Context:
Kasampatty Sacred Grove is declared as Tamil Nadu (TN)’s second BHS (Arittapatti in Madurai being the first in TN).
Biodiversity Heritage Sites:
- Well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems
- Can include 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
- Declared under – Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA)
- Notified by – State Government in consultation with local bodies
- 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.
- National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) 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: TH
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.