The characteristics, representativeness, function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on India’s Coromandel Coast
The central area of the Coromandel Coast, southeastern India, has been subject to a very long history of human habitation and land use change, substantially reducing the coverage of native forest. There are polarised views about definitive characteristics of native tropical dry evergreen forest (TD...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
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| Online Access: | https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/2807 |
| _version_ | 1818246966133391360 |
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| author | Mark Everard |
| author_facet | Mark Everard |
| author_sort | Mark Everard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The central area of the Coromandel Coast, southeastern India, has been subject to a very long history of human habitation and land use change, substantially reducing the coverage of native forest. There are polarised views about definitive characteristics of native tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF), albeit agreement that the habitat type is locally characteristic though now severely reduced, fragmented and degraded. A literature review was undertaken to determine the evolutionary origins of TDEF as well as its characteristics. A combination of both natural and human factors gives rise to TDEF, explaining the heterogeneity of existing stands even in close proximity to each other. Religious shrines are often associated with ‘sacred groves’, which are influential in the survival of stands of TDEF. These remaining stands are highly fragmented across the wider landscape and subject to species invasions from adjacent habitats as well as increasing human pressures. On the basis of existing evidence, it is not possible to describe TDEF through a definitive community of tree species, though typical constituent species are listed. TDEF may therefore be representative of a larger biome, as for example ‘tropical rainforest’, rather than a specific vegetation type. Nevertheless, there is general consensus about the importance of restoring TDEF, including its many associated plant and animal species, many of which have medicinal, spiritual and other uses and meanings. Regardless of biological definitions of TDEF, the functions it performs and the diversity of ecosystem services that it provides afford it substantial importance and reinforce the case for its protection and restoration. Successful local restoration activities highlight the feasibility of regeneration of TDEF, even from severely degraded and eroded land, and the associated regeneration of ecological and socio-economic values. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:57:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87eabf5087204f33916542469eccbd5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0974-7893 0974-7907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:57:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
| spelling | doaj.art-87eabf5087204f33916542469eccbd5e2022-12-22T00:20:52ZengWildlife Information Liaison Development SocietyJournal of Threatened Taxa0974-78930974-79072018-05-01106117601176910.11609/jott.2807.10.6.11760-117692807The characteristics, representativeness, function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on India’s Coromandel CoastMark Everard0University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), Coldharbour Ln, Bristol BS16 1QY, UKThe central area of the Coromandel Coast, southeastern India, has been subject to a very long history of human habitation and land use change, substantially reducing the coverage of native forest. There are polarised views about definitive characteristics of native tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF), albeit agreement that the habitat type is locally characteristic though now severely reduced, fragmented and degraded. A literature review was undertaken to determine the evolutionary origins of TDEF as well as its characteristics. A combination of both natural and human factors gives rise to TDEF, explaining the heterogeneity of existing stands even in close proximity to each other. Religious shrines are often associated with ‘sacred groves’, which are influential in the survival of stands of TDEF. These remaining stands are highly fragmented across the wider landscape and subject to species invasions from adjacent habitats as well as increasing human pressures. On the basis of existing evidence, it is not possible to describe TDEF through a definitive community of tree species, though typical constituent species are listed. TDEF may therefore be representative of a larger biome, as for example ‘tropical rainforest’, rather than a specific vegetation type. Nevertheless, there is general consensus about the importance of restoring TDEF, including its many associated plant and animal species, many of which have medicinal, spiritual and other uses and meanings. Regardless of biological definitions of TDEF, the functions it performs and the diversity of ecosystem services that it provides afford it substantial importance and reinforce the case for its protection and restoration. Successful local restoration activities highlight the feasibility of regeneration of TDEF, even from severely degraded and eroded land, and the associated regeneration of ecological and socio-economic values.https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/2807coromandel coastecosystem servicesrestorationtamil nadutdeftropical dry evergreen forest. |
| spellingShingle | Mark Everard The characteristics, representativeness, function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on India’s Coromandel Coast Journal of Threatened Taxa coromandel coast ecosystem services restoration tamil nadu tdef tropical dry evergreen forest. |
| title | The characteristics, representativeness, function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on India’s Coromandel Coast |
| title_full | The characteristics, representativeness, function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on India’s Coromandel Coast |
| title_fullStr | The characteristics, representativeness, function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on India’s Coromandel Coast |
| title_full_unstemmed | The characteristics, representativeness, function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on India’s Coromandel Coast |
| title_short | The characteristics, representativeness, function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on India’s Coromandel Coast |
| title_sort | characteristics representativeness function and conservation importance of tropical dry evergreen forest on india s coromandel coast |
| topic | coromandel coast ecosystem services restoration tamil nadu tdef tropical dry evergreen forest. |
| url | https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/2807 |
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