gymnema sylvestre), a works susceptible of temporarily neutralising the sensation of sweetener for up to an hour, and the puthranjeeva tree, which is famously referenced successful the Puranas for aiding successful the commencement of a antheral child.”

Immense dedication

Building the postulation required immense dedication. “Various plants and trees were gathered from crossed the State and South India with large effort,” Mr. Mathirappally noted. “My extremity is to alteration this parkland into an acquisition assets hub for researchers and students, fostering consciousness astir biodiversity conservation. We are already seeing a dependable watercourse of students arriving to survey these species,” helium said.

In designation of these efforts, the parkland has been selected for the Kerala Forest department’s Vanamithra Award for the twelvemonth 2025–26. The yearly grant honours individuals, acquisition institutions, voluntary organisations, and farmers successful each territory for outstanding contributions to conservation.

Vipindas P.K., the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) for Idukki Social Forestry, praised the initiative. “While this two-acre crippled is premier onshore for cardamom farming—which could easy make hundreds of thousands of rupees successful yearly income—Mr. Mathirappally chose to dedicate it wholly to biodiversity,” Mr. Das said. “Beyond the uncommon medicinal plants, the parkland features a specialised postulation of uncommon bamboo. The District Social Forestry helping proudly recommended him for the Vanamithra Award to honour his selflessness and his invaluable publication to safeguarding Idukki’s earthy heritage,” said Mr Das.