Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)

Context:

The Government of Odisha has notified three Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) i.e. Mandasaru Hills, Mahendragiri Hills and Gandhamardan Hills.

About Biodiversity Heritage Sites: 

• The ‘Biodiversity Heritage Sites’ are unique ecosystems 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, keystone species, species of evolutionary significance.
  • Wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties.
• Under Section-37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the State Government, in consultation with local bodies, may notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS.