Encroachment in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Forest

Context:

Recently, the Supreme Court passed an order in the case A. John Kennedy v. State of Tamil Nadu & Others, concerning illegal encroachment in the

Singampatti Zamin forest lands.

Relevance:

GS02, GS03 (Environment & Ecology, Judiciary & Governance)

What is the case about?

Singampatti Zamin lands were once used for tea, coffee, and rubber plantations.
These lands were notified as part of the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Reserved Forest in 1978.
In subsequent years, the region was designated as:
- Core Critical Tiger Habitat (2007)
- Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve (2012)
The recognition led to the eviction of encroachers, including tea estate workers.

Key Observations by the Supreme Court:

Forests are the “lungs of the ecosystem” — their destruction worsens climate change and biodiversity loss.
Citing T.N. Godavarman v. Union of India, the Court reiterated: “The tiger perishes without the forest, and the forest perishes without its tigers.”
India has 13,000 sq. km of forest land under encroachment, as per the Ministry of Environment.
The court favored an “ecocentric approach” (nature-first) over anthropocentric (human-centered) development.
It referred to the 2024 judgment in State of Telangana v. Mohd. Abdul Qasim for this principle.

About Agastyamalai Landscape:

It is a crucial ecological region in the Southern Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu and Kerala).
It encompasses:
- Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary
- Meghamalai & Thirunelveli WLS
- Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
It is home to 14 rivers, including the Thamirabarani River.
It even includes the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the MAB Programme.

(Prelims Question):

With reference to the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and recent Supreme Court observations, consider the following statements:

Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, which is recognised under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
The Supreme Court, in a 2024 judgement, upheld an anthropocentric approach to forest conservation.
The Thamirabarani River originates from the Kalakad-Mundanthurai region.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: C. 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct—Kalakad-Mundanthurai is part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, which is under UNESCO MAB.

Statement 2 is incorrect—the SC upheld an ecocentric (not anthropocentric) approach.

Statement 3 is correct—the Thamirabarani River flows through this region.