BICHOLIM: The Forest and Revenue department of Maharashtra on Thursday issued a notification granting heritage site status to the Myristica swamp forest in Melavli which has brought to the notice remains of primeval forest.
According to the information provided by the environmentalist, Rajendra Kerkar the Myristica swamps are tropical fresh water swamp forests with an abundance of Myristica trees, the most primitive of the flowering plants on earth. The evergreen, water-tolerant trees have dense stilt roots helping them stay erect in the thick, black, wet alluvial soil.
As per the information available on Wikipedia Myristica swamps are found in the Karnataka and in the southern parts of Kerala.
A wildlifer, Mallar Indulkar who participated in the nature orientation camp organised by Keri Sattari based NGO Vivekanand Environmental Brigade after seeing such eco system at Nirankarachi rai in Malavli brought the salient feature of myristica swamp to the notice of the government of Maharashtra.
“This is the first natural heritage Site identified by the government of Maharashtra through state biodiversity board by studying ecological, social and cultural elements.” Kerkar told.
The Director of Sahyadhry tiger reserve Maharashtra, Samadhan Chawhan told that this is a unique eco system which his department will conserve by involving local villagers.