List of protected areas of Kerala
Open-knowledge reference entry
The protected areas of Kerala include a wide range of biomes, extending east from the coral reefs, estuaries, salt marshes, mangroves beaches of the Arabian Sea through the tropical moist broadleaf forests of the Malabar Coast moist forests to the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests and South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests to South Western Ghats montane rain forests on the western border of Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats. Most protected areas throughout its 14 districts are under the stewardship of the Kerala Forest Department and like all other protected areas of India receive support from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (India).
Land coverage
The state of Kerala covers an area of 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi).
The total forest area in the state is 10,336 km2 (3,991 sq mi) (1995), forming 27.83% of the total geographic area.
There are six national parks with a total area of 558.16 km2 (215.51 sq mi).
There are fourteen wildlife sanctuaries with a total area of 1,891.07 km2 (730.15 sq mi).
Together the protected area totals 2,449.23 km2 (945.65 sq mi), which cover 23.7% of the total forest area and 6.3% of the geographical area of Kerala State.
History
The first official action towards the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in Kerala was taken in 1934 by the Maharaja of the Princely state of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, by declaring the forests around Periyar lake as a private game reserve to stop the encroachment of tea plantations. It was named Nellikkampatty Game Reserve and was consolidated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1950 after the political integration of India.
Biosphere reserves
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