Communication for Development of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) is unique and biodiversity-rich, and it is the first such reserve in India. The reserve has medicinal plants, traditional landscapes, crops and their wild relatives, ancient races of domestic animals and tribal people. It is located in the Western Ghats at the intersection of three states—Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in south India. The Nilgiri Hills (also called ‘blue mountains’ as translated in English) is in Tamil Nadu. The Western Ghats in which the reserve lies is one of the 35 biodiversity hotspots of the world. The area in toto has different primitive tribal communities with distinctive cultures. This chapter examines how communication for development is an integral part of the interventions for improving the lives and livelihoods of tribal communities besides conserving the ecosystem in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The case studies deal with conservation of the sensitive Silent Valley ecosystem, sustainable development of water resources, issues of honey hunters, and human–animal conflicts in the biosphere.