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News: Karnataka Biodiversity Board has decided to declare four more areas in the State as biodiversity heritage sites.
Facts:
- What are the four areas? The four areas declared as biodiversity heritage sites are:
- Antaragange Betta in Kolar
- Aadi Narayana Swamy Betta in Chickballapur
- Mahima Ranga Betta in Nelamangala,Bengaluru and
- Urumbi area on the Kumaradhara river basin in Dakshina Kannada.
Additional Facts:
- Biodiversity heritage sites(BHS): These are considered as unique and fragile ecosystems that can be marine ecosystems, coastal and inland waters, or terrestrial areas.
- Criteria:
- 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.
- Past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values are important for the maintenance of cultural diversity with or without a long history of human association with them.
- Who notifies BHS? Under Section-37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 the State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites(BHS).
