Summary:
Mr.
Soman said that the Forest Department was working towards mitigating human-animal conflicts across the 12 forest ranges, and the more than 250 patches of reserve forest dotted across the division. more-inSumesh Soman, the new District Forest Officer (DFO) of the Nilgiris Forest Division, which was formed recently after the merger of Nilgiris North and South divisions, said the Forest Department will work towards regulation of tourism in forest areas, removal of invasive species of flora from the landscape, and mitigation of human-animal conflicts in the region. The Forest Department is also working on regulating tourism at many places located inside reserve forests in the district, including the Doddabetta Peak, Ninth Mile Shooting Medu and Needle Rock View Point. The areas frequented by gaurs have been identified, and steps were on to create awareness among people in human settlements nearby, he said. Invasive floraThe Forest Department was also assessing the extent of growth of mature species of invasive flora such as wattle, blue gum and eucalyptus trees, and will begin their removal in a phased manner..