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Recently, Gupteswar Forest in Odisha’s Koraput district has been declared as the fourth Biodiversity-Heritage Site (BHS) of the state.
About Gupteswar Forest
- It is spread over 350 hectares of demarcated area and located adjacent to Gupteswar Shiva temple (a natural limestone cave shrine).
- It is situated in the southernmost region of Odisha and a part of Eastern Ghats.
- It holds immense cultural significance due to its sacred groves.
- It is bestowed with a wide range of flora and fauna.
- Key faunal species: Mugger crocodile, Kanger valley rock gecko, and avifauna like common Hill myna, Whitebellied Woodpecker, and Banded Bay Cuckoo, etc.
- Key floral species: Among others, forest has threatened medicinal plants such as Indian trumpet tree, Indian snakeroot, Cumbi gum tree, Garlic pear tree, etc.
About Biodiversity-Heritage Site (BHS):
- BHS are well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems – terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity comprising some specific components (refer image).
- Under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS.
- Also, the State Government in consultation with the Central Government may frame rules for management and conservation of BHS.
- National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) advices the State Government in the selection and management of heritage sites under section 37.
- NBA is an Autonomous and Statutory Body of MoEFCC.
- NBA (Headquartered in Chennai) was established in 2003 by Central Government to implement India’s Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- As per National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), India has a total of 45 BHS as of February 2024.
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