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Cane plants facing extinction

A cane plant

Indiscriminate exploitation and destruction of forests have reduced rattan (cane) plants in parts of Western Ghats alarmingly. Some varieties of the plant have declined drastically and they may become extinct, if left unattended, warn experts.

Researchers are attempting to identify the genetically diverse varieties of rattans and reintroduce them to suitable locations.

The Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, is spearheading the conservation measure of rattans under its species recovery programme.

During the past three decades, cane was extensively exploited on the Kerala side of the Western Ghats.

Large-scale destruction and fragmentation of forests have aggravated the situation and many species have become vulnerable and rare over the years, said C. Renuka, programme coordinator of the Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Division of the institute.

In Kerala, around 15 species of rattan have been identified. Large extents of cane plants once existed throughout the Western Ghats, Assam and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Studies revealed that the species Calamus brandisii, C. vattayila, C. dransfeildii and C. travancoricus had decreased considerably in number.

In Agstyamalai region, the number of C. brandisii plants declined by 61 per cent between 2004 and 2007 while that of C. travancoricus declined by nine per cent. It was six per cent for C. vattayila, researchers said.

“We need to conserve rattan populations with genetic diversity. In the absence of genetically diverse populations, there exists the possibility of it being wiped out in case of any outbreak of disease,” said E.P. Indira, head of the Forest Genetics Department and also the associate investigator of the project.

Research for identifying molecular markers for sex determination will also be carried out as part of the project, she said. The project is supported by the Kerala Forest Department.

K.S. Sudhi

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