Floristic diversity of angiosperms in the proposed site of aranmula international airport

The study was carried out in order to explore the Angiosperm flora in the proposed site of Aranmula International Airport Pathanamthitta, Kerala. The airport project, which is at the center of a raging political storm in Kerala has run into fresh trouble with the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) expressing serious reservations over the land use changes and eco physiological imbalance. At present, the biodiversity of Aranmula is reduced to a great extent due to unsustainable anthropogenic activities, which was well evidenced from soil filled paddy fields around 60 acres and collapsed natural water reservoir, Kozhithode during 2003- 2006 period. With this scenario, the present study aims to document the floristic angiosperm diversity at proposed site as an effort for conservation. A detailed study on angiosperm plant diversity, conservation aspects and RET assessment was conducted during the work. Over 250 plant species belonging to more than 67 families were documented, among them members of Poaceae and Cyperaceae families are most dominant.