Forests are vital to our planet in many ways. While forests soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus clean the air, they also shelter many species of animals and birds that will not be able to exist in another ecosystem. In Silent Valley, a rare species of monkey called the Lion-tailed Macaque would have perished if developmental works were not halted in time.
Silent Valley, an evergreen tropical forest in the Palakkad district of Kerala, was declared as the Silent Valley National Park in 1984. ’Save Silent Valley’ was a social movement aimed at the protection of the valley. The movement started in 1973 to save the Silent Valley Reserve Forest from being flooded due to the construction of dams and a hydroelectric project.
After the announcement of an imminent dam construction, the valley became the focal point of Save Silent Valley, India’s fiercest environmental debate of the decade. Due to Concerns about the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque, the issue was brought to public attention.
In 1977, the Kerala Forest Research Institute carried out an ecological impact study of the Silent Valley area and proposed that the area be declared a biosphere reserve. After much debate, the Silent Valley National Park was formally inaugurated on 7 September 1985. Nonetheless, there is still controversy surrounding the valley.
Picture Credit : Google