National
10 Jun, 2026
Centre issues draft notification declaring ESZ around Kerala's Eravikulam National Park
Business To Business, New Delhi, 10th June, 2026: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a draft notification proposing a 70 square kilometre Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Eravikulam National Park and four adjoining protected areas in Kerala.
Protected Areas Covered
The proposed ESZ encompasses areas surrounding:
- Eravikulam National Park
- Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Anamudi Shola National Park
- Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pambadum Shola National Park
These protected areas form part of the ecologically rich Western Ghats landscape and are known for their biodiversity and endemic species.
What Is an Eco-Sensitive Zone?
An ESZ is a buffer area notified around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to act as a "shock absorber" against environmental pressures from nearby human activities.
The objective is to:
- Protect fragile ecosystems.
- Regulate developmental activities around protected areas.
- Minimize habitat degradation and wildlife disturbance.
- Promote sustainable land-use practices.
Activities in ESZs
Typically, ESZ notifications:
- Prohibit certain activities such as mining, large-scale polluting industries, and hazardous waste operations.
- Regulate activities including construction, tourism infrastructure, and commercial projects.
- Permit environmentally sustainable activities under prescribed conditions.
The exact restrictions and permissions will be specified in the final notification after consideration of public feedback.
Ecological Significance
The region is part of the
Western Ghats, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot.
Eravikulam National Park is particularly famous for:
- The endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
- Unique shola-grassland ecosystems.
- Rich floral diversity, including the periodic blooming of the Neelakurinji.
Next Steps
As the notification is currently in draft form, stakeholders, local residents, conservation groups, and government agencies will have an opportunity to submit comments and objections before the proposal is finalized.
If notified, the ESZ would strengthen conservation efforts around one of Kerala's most ecologically significant protected-area networks while seeking to balance environmental protection with local development needs.