Palni Hills Conservation Council

Palni Hills Conservation Council (PHCC) Kodaikanal, is registered under the Indian Societies Act in 1985, and is a community-based NGO based in the Palni Hills. The high-altitude East-West extension of the Western Ghats serving major river systems of SW Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery and Vaigai basins are home to millions of residents including farmers and orchard-gardeners dependent on this watershed for life and
livelihood. PHCC’s motto is “The Health of the Hills is the Wealth of the Plains.”

PHCC speciality is environmental protection devoted to restoration of native flora and fauna with an eye on balancing the biodiversity needs of the watershed by partnering with local communities and like-minded NGOs in livelihood/apiary training, native-tree planting, water body restoration etc., all for sustainable societal well-being and uplift.

PHCC is present in Kodaikanal Taluk, viz., Thandikudi and Adukkam Panchayats, Kuthiraiyar (Palani), Dindigul Dt., Genguvarpatti and villages around Theni and Tirupur Districts, with native and fruit saplings
supplied all around Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.

PHCC’s environmental education targets schools, colleges, and the general public with awareness-raising among government authorities as well as rural and tribal people in the Hills to garner support for
conservation. Activities include: bee conservation, wild-foods research, afforestation nurseries (with RET tree species vital to dependent fauna), soil conservation, water-bodies monitoring, restoration. The present ecological value is augmented by documenting flora and fauna status to serve future conservation.

A key PHCC milestone includes the establishment of over 100 native species in 26 nurseries at altitude and plain to restore degraded forest and wetlands by planting and nurturing around 20 million trees for a
Palni Hills green belt to mitigate climate change and extend wildlife habitat.

PHCC lobbies against unsustainable tourism practices in Kodaikanal and the planting of exotic species. A notable recent accomplishment is the spring restoration project in Patlangadu, enhancing water availability and quality for village and wildlife while ensuring conservation efforts are community-driven and sustainable.

PHCC aims to contribute its might to global consciousness around environmental health through sustainable livelihoods for the residents of the Palni Hills and Plains.