However, in the past, many of these grasslands were converted into farmlands and timber plantations to meet human needs. Many planted species like Eucalyptus and Acacia were not native to the region. They were brought from other countries like Australia. While there were short-term economic gains, these exotic species turned invasive over time. They depleted the nutrients from the soil and hampered the growth of native species leading to loss of biodiversity, including wildlife that depended on the grass for fodder, and ecological imbalances like water scarcity. 

In 2019, a forest fire destroyed around 50 hectares of invasive forests in the park. The forest department looked at this incident as an opportunity to rebuild what was lost. Towards this, an eco-restoration effort as part of the ongoing India High Range Mountain Landscape (IHRML) initiative by the Global Environment Facility, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, UNDP, and the Government of Kerala was launched.

IHRML aims to develop an effective multiple-use management framework for conserving biodiversity in the mountain landscape of the Western Ghats.

Participation of the community, who are primary users of natural resources and possess traditional wisdom associated with their sustainable use, was also critical to the restoration efforts. An eco-development committee named Haritha Vasantham (Green Springs) was formed, comprising of youth from the nearby villages, who were trained and employed to carry out the restoration, thereby generating livelihood opportunities.

“What you see here now is the result of hard work by our local youth. They undertook the plantation of native grasses, monitored the growth of invasive species, and documented the progress,” informs S.V. Sunil, Chief Executive Officer, Anamudi Forest Development Authority. “In addition to the grasses planted by us, many native flowering plants like the Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), which bloom once every 12 years, have started growing on their own,” he adds.

“When I started this job, I was unsure of why we were doing it. We kept digging and planting wild grasses. But now, when I look at the meadow, I understand how the forest had taken away our grasslands. A stream that had dried years ago has been revived. This has convinced people in our village that restoring these grasslands is important for us,“ says Sarath, a young volunteer from Haritha Vasantham.

To ensure that the grasses attain proper growth and are not wiped out due to overgrazing or diseases, the IHRML initiative has also established a nursery, where saplings are nurtured for 3 months and then transplanted as per requirement.

Restoration efforts are long and complex since many natural variables are involved, and factors like disease outbreaks can undo years of hard work. But if successful, they generate many important benefits for both nature and people. For example, wildlife like the endangered Niligiri Tahr now have more area for fodder, and communities enjoy increased water supply and protection from natural disasters like cloudbursts.