Context:
Gupteswar Forest has been declared as the 4th Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) of Odisha.
Gupteswar Forest:
- Location – Adjacent to the revered Gupteswar Shiva temple
- State – Odisha
- Significance – The site features sacred groves revered by the local community having cultural significance and rich biodiversity
- The limestone caves of Gupteswar are captivating house for bats species of Southern Odisha
- Rivers flowing – Kolab river, Sabari river
- Other 4 BHSs in Odisha –
- Mandasaru BHS
- Mahendragiri BHS
- Gandhamardan BHS
Biodiversity Heritage Sites:
- Well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems – terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of the following components:
- Richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific categories
- High endemism
- Presence of rare and threatened species
- Presence of keystone species
- Presence of species of evolutionary significance
- Presence of wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties
- Past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values
- Under Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA ) –
- The State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS).
- The State Government in consultation with the Central Government may frame rules for the management and conservation of BHS.
- The State Governments shall frame schemes for compensating or rehabilitating any person or section of people economically affected by such notification.
- Considering the above provisions of the Act, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) hereby issues the guidelines for selection and management of the BHS
- Declaration of an area as BHS does not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local communities.
- India’s 1st BHS – Nallur Tamarind Grove (Karnataka)
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World Economic Forum.
2. It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity.
3. It presents an approach that can help decision-makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims](a) 1 and 2 only(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Statement 1 is not correct:
The TEEB study was launched by Germany and the European Commission in response to a proposal by the G8+5 Environment Ministers in Potsdam, Germany in 2007.
