Odisha to showcase its biodiversity

Odisha to showcase its biodiversity

News:

1. The Odisha government is setting up a world-class interpretation centre at Dangamal near Bhitarkanika National Park.

Important facts:

2. It will help in protecting crocodiles and preserving its rich mangrove diversity.

3. The project was approved under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project.

4. About Bhitarkanika National Park:

• Bhitarkanika National Park is a national park located in Kendrapara district of Odisha in eastern India.
• Bhitarkanika, one of the State’s finest biodiversity hotspots, receives lakh’s of visitors every year.
• The park is famous for its green mangroves, migratory birds, turtle, estuarine, crocodiles, and creeks.
• It accommodates about 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975.
• During 1999 Super Cyclone in Odisha, the rich mangrove forests had acted as a bio-shield. There was very less impact of the cyclone in the mangrove-forested regions.
• Kalibhanjdia Island, a place in Bhitarkanika, has attracted the attention of foreign scientists as it possesses 70% of the total mangrove species of the world.