Minimum area, maximum plants: Manmade forest in Kottayam

Why in news?
  • The man-made forest, called Mango Meadows.
  • It is the self-sustaining ecosystem and a unique biodiversity park in Ayamkudy near Vaikom in Kottayam.
  • It is the home to about 4,800 plant varieties from as many as 15 countries enters record books.
More in news
  • About the forest:
    (1) This is a man-made green paradise spread across 35 acres.
    (2) The park is the result of the dedication and hard work of N K Kurian.
    (3) He has planted more than 4,800 species of plants, including 700 varieties of trees, 85 types of vegetables and 174 fruit-bearing trees, making it one of the richest artificial forests in the country.
  • Rare species found here:
    (1) Ficus alii tree.
    (2) Calabash: Abundant during the time of the Buddha, who is said to have used its gourd as a food bowl.
    (3) Cinnamomum camphora, from which camphor is produced.
    (4) Damas tree.
    (5) kattupoovarash which is the national tree of Nepal.
    (6) Elaeocarpus ganitrus, which yields the Rudraksha beads.
  • Certificate issued by the Limca Book of Records notes:
    (1) Forest has 4,800 species of plants.
    (2) 700 trees, 900 flowering plants, with saplings and seeds collected from 15 countries.
  • URF Records certificate notes:
    (1) park has more than 1,950 species of medicinal plants.
Source
The hindu




Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 26th Mar 2019
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