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Ranni Forest Division

Ranni Forest Division
റാന്നി വനം ഡിവിഷൻ

ராந்நி வன பிரிவு
Perunthenaruvi Pathanamthitta (8).jpg
Geography
Location Ranni, Kerala,  India
Coordinates 9°23′12″N 76°47′08″E / 9.3866°N 76.7856°E / 9.3866; 76.7856Coordinates: 9°23′12″N 76°47′08″E / 9.3866°N 76.7856°E / 9.3866; 76.7856
Area 1059.0640 km2
Established 1958
Governing body Kerala Forest Department
Website www.forest.kerala.gov.in

The Ranni Forest Division in Kerala, India, was constituted on July 7, 1958, comprising the Ranni, Vadasserikkara, and Goodrical ranges, with its headquarters at Ranni. It covers the parts of Konni reserve forest and the reserves of Ranni, Goodrical, Rajampara, Karimkulam, Kumaramperoor, Valiyakavu, and Schettakkal. With an area of 1,059 square kilometres (409 sq mi), the Ranni Forest Division is one of the best ecosystems in Kerala state.

Reserve forests covering 1,057 square kilometres (408 sq mi) and vested forests covering 1.5 square kilometres (0.6 sq mi) are the major types of forests in this division. The Ranni Forest Division, with its natural beauty and richness in flora and fauna, is a storehouse of many varieties of plants and animals. The forests in the Ranni range can be classified into the following categories.

The Goodrical forest range is situated in the eastern side of Pathanamthitta district, with an area of 654 square kilometres (253 sq mi). Comparatively, human interference is less in these forests than in others in India. But at times of the Sabarimala pilgrimage, these forests ranges are crowded with devotees. Evergreen and semi-evergreen types of forests are here. There are three forest stations under this range:

The Vadasserikkara range lies to the eastern part of Ranni, with its headquarters at Vadasserikkara. This range covers an area of almost 268 square kilometres (103 sq mi) of the Ranni Forest Division. Kakkattar and Kallar, tributaries of the Pamba River, flow through this range. Small-scale agriculture is done in the populated regions of the Vadasserikkara range, especially on the gentle slopes. The natural forests of this range are classified into west coast tropical evergreen forests, west coast semi-evergreen forests, southern moist mixed deciduous forests, and grasslands. There are three forest stations under Vadasserikkara:

The Ranni range covers an area of 136.2 square kilometres (53 sq mi), and its headquarters is at Ranni. Evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous types of forests can be seen here. The three forest stations under this range are:

Many unique plants and herbs can be seen in these forest ranges. Medical plants such as Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Solanum anguivi, Desmodium gangeticum, Cissus quadrangularis, Pseudarthria viscida, Strobilanthes ciliatus, and Dysoxylum malabaricum (Vella akil) grow in the deeper parts of the forest. The eco-system of the forests here is suitable for the growth of these plants. A complete list of plants seen in Ranni division is given below.


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Wikipedia

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