BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE - ENVIRONMENT
News: In Arittapatti, Tamil Nadu gets its first biodiversity heritage site
What's in the news?
● The
Tamil Nadu Government issued a notification declaring Arittapatti in Melur block, Madurai district, a biodiversity
heritage site.
● The site spans a total area of 193.21 hectares. It is Tamil Nadu's first Biodiversity Heritage Site.
Key takeaways:
● Arittapatti
village, rich in ecological and historical significance, houses around 250
species of birds including three
important raptors - birds of prey, namely
● Laggar
Falcon
● Shaheen
Falcon and
● Bonelli’s
Eagle.
● It
is also home to wildlife such as the Indian
Pangolin, Slender Loris and pythons.
● The
biodiversity-rich area is surrounded by a chain of seven hillocks or inselbergs
that serve as a watershed, charging ‘72
lakes, 200 natural springs and three check dams.’
● The
Anaikondan tank, built during the reign of Pandiyan kings in the 16th century
is an important watershed conservation
area.
● Several megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions and Jain beds add to the historical significance of the region.
Conserving biodiversity and preserving heritage:
● To prevent the loss of biodiversity and to preserve the cultural and architectural heritage of bygone times, the State Government, upon the recommendation of the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board has declared Arittapatti a biodiversity heritage site.
Biodiversity Heritage Site:
● Biodiversity
Heritage Sites are rich biodiversity
areas and are important components of local ecosystems which are being
conserved and managed by the society.
● Biodiversity
Heritage Sites are declared as per provision under Section 37(1) of Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
● The State Government may, from time to time in consultation with the local bodies, notify the areas of biodiversity importance as biodiversity heritage sites under this Act.
First Biodiversity Heritage Site of India:
● Nallur Tamarind Grove in
Bengaluru, Karnataka was the first Biodiversity
Heritage Site of India, declared in 2007.