Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The Myristica swamp forest in Melavli which was discovered and brought to the notice remains of the primeval forest by a wildlifer from Goa was granted heritage site status by the Forest and Revenue Department of Maharashtra.
According to environmentalist, Rajendra Kerkar the Myristica swamps are tropical fresh water swamp forests with an abundance of Myristica trees, the most primitive of the flowering plants on earth. The evergreen, water-tolerant trees have dense stilt roots helping them stay erect in the thick, black, wet alluvial soil.
The swamps are typically found in valleys, making them prone to inundation during monsoon rains. The trees form a fairly dense forest with a closed canopy. Studies have shown that the swamps, which would have occupied large swathes of the thickly- wooded Western Ghats in the past, are now restricted to less than 200 hectares in the country.
As per the information available on Wikipedia Myristica swamps are found in the Karnataka and in the southern parts of Kerala.
A wildlifer, Mallar Indulkar who participated in the nature orientation camp organised by Keri Sattari-based NGO Vivekanand Environmental Brigade after seeing such eco system at Nirankarachi rai in Melavli brought the salient feature of myristica swamp to the notice of the government of Maharashtra.
“This is the first natural heritage Site identified by the Government of Maharashtra through state biodiversity board by studying ecological, social and cultural elements.” Kerkar said.
The Director of Sahyadhry Tiger Reserve Maharashtra, Samadhan Chawhan said this is a unique eco system which his department will conserve by involving local villagers.
In very few parts of India myristica sawamp vegetation have been discovered and in Maharashtra this is the first example of such unique eco system. This swamp vegetation has been also existing in Hivale a village of Dodamar taluka in Sidhudurga district of Maharashtra.
Villagers of Hivale have protected this sacred grove for many generations. However they were not aware about it’s historical and ecological values.
Sanjay sawant, a resident of Dodamarg Tillari valley display vivid element biological and zoological elements. Identifying Hevale's mylistica swamps the govt has taken cogniziance of this natural wonder.