Kerala Tops National ‘Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE)’ Rankings of Protected Areas (2020‑25 Cycle.
National
Kerala has secured the top position in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change’s Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across India for the 2020‑25 review period, achieving a ‘Very Good’ category rating.
- Kerala achieved a mean MEE score of 76.22%, earning a ‘Very Good’ grade—second only to Chandigarh (85.16%) among Union Territories and States.
- Eravikulam National Park in Kerala recorded an impressive 92.97%, sharing the top spot nationally with Dachigam National Park (J&K). Additionally, Mathikettan Shola NP (90.63%) and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary also ranked in the top six protected areas.
- Out of 21 protected areas in Kerala, 20 showed improvement, demonstrating effective management over the evaluation period. Only Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary in Kochi saw a decline, mainly due to urban pollution and lack of a management plan.
Main Point :- (i) Some sanctuaries face ecological stress from human activity. For instance, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary suffers from feral cattle pressure, while Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary experiences human‑elephant conflict and encroachment. The report recommends tribal hamlet relocation, invasive species control, wildlife corridor linkage, and strengthening eco‑development committees.
(ii) The Ministry’s 2020‑25 MEE cycle assessed 438 national parks and sanctuaries, showing an average score improvement to 64.41% (from 60.52% in 2015‑20). A total of 84 PAs received ‘Very Good’ ratings—Kerala and Chandigarh topping among the States/UTs.
(iii) Kerala’s strong scoring reflects its commitment to biodiversity conservation in the biodiverse-rich Western Ghats. The MEE framework, based on IUCN-WCPA standards, supports future-focused actions to improve habitat connectivity, reduce wildlife conflict, and engage communities in sustainable management.
About Kerala
Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor: Rajendra Arlekar
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