Biodiversity Heritage Site

Biodiversity Heritage Sites are notified areas of biodiversity importance in India.

The Indian State Government can notify the Biodiversity Heritage Sites in consultation with local governing bodies under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act of 2002. These areas are considered unique and fragile ecosystems. They can be either terrestrial, coastal and inland waters or marine ecosystems. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Gujarat

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Gujarat

No.	Name of the Site aritapatti and minakshipuram gaon	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Inland Mangroves (proposed)	Gujarat	Kutch	Lakhpat	Guneri	33 ha (0.33 km2)	Rare inland mangroves. Chinkara, migratory birds and ratel.	[4]
2	Indigenous mango forest (proposed)	Gujarat	Dang		Chinchli	2,357 ha (23.57 km2)	2708 mango trees. Biodiversity hotspot.	[4]

Haryana

• Aravallis and the Shiwaliks

Himachal Pradesh

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Sacred grove at Sural Bhatori Monastery, Block Pangi, District Chamba	Himachal Pradesh	Chamba	Pangi	Sural	07-15-00	A patch of Betula utilis or Bhojpatra trees with some interspersed Willow trees. Dominant shrubs and herbs: Rosa species, Lonicera species, Sorbus species, Agropyron longearistatum, Festuca species, Primula denticulata, Polygonatum verticillatum, Plantago asiatica, Heracleum candicans, Berberis species, Artemisia species, Bunium persicum etc. Major faunal species, in the surrounding area: Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Tibetan Wolf, Ibex etc.	https://hpbiodiversity.gov.in/BMC/Rajpatra%20of%20Himachal%20Pradesh%20(BHS).pdf
2	High altitude meadow at Muhal Dhar Shinkal, Gram Panchayat Hudan Bhatori, Block Pangi, District Chamba	Himachal Pradesh	Chamba	Pangi	Hudan	108-00-00	Cotoneaster species, Lonicera species, Sorbus species, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromusasper, Festuca species, Poa species, Primula denticulata, Picrorhiza kurroa, Anemone species, Iris species, Artemisia species, Lonicera species, Bunium persicum, Jurinea macrocephala etc. Important floral species recorded in the area: Picrorhiza kurroa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Aconitum heterophyllum, Podophyllum hexandrum and Saussurea costus (cultivated). Major faunal species, in the region: Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Black Bear, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Marmot, Ibex and Royle’s Pika	https://hpbiodiversity.gov.in/BMC/Rajpatra%20of%20Himachal%20Pradesh%20(BHS).pdf
3	Birch-pine forest patch at Nain Gahar village, Gram Panchayat Mooring, SubTehsil Udaipur, District Lahaul & Spiti	Himachal Pradesh	Lahaul & Spiti	Udaipur	Nain Gahar	151 Bighas	Main trees are Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis) and Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiiana). A few middle aged trees of West Himalayan Spruce (Picea smithiana), Deodar (Cedrus deodara) and Juniper (Juniperus species) are interspersed in the proposed patch. Besides, Willow (Salix species) and Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae salicifolia) are also present in the site. The proposed site also includes a very good patch of grassy area, which supports a very good population of important medicinal and aromatic plants like Picrorhiza kurroa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Aconitum heterophyllum, Podophyllum hexandrum, Aconitum violaceum, Bunium persicum, Hippophae rhamnoides etc. Indirect evidence indicate the presence of important faunal species like Snow Leopard, Himalayan Brown Bear, Asiatic Black Bear, Himalayan Red Fox, Asiatic Ibex, Himalayan Musk Deer and Royle’s Pika in suitable season of the year. Threatened bird species, the Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis) and Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) have also been reported from the area. According to Trevor, 2019 (unpublished), Nain Gahar’s birch forest patch appears to be a point of meeting of Kashmir elements and Himalayan elements of avifaunal species, with at least two bird species forming hybrid zones there, namely, Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus and Phylloscopus trochiloides plumbeitarsus) an important ring species, and Variegated Laughing Thrush (Trochalopteron variegatum).	https://hpbiodiversity.gov.in/BMC/Rajpatra%20of%20Himachal%20Pradesh%20(BHS).pdf

Karnataka

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Karnataka

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Nallur Tamarind Grove	Karnataka	Bengaluru	Devanahalli		54 acres (0.22 km2)	Believed as a surviving historical site from the Chola dynasty period. Visually impressive and has about 300 trees. Large and old trees.	[2] [3] [5]
2	Hogrekan	Karnataka	Chikmagalur	Kaduru	Balliganuru	2,508.15 acres (10.1501 km2)	Having Shola vegetation and grassland. Many floral species with medicinal value. Moderately wooded land. Dry deciduous type vegetation. connects Kudremukha, Bababudanagiri and Kemmangundi with Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Yemmedode Tiger Sanctuary.	[2] [3] [5]
3	University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus	Karnataka	Bengaluru	Bengaluru	Bengaluru	167 ha (1.67 km2)	13 species of mammals, 10 species of reptiles, 165 of birds and 530 of plants are there in the campus.	[2] [3] [5]
4	Ambaragudda	Karnataka	Shimoga			3,857.12 ha (38.5712 km2)	A revenue land located between Sharavathi and Someshwara wildlife sanctuaries. Has Shola vegetation and grasslands.	[2] [3] [5]
5	Mundigekere lake	Karnataka	Uttara Kannada	Sirsi	Sonda		Bird sanctuary	[6]
6	Zooribetta	Karnataka		Koppal				[6]
7	Siddarabetta	Karnataka		Tumakuru				[6]
8	Ramanagara hill	Karnataka						[6]
9	Chikkamagalur hill	Karnataka						[6]
10	Antaragange Betta	Karnataka	Kolar	Kolar	Kolar		perennial water source	[7]
11	Aadi Narayana Swamy Betta	Karnataka	Chikkaballapura	Gudibande	Chikkaballapur		dry-belt species protected by local people	[7]
12	Mahima Ranga Betta	Karnataka	Bengaluru	Bengaluru	Bengaluru		Prominent green space of Bengaluru	[7]
13	Urumbi	Karnataka	Dakshina Kannada	Kadaba	Urumbi		Unique environmental system on the banks of Kumaradhara river	[7]

Kerala

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Kerala

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Pannivelichira	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Mallappuzhassery	62 acres (0.25 km2)	Migratory and endemic birds. Water dyke used for irrigation. Wetland ecosystem.	[8] [9]
2	Asramam	Kerala	Kollam			250 acres (1.0 km2)	190 years old British Residency, rare varieties of mangrove spread on residency complex and the creek of Ashtamudi Lake. [10]	[11] [12]
3	Cashew tree at the Nombizhi LP School	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Pandalam Thekkerkara		200-years old cashew nut tree in Ward 5	[13] [9]
4	Pathiramanal	Kerala	Alappuzha		Muhamma		Island in Vembanad lake. Has 4 species of fresh water mangroves, 160 species of flowering and 9 of ferns. 5 species of mammals, 18 of amphibians, 12 of reptiles, 89 of birds, 106 of butterflies, 72 types of small plants, 13 of creepers are found. 120 species of water.	[14]
5	Pandalam trees	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Pandalam municipality		16 trees (heronries) in town	[9]
6	Chempaka trees in Ward 2	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram		Anchuthengu		Two Chempaka trees (250 years old)	[9]
7	Nattumavu tree	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram		Chirayinkeezhu		150 years old tree in Ward 5	[9]
8	Kadalkandam and Poovanam	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram		Mudakkal		a wetland and a two hundred-year-old tree	[9]
9	Nattumavu tree	Kerala	Kottayam		Ayarkunnam		200 years old tree	[9]
10	Eeyyabharanithuruthu	Kerala	Kannur		Alakkode		island in the Kuppampuzha with biodiversity	[9]
11	Arattuchira	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Pallikkal		wetland ecosystem	[9]
12	Thudiyurulippara hill	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Pramadom	17.98 acres and 7.6 acres	Hill	[15] [16]

Madhya Pradesh

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Madhya Pradesh

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Naro Hills	Madhya Pradesh	Satna			200 ha (2.0 km2)	Geologically unique and diverse. Has large number of species of flora and fauna.	[5]
2	Patalkot	Madhya Pradesh	Chhindwara	Tamia		8,367.49 ha (83.6749 km2)	1700-feet deep valley. About 6 million years -old ecosystem. Rare Bryophyte and Pteridopyte and other species are also found.	[5]
3	Sirpur Lake (proposed)	Madhya Pradesh	Indore	Indore	Indore	800 acre	130 endangered bird species	[17]

Maharashtra

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Maharashtra

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Glory of Allapalli	Maharashtra	Gadchiroli		Alapalli	6 ha (0.060 km2)	A reserved forest with biological, ethnic and historical importance.	[2] [3] [5]
2	Anjarle and Velas beaches	Maharashtra	Ratnagiri		Anjarle and Velas	0.75 ha and 0.98 ha	Nesting sites of Olive Ridley turtles.	[18]
3	Landor Khori forest	Maharashtra	Jalgaon			266 ha	Natural forest with 190 species of birds and 24 species of mammals	[18] [19]
4	Wardham Park	Maharashtra	Gadchiroli		Sironcha	8 ha	old plant and dinosaur fossils	[18] [19]
5	Daldalkuhi	Maharashtra	Gondia	Salekasa			Swamp with a variety of ferns.	[18]
6	Shivaji Park	Maharashtra	Jalgaon				Natural forest and presence of migratory birds in the nearby Mehrun lake.	[18]
7	Area at Amboli	Maharashtra	Sindhudurg	Sawantwadi	Amboli	2.11 ha	Has endemic fish species (Schistura Hiranyakeshi) and a temple of Parvati where Hiranyakeshi river originates. Conserved by temple community.	[20] [21]
8	Ganeshkhind Garden	Maharashtra			Pune	58.6 ha	Botanical garden established in 1873 by G. M. Woodrow of British East India Company. Home to the first mango tree planted by Peshwas.	[19]
9	Myristica swamps	Maharashtra	Sindhudurg	Dodamarg	Hevale	6.5 acre	Fresh water swamp protected as sacred grove. Have myristicaceae flowering plant family.	[22]

Punjab

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Punjab

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Kaya Kalp Vriksh (Great Banyan Tree)	Punjab	Fatehgarh Sahib	Khera Mandal	Cholti Kheri	3.5 acres (0.014 km2)	300 years old banyan tree	[23] [24]

Odisha

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Odisha

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Mandasaru	Odisha	Kandhamal	Raikia		528 ha (5.28 km2)	Mandasaru gorge has 1563 species of fungi, plants, and animals.	[5] [25]
2	Mahendragiri Hill	Odisha	Gajapati			4250 hectare	A total of 1,358 species of plants including 1,042 species of angiosperms under 122 families, 60 species of pteridophytes, 104 species of bryophytes, 53 species of lichens and 72 species of macro-fungi and 2 species of gymnosperms occurring in the hill ecosystem.	[26]
3	Gandhamardan Hill	Odisha	Balangir, Bargarh				Gandhamardan known as the "ayurvedic paradise,". It is home to 1,200 plant species, 500 animal species, and several varieties of trees, shrubs, herbs, and medicinal plant species.	[26]

|4 |Gupteswar Forest |Odisha |Koraput, Koraput | | | |Koraput forest is present aside of the "Gupteswar Temple,". It is home to 1,200 plant species, 500 animal species, and several varieties of trees, shrubs, herbs, and medicinal plant species. | ^[26] |}

Rajasthan

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Rajasthan

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Akal Wood Fossil Park	Rajasthan	Jaisalmer					[27]
2	Keora-ki-nal	Rajasthan	Udaipur					[27]
3	Ram-kunda	Rajasthan	Udaipur					[27]
4	Nag-pahar	Rajasthan	Ajmer					[27]
5	Chhapoli- Mansa Mata	Rajasthan	Jhunjhunu					[27]

West Bengal

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in West Bengal

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Tonglu	West Bengal	Darjeeling			230 ha (2.3 km2)	Medicinal plant conservation areas	[2] [3] [5]
2	Dhotrey	West Bengal	Darjeeling			180 ha (1.8 km2)	Medicinal plant conservation areas	[2] [3] [5]
3	Chilkigarh Kanak Durga	West Bengal	Jhargram	Chilkigarh	Chilkigarh	55.9 acres (0.226 km2) (1,969 m (6,460 ft) perimeter)	A sacred grove rich in biodiversity.	[5] [3] [2]
4	Baneswar Shiva Dighi waterbody	West Bengal	Cooch Behar		Baneswar		Rare Black Softshell Turtle habitat	[28]

In other states

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in other states

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Dialong Village	Manipur	Tamenglong			1,135 ha (11.35 km2)		[2] [3] [5]
2	Ameenpur lake	Telangana	Sangareddy		Ameenpur	93 acres (0.38 km2)	300 years old artificial lake with resident and migratory birds	[2] [3] [29] [5]
3	Majuli	Assam	Majuli			216,300 acres (875 km2)	A river island in the Brahmaputra river with ecological and cultural importance.	[2] [3] [5]
4	Gharial Rehabilitation Centre	Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow		Kukrail Reserve Forest	10 ha (0.10 km2)	A centre for conservation and rehabilitation of Gharial.	[5] [3] [2]
5	Khlaw Kur Syiem KmieIng	Meghalaya	Ri-Bhoi	Umling	Dorbar	16.05 ha (0.1605 km2)	Natural habitats with biodiversity. Sacred grove having monoliths and religious places.	[30] [5]
6	Purvatali Rai	Goa	North Goa	Bicholim	Surla	7,300 m2 (0.0073 km2)	Sacred Grove	[31] [5]
7	Arittapatti hillocks (2022), Melur	Tamil Nadu	Madurai district, Madurai				Seven hillocks with several water bodies. Many birds, raptors.	[32] [33]
8	Vagaikulam (proposed)	Tamil Nadu	Tirunelveli		Vagaikulam		Birds	[33]
9		[33]

References

1. "Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) | Environment & Forest | Government Of Assam, India". environmentandforest.assam.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
2. "Biodiversity Heritage Sites". wiienvis.nic.in. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
3. "Biodiversity Heritage Sites In India And Why We Need To Know About Them". Outlook Traveller. 19 December 2018. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
4. Dabhi, Parimal (6 December 2018). "Gujarat may soon declare its first biodiversity heritage sites". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
5. "National Biodiversity Authority - Biodiversity Heritage Site". nbaindia.org. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
6. "Five places to be added to heritage site list". The New Indian Express. 5 June 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
7. Kamila, Raviprasad (8 November 2020). "Four more biodiversity heritage sites for Karnataka". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
8. Karunakaran, Binu (7 November 2019). "Kerala to get its 1st local biodiversity heritage site". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
9. "Key Achievements 2016-2020" (PDF). Kerala Biodiversity Board. 2020. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-05-22.
10. "State's first biodiversity heritage site in Kollam". The Hindu. 27 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
11. Nandakumar, T. (3 August 2017). "State to get three new biodiversity heritage sites". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
12. Sudhi, K. s (21 May 2018). "Rules for heritage tag to biodiversity sites". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
13. "Ksbbchairman Ksbb". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
14. P. S., Sajimon (28 October 2020). "Kerala: Pathiramanal declared as first local biodiversity heritage site of Alappuzha". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
15. Kuttoor, Radhakrishnan (29 July 2020). "Biodiversity heritage site status for Thudiyurulippara". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
16. Karunakaran, Binu (29 July 2020). "Pathanamthitta gets its third biodiversity heritage site". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
17. "Sirpur Lake, Indore's only green lung, to become biodiversity heritage site". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
18. Kulkarni, Dhaval (26 May 2017). "Six sites across state get biodiversity heritage tag". DNA India. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
19. "State biodiversity board dysfunctional without chairman, non-official members, says forest minister". Hindustan Times. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
20. Lewis, Clara (31 March 2021). "Maharashtra gets one more biodiversity heritage site". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
21. "Area in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg named as biodiversity heritage site". The Hindu. PTI. 1 April 2021. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
22. Lewis, Clara (29 January 2021). "Now, swamps in Sindhudurg a biodiversity heritage site". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
23. "Biodiversity Rich Areas or Sites". ENVIS Centre : Punjab. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021.
24. "'Great Banyan Tree' in Fatehgarh Sahib to be Punjab's 1st biodiversity heritage site". Hindustan Times. 18 September 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
25. "Biodiversity Conservation Takes Precedence in Odisha's Silent Valley". The Wire. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
26. "Odisha's historic Gandhamardan Hills declared as biodiversity heritage site". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 24 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
27. "Biodiversity Heritage Sites". environment.rajasthan.gov.in. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
28. "Bengal forms Rs 120 cr plan to protect East Kolkata Wetlands". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
29. "India's First Urban Biodiversity Heritage Site - A Ray of Hope for Lake Conservationists". EARTHA. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
30. "Biodiversity Heritage Sites | Official website of Meghalaya Biodiversity Board, Government of Meghalaya, India". megbiodiversity.nic.in. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
31. Kerkar, Rajendra P. (14 December 2019). "Grove in Surla is Goa's first biodiversity heritage site". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
32. "Arittapatti hillocks near Madurai's Melur to be declared biodiversity heritage site | Madurai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 2 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
33. "Vagaikulam, Arittapatty to be bio-heritage sites". The New Indian Express. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.