Context:
Government of Odisha has notified 3 Biodiversity Heritage Sites such as Mandasaru Hills, Mahendragiri Hills and Gandhamardan Hills.
About Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS):
- They are well-defined areas that are unique and ecologically fragile ecosystems having rich biodiversity.
- Comprises of any one or more of the following components –
- Species richness
- High endemism
- Presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, and species of evolutionary significance
- Presence of wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species
- Past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds
- Areas with significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values
- Legal Provision –
- Section 37(1) of Biological Diversity Act, 2002: State Government may, from time to time in consultation with the local bodies, notify in the Official Gazette, areas of biodiversity importance.
- Limitations: It does not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local communities.
- 1st BHS of India – Nallur Tamarind Grove (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
- Present number of BHS: 44 (March 2023)
- Recent additions to the list –
- Tungkyong Dho, Sikkim
- Birampur-Baguran Jalpai, West Bengal
- Haldir Char Island, West Bengal
- Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park, West Bengal
- Char Balidanga, West Bengal
- Namthing Pokhari, West Bengal
Previous year question
Consider the following statements:
Once the Central Government notifies an area as a ‘Community Reserve’
- the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority of such forest
- hunting is not allowed in such area
- people of such area are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce
- people of such area are allowed traditional agricultural practices
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Practice question
