印度南部尼尔吉里(Nilgiri)生物圈保护区的自然特点和管理的经验

<正> 尼尔吉里一词意为蓝色的山地,原来森林生长密茂,随着人口不断增加,而且由于缺乏科学的规划,不合理的开发使得森林遭到严重的破坏,野生动物日益减少。70年代开始,人们就意识到不能这样继续下去,于是管辖的各个邦都选择适当的区域建立国家公园和保护区。1980年正式参加联合国教科文组织“人与生物圈”研究计划生物圈保护区网,成为印度第一个生物圈保护区,并按生物圈保护区的基本要求进行规划和管理,效果显著。1987年12月间,笔者参加在印度班加罗尔举行的第一届亚洲保护生物学专题讨论会期间,有机会到这个保护区参观访问,并作短期植被考察,了解到一些情况,现把资料稍作整理发表,供有关方面参考。

THE NATURAL FEATURES AND MANAGED EXPERIENCE OF TNE NILGIRI BIOSPHERE RESERVE INDIA

Covering an area of 5520 sq. km. in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve occupies different habitats, including the Nilambur plain of western slope from 100m. above sea level, across the Mukurti Peak (2554m.) down to 250m. on the east in the Coimbatore plains. The western slope get over 5000 m.m. of precipitation annually, while the sheltered eastern valleys receive less than 500 m.m. Corresponding to these altitudinal and climatic gradients,the natural vegetation changes from rain forest along the western slopes to montane stunted shola forest, progressively to dried deciduous forests and thorn scrub on the eastern slopes.For the purpose of management, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve has been classified into core zone (1240 Km2), manipulation-forestry zone (3239 Km2), tourism zone (335 Km2) and restoration zone (706 Km2).Research is an important component of the programme and will be carried out by universities, institution, non-government organization and government departments.