Though the Meenachil, not far away from its origin, has almost dried up, Kallekulam, a one of a kind of ‘forest,’ still supports the ecosystem with over 600 species of plants. Kallekulam, a downhill area near Poonjar, is developed and nurtured by C.D. Adarsh Kumar, winner of the Vanamita award in 2003. Almost 200 species of rare fruit plants have a healthy growth here.
According to him the region has a lot of rubber plantations. During winter, the leaves wither away and the region becomes dry.
The mechanism of absorbing carbon dioxide and release of oxygen is disturbed. So he thought of developing a wild forest where different species can grow. Over the years, it developed into the forest. He did not, however, stop adding new species there. The process still goes on. “Let us have a cover of green with its own biodiversity of plants and trees to have a healthy environment,” says Adarsh Kumar.
The forest abounds in medicinal plants, some believed to have become extinct. The mythological tree Simsapa, under which Hanuman is believed to have found Sita, the varied ‘mukhi’ Rudraksha ( Elaeocarpus ganitrus ), Indian wild gooseberry, Vediplavu ( Cullenia exarillata ), Analivenga , ( Pittosporum neelgherrene ), and wild climbers only seen in the deep forests are all grown here.
Trees that can kill snakes
Ask Adarsh Kumar about the importance of each tree or plant and he has a ready answer. The branch of a matured Analivenga has the power to kill a snake, including the venomous anali ( Russell’s viper), hence the name. Tribespeople keep it in their huts to ward off snakes. Vediplavu is a fruit eaten by wild animals. Even trees found in the forests face the threat of becoming extinct. Along with them, some wild birds, animals or butterflies too disappear, Adarshkumar says.
“Man started consuming fruits that were found edible by birds or animals. He started growing them and the most tasty, vitamin-rich and easy to grow became his favourite ones,” he says. However, there are several wild fruit species that have medicinal properties.
They are either too wild or need years of caring as they start providing fruits only when grown into a matured tree.
Kallekulam now hosts nature camps for school and college students. Visitors from distant places come in search of his wild forest.
So, how did Adarsh Kumar turn into a lover of forest eco-system. When everyone turned to rubber cultivation, Adarsh Kumar uprooted rubber trees to grow the wild fruit plants. It slowly grew into a mini-forest. “It was not accidental,” he says.
“My father loved fruit trees and grew them on the house premises. However, it was my decision to uproot the rubber plants and grow more wild trees and medicinal plants,”' he adds.
