The Palni Hills Conservation Council was formed in 1985 as an organization devoted to promoting sustainable development. The core group consists of ecologists, environmentalists, botanists, wildlife enthusiasts and proponents of sustainable development with sixty supporting staff ranging from beekeepers to water chemists. The Palni Hills is basically the Eastern spur of the Western Ghats mountain range in the South Indian State of Tamilnadu . The forests of the hills vary from dry deciduous to wet temperate zones. The hills start at 280 Mts. above sea level and raise up to 2300 Mts.