📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Lobke Thijssen
Science
Scientists Uncover Critically Endangered Fern in Tamil Nadu’s Koli Hills
✍️ Research Matters
🗓 11 Aug 2026, 09:32 AM
👁 7
A team of botanists has identified a new species of fern in the Koli Hills of Tamil Nadu, classifying it as critically endangered due to its limited range and habitat threats.
A group of botanists working in the Koli Hills of Tamil Nadu has discovered a previously unknown species of fern. The plant, found at elevations between 800 and 1,200 meters, shows distinct morphological features that set it apart from other regional ferns.
The species has been classified as critically endangered by the researchers, citing its very restricted habitat and the ongoing threat of deforestation in the area. The fern’s survival is at risk from logging, agricultural expansion and climate‑related changes that affect the hill’s moisture levels.
Local conservationists are calling for immediate protective measures, including the designation of a conservation reserve around the discovery site. The team plans to conduct further studies on the fern’s ecological role and reproductive biology to inform long‑term preservation strategies.
The discovery highlights the biodiversity value of the Koli Hills and underscores the need for stronger environmental safeguards in Tamil Nadu’s hill forests.
The species has been classified as critically endangered by the researchers, citing its very restricted habitat and the ongoing threat of deforestation in the area. The fern’s survival is at risk from logging, agricultural expansion and climate‑related changes that affect the hill’s moisture levels.
Local conservationists are calling for immediate protective measures, including the designation of a conservation reserve around the discovery site. The team plans to conduct further studies on the fern’s ecological role and reproductive biology to inform long‑term preservation strategies.
The discovery highlights the biodiversity value of the Koli Hills and underscores the need for stronger environmental safeguards in Tamil Nadu’s hill forests.