What are Biodiversity Heritage Sites?

• The government recently declared 8.6 acres of green cover at Cantonment Railway Colony as a biodiversity heritage site — the second in Bengaluru after Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra (GKVK).

Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)

• Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) are well-defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems – terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and marine, having rich biodiversity comprising any 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.
  • Significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values important for the maintenance of cultural diversity.
• In 2007, the Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, Karnataka, was designated as India’s first BHS.

Declaration

• 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.
• State Biodiversity Boards (SBB) may invite suggestions (or consider those already coming from communities) for declaration of BHSs, through BMCs, and other relevant community institutions, including gram sabhas, panchayats, etc.
• The declaration of an area as BHS does not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local communities, as the purpose of BHS is to enhance the quality of life of the local communities through conservation measures.

Managament & Monitoring

• Management: The Biodiversity Management Committee or other appropriate institution, as determined by the relevant local body, in the absence of BMCs.
• Monitoring of BHS: There may be a State-level Monitoring Committee constituted by the SBB.