Sun Feb 23 15:26:06 UTC 2025: **Kerala’s Ecologically Sensitive Area Demarcation Under Scrutiny**

KOCHI, February 23, 2025 – The demarcation of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) in Kerala is facing renewed scrutiny from a central government expert committee. The committee, led by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar, will visit Kerala in early March to seek clarifications on the state’s proposed ESA boundaries.

Kerala initially proposed designating 8,590.69 sq km across 98 villages as ESAs, primarily focusing on forest areas and protected zones. However, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has raised concerns about several exclusions.

The MoEFCC questions the omission of village sections within wildlife sanctuaries (Aralam, Wayanad, Malabar, Peechi-Vazhani, Parambikulam, Shedurney, Kurinjimala, and Anamudi Shola National Park), including parts of Poopara and Santhampara villages already within a notified ESA. Furthermore, the exclusion of numerous villages in Idukki district and areas between Munnar and Kumily, impacting the connectivity of several national parks and sanctuaries, is a major point of contention. The MoEFCC argues this fragmentation jeopardizes the ecological integrity of the ESAs.

Other concerns include the exclusion of areas prone to landslides, such as Achooram village and parts of Periya and Thondernad in Wayanad, citing the recent Wayanad disaster as a compelling reason for stricter conservation measures. The exclusion of villages in Palakkad, Idukki, and Kollam districts is also criticized for creating fragmentation and severing crucial wildlife corridors.

The MoEFCC also notes that while the state proposed excluding plantations and agricultural lands, no restrictions on agricultural activities within the designated ESAs have been proposed.

The Kerala Directorate of Environment and Climate Change will soon present the state’s position to the ministry and the visiting committee, according to Director Suneel Pamidi. The outcome of the committee’s review will significantly impact the final demarcation of ecologically sensitive areas in Kerala.

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