Biodiversity heritage sites

Notes • In 1979, the Committee decided to inscribe the Ohrid Lake on the World Heritage List under natural criteria (iii). In 1980, this property was extended to include the cultural and historical area, and cultural criteria (i)(iii)(iv) were added. • Extension of the "Australian East Coast Temperate and Subtropical Rainforest Park". name changed 2007 from 'Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Australia)' • Renomination of "Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park" under cultural criteria. • The “Belfries of Flanders and Wallonia” which were previously inscribed on the World Heritage List, are part of the transnational property “The Belfries of Belgium and France”. • Extension of "Jaú National Park". • Extension of the "Glacier Bay/Wrangell/St Elias/Kluane" property. • The "Burgess Shale" property, which was previously inscribed on the World Heritage List, is part of the "Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks". • Extension of "The Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple Monastery, Lhasa" to include the Norbulingka area. • The “Belfries of Flanders and Wallonia” which were previously inscribed on the World Heritage List, are part of the transnational property “The Belfries of Belgium and France”. • The "Chateau and Estate of Chambord", which was previously inscribed on the World Heritage List, is part of the "Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes". • The “Hadrian’s Wall” which was previously inscribed on the World Heritage List, is part of the transnational property “Frontiers of ...

• By recognising biodiversity heritage sites, India’s Biological Diversity Act of 2002 provides an opportunity for conserving these relics of ancient diversity. • There are already examples from different parts of the country where institutions and communities have successfully conserved biodiversity heritage sites. • On the International Day for Biological Diversity today, let us look at this option to broad base biodiversity conservation, writes Kunal Sharma. There are many varied spaces — sacred groves, industrial complexes, national level institutes, village commons, universities, defence lands, temple premises, urban parks — that have one thread in common. They could hold remnants of the ancient landscape that had once thrived in the region, and thus be repositories of unique biodiversity. While most of these sites are more threatened and at a greater risk of extinction as compared to protected forests, some are being protected as a result of social and physical fencing. And while these small patches are often side-lined from popular discourse, the time is right to recognise them. The concept of Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS), conceived under Section 37 of India’s In its most basic interpretation, sites that are known to be unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems with rich biodiversity, whether wild or domesticated and have significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values can be declared as BHS. These sites may or may not have had a history of human association an...

World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world, where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development, unsustainable tourism practices, neglect, natural calamities, pollution, political instability, and conflict. Biological diversity underpins ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services essential for human well-being. World Heritage properties are the most outstanding places on the planet and constitute a significant subset of the protected area system, critical for conservation of ecosystem integrity and biodiversity. The World Heritage Convention ensures global commitment for the conservation of these exceptional places, while respecting their cultural and local connections. ( The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has developed global thematic studies on Although some sites are recognised specifically for their biodiversity values, there are significant opportunities for reinforcing biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in all World Heritage properties. For example, many The Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development The UNESCO World Heritage Centre cooperates closely with the biodiversity related Conventions (World Heritage Convention, 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Nearly two-thirds of the ocean lies beyond the jurisdiction of ...

Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) 13,426 BMCs established at all local bodies (Gram Panchayats, mandal, municipality, and Zilla Parishad). Biodiversity Heritage Site ♦ Ameenpur Lake is declared as a biodiversity heritage site ♦ Documentation of various species: 171 bird species, 250 plant species, 9 fish species, 26 aquatic beetles, 41 butterfly species, 33 invertebrate species, 12 amphibians, 13 reptiles, and 9 wild animal species Telangana State Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives ♦ Conservation Projects ♦ Registration of “Mannanur Cattle” project in collaboration with WASSAN, NGO ♦ Recognition of ‘Tilapia’ fish as the State fish for conserving indigenous aquatic diversity Threatened Flora and Fauna Conservation status for flora and fauna in Telangana ♦ Flora: 6 endemic species, 25 vulnerable species, 18 endangered species, and 13 critically endangered species. ♦ Threats to flora: habitat loss, over-collection, and livestock grazing Threatened Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals ♦ Fish: 5 vulnerable species, 2 endangered species, 1 critically endangered species, and 3 data-deficient species. ♦ Amphibian: 100 percent vulnerable species. ♦ Reptiles: 25 vulnerable species, 3 endangered species, and 8 critically endangered species. ♦ Birds: 2 critically endangered species, 6 endangered species, 11 vulnerable species, and 1 data-deficient species. ♦ Mammals: 20 vulnerable species, 1 endangered species, and 1 critically endangered species. Threats to Biodi...

Microbial diversity is mostly an unexplored bioresource till date that deserves greater attention and hence, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has given special emphasis towards the conservation of microbial diversity. Similar to other organisms, both in-situ and ex-situ preservation technologies are widely used for the overall restoration of the microbial diversity in a given ecosite. In India, National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has declared 5 Microbial-Designated National Repositories (M-DNRs) under ‘Section 39’ of Biological Diversity Act 2002 as an important aspect of infrastructure for biodiversity conservation. These bio-resource centres follow operational guidelines of World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) and best practices of the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD). Most recently, NBA has constituted a ‘core expert group’ for developing guidelines for identification of repositories for plant, animal and microbe under Section 39 of the BD Act 2002. This is the first ever approach to intensify identification of more repositories for India. In another effort, NBA has developed Guidelines for Selection and Management of the Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) under ‘Section 37’ of BD Act 2002 in order to strengthen the biodiversity conservation in traditionally managed areas and to stem the rapid loss of biodiversity in intensively managed areas, which need special attention. BHS can be smaller areas, which serve as corridors...

Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity This natural-cultural landscape encompasses the historic centre of Paraty, one of Brazil's best-preserved coastal towns, four Brazilian Atlantic Forest protected natural areas, one of the world’s five key biodiversity hotspots, as well as part of the Serra da Bocaina mountain range and the Atlantic coastal region. Serra do Mar and Ilha Grande Bay is home to an impressive diversity of animal species, some of which are threatened, such as the jaguar ( Panthera onca), the white-lipped peccary ( Tayassu pecari) and several primate species, including the Southern Muriqui ( Brachyteles arachnoides), which are emblematic of the property. In the late 17th century, Paraty was the end-point of the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Route), along which gold was shipped to Europe. Its port also served as an entry point for tools and African slaves, sent to work in the mines. A defence system was built to protect the wealth of the port and the town. The historic centre of Paraty has retained its 18th century plan and much of its colonial architecture dating from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Description is available under license Paraty et Ilha Grande – culture et biodiversité Ce paysage naturel-culturel englobe le centre historique de Paraty, l'une des villes côtières les mieux préservées du Brésil, quatre zones naturelles protégées de la forêt atlantique brésilienne, l'un des cinq points chauds du monde pour la biodiversité, ainsi qu'une part...

Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) unique and ecologically fragile ecosystems (terrestrial , coastal , marine , inland waters) having rich any one or more 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 • Areas with significant cultural , ethical or aesthetic values important for the maintenance of cultural diversity • Under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act , 2002 (BDA) , the State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) . Declaration of an area as BHS does not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local communities . Because the purpose of BHS is to enhance the quality of life of the local communities through measures . Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) of India Assam Majuli (216217 acers) • It is world’s largest river island formed by the Brahmaputra River in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti , a branch of Brahmaputra , joined by the Subansiri River in the north . It is known for neo-Vaishnavite monasteries and tribal communities (e .g . Mishing , Deoris ,& Kacharis) . Hajong Tortoise Lake (1302 acers) • It is located in the Langting-Mupa reserve forest in the North Cachar Hills district of Assam . It i...

Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: West Bengal recently notified four more biodiversity heritage sites (BHS), taking the tally in the state to eight. • The four new sites are Char Balidanga and the state Horticulture Research and Development Station campus in Deypara — both in Nadia, Namthing Pokhar in Darjeeling and the Amkhoi Fossil Park in Birbhum. Related News: Context: The ₹300 crores Chengalpattu Botanical Garden (in Tamil Nadu) is being planned across 138 hectares. It will be India’s largest botanical garden. What are Botanical Gardens? Botanical gardens are outdoor spaces dedicated to the cultivation and display of a wide variety of plants. The oldest of the Indian Botanic gardens called the Acharya Jagadish Chandra (AJC) Bose Indian Botanic Garden, in Howrah was established in 1787. About Botanical Survey of India The Botanical Survey of India (est. 1890; under MoEFCC; HQ: Kolkata) is a premier organization in India responsible for undertaking scientific research and documentation of the country’s plant diversity. Categories Tags Related Posts Tags Post navigation