The Dandeli forest, nestled in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India, has long been celebrated for its lush forest grasses, diverse birdlife, and the pastoral communities that rely on it. However, recent years have witnessed dramatic shifts in climate patterns, impacting both the forest ecosystem and the people who depend on it.
A survey conducted by scientists from the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, revealed that approximately 100 varieties of grasses grow in the undergrowth of the Dandeli forest. These grasses play a crucial role as the primary food source for the herbivore population, including barking deer, chital (spotted deer), and elephants.
Unfortunately, over the past three decades, these vital grasses have been dwindling in the region. Local wildlife expert and photographer, GE Umesh, attributed this decline to changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures. Notably, Umesh observed a growing use of air conditioners in the area, indicating the trend of increasing temperatures.
Dandeli’s shifting weather patterns have brought unpredictable rainfall, with some years experiencing continuous rain, while others endure extended dry spells of four to five months. These irregularities have led to the replacement of the once-prolific grasses with the invasive eupatorium weed, which neither serves as a food source for herbivores nor resists wildfires.
MD Subash Chandran, an expert from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, noted that the historical conversion of lush semi-evergreen and evergreen forests to monoculture teak plantations altered the forest’s character from semi-evergreen to moist deciduous. This transformation has had severe ecological consequences.
Moreover, during British colonial rule, controlled fires were banned, leading to uncontrolled forest fires. Controlled fires had the benefit of removing dry leaves and flammable debris, reducing the risk of wildfires. Now, the spread of eupatorium and increased dryness during low-rainfall years have intensified the frequency of wildfires.
These ecological shifts have disrupted the herbivore population, the primary prey base for big cats like leopards and tigers. As herbivore numbers decline, big cats are compelled to target local cattle herded by the Gavli pastoral tribe, increasing human-wildlife conflicts.
Local resident Bommu Biru Yedage from Adikehosur village noted the escalating encounters with wild predators in recent years, resulting in heightened conflicts. The once-abundant grasses allowed households to maintain 40-50 cattle each, but this has dropped to 4-5 per household due to both the loss of grasses and increased predation by leopards and tigers.
Climate change has also affected fundamental ecological processes, such as the flowering and fruiting patterns of the more than 40 fig tree varieties found in Dandeli. These fig fruits are a primary source of nutrition for local birds, including the Malabar pied hornbill. However, alterations in fig tree fruiting have led to bird population declines, with hornbills abandoning their nests in recent years.
Furthermore, honey collection has diminished as fig trees no longer flower adequately. These interconnected ecological changes underscore the profound impact of climate change on the delicate balance of the Dandeli forest ecosystem and the livelihoods of its dependent communities.