* It is home to 233 bird species, 72 tree species, and various animals, including the spotted deer, Telangana’s state animal

* Tree diversity, density and numbers at KGF are no less compared to any national park/reserve forest of Hyderabad

Demands

* Build trails and an interpretation center maintained by the student orgs of UoH.

* Conduct a survey for the number of peacocks, and propose the Kanche Gachibowli Forest as a National Park

metro india news  I hyderabad

Believe it. Murricia hyderabadensis is unique spider that is endemic to the Kancha Gachibowli Forest. Discovered only in 2010, it is found nowhere else in the world. Scrub forests have biodiversity that is equivalent to any evergreen forests of the world.

For example, KGF has 233 bird species while KBR National Park’s diversity if 150, and much lesser for Mrugavani National Park and others around Hyderabad. All the more reason, opine environmentalists to preserve Kancha Gachibowli. The staff and students have a deep rooted relationship with the area and is because of them that the place still remains pristine.

KGF is the highest point of the Manjira basin. Every drop of water preserved here will effect 1000s of hectares of land and the entire basin itself. With industries at IDA Bolarum, which is another high point, it is important for Hydrological security of the basin to have KGF’s clean fresh water to preserve the sanctity of the canals that finally merge into the Manjira. As an analogy, KGF’s route-flow provides that half-glass of water which saves the land from the polluted poison that is the other half.

What is more! Grassland birds thrive at KGF due to favorable habitats. These include the Skylarks, Hoopoe, Munias, Warblers, Robins, Stonechats, Minivets and Telangana’s state bird, the Indian Roller.  

Hydrological importance of Kancha Gachibowli Preserving Kancha Gachibowli forest ensures the well being of the lake and hillock ecosystem that Hyderabad thrives upon. It ensures that the roads of Gachibowli and areas as far as Patancheru aren't flooded by storm water runoffs This water system has also ensured that the entire forest is completely surviving free of any forest management including water supply.

This is the largest and only forest with Marking Nut (Semecarpus anacardium) in and around Hyderabad. In Telugu, the tree is known as Chaakali Jeedi (Washerman’s Nut), and is extensively sought by the washermen community for decades. With these trees gone, there is a history and culture that is wiped out. It will be Hyderabad’s loss. The demand form social and environmental activists is to declare Kanch Gachibowli Forest as a National Park.

(The report is based on Dr. Reshma Beeram’s presentation)