Biodiversity Heritage Site Explained

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	33ha	Rare inland mangroves. Chinkara, migratory birds and ratel.	^[4]
2	Indigenous mango forest (proposed)	Gujarat	Dang		Chinchli	2357ha	2708 mango trees. Biodiversity hotspot.

Haryana

• Aravallis and the Shiwaliks

Himachal Pradesh

No.	Name of the Site	State	District	Taluka	Locality	Area	Importance	Reference
1	Kamrunag lake(proposed)	Himachal Pradesh	Mandi		Kandhi-Kamru		medicinal plants and other special trees	^[5] ^[6]
2	Deodar forest on the periphery of the Jamdagni Temple (proposed)	Himachal Pradesh	Kullu		Soyal		800–1000 years old deodar forest

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		54acres	Believed as a surviving historical site from the Chola dynasty period. Visually impressive and has about 300 trees. Large and old trees.
2	Hogrekan	Karnataka	Chikmagalur	Kaduru	Balliganuru	2508.15acres	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.
3	University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus	Karnataka	Bengaluru	Bengaluru	Bengaluru	167ha	13 species of mammals, 10 species of reptiles, 165 of birds and 530 of plants are there in the campus.
4	Ambaragudda	Karnataka	Shimoga			3857.12ha	A revenue land located between Sharavathi and Someshwara wildlife sanctuaries. Has Shola vegetation and grasslands.
5	Mundigekere lake	Karnataka	Uttara Kannada	Sirsi	Sonda		Bird sanctuary	^[7]
6	Zooribetta	Karnataka		Koppal
7	Siddarabetta	Karnataka		Tumakuru
8	Ramanagara hill	Karnataka
9	Chikkamagalur hill	Karnataka
10	Antaragange Betta	Karnataka	Kolar	Kolar	Kolar		perennial water source	^[8]
11	Aadi Narayana Swamy Betta	Karnataka	Chikkaballapura	Gudibande	Chikkaballapur		dry-belt species protected by local people
12	Mahima Ranga Betta	Karnataka	Bengaluru	Bengaluru	Bengaluru		Prominent green space of Bengaluru
13	Urumbi	Karnataka	Dakshina Kannada	Kadaba	Urumbi		Unique environmental system on the banks of Kumaradhara river

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	62acres	Migratory and endemic birds. Water dyke used for irrigation. Wetland ecosystem.	^[9] ^[10]
2	Asramam	Kerala	Kollam			250acres	190 years old British Residency, rare varieties of mangrove spread on residency complex and the creek of Ashtamudi Lake.^[11]	^[12] ^[13]
3	Cashew tree at the Nombizhi LP School	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Pandalam Thekkerkara		200-years old cashew nut tree in Ward 5	^[14]
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.	^[15]
5	Pandalam trees	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Pandalam municipality		16 trees (heronries) in town
6	Chempaka trees in Ward 2	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram		Anchuthengu		Two Chempaka trees (250 years old)
7	Nattumavu tree	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram		Chirayinkeezhu		150 years old tree in Ward 5
8	Kadalkandam and Poovanam	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram		Mudakkal		a wetland and a two hundred-year-old tree
9	Nattumavu tree	Kerala	Kottayam		Ayarkunnam		200 years old tree
10	Eeyyabharanithuruthu	Kerala	Kannur		Alakkode		island in the Kuppampuzha with biodiversity
11	Arattuchira	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Pallikkal		wetland ecosystem
12	Thudiyurulippara hill	Kerala	Pathanamthitta		Pramadom	17.98 acres and 7.6 acres	Hill	^[16] ^[17]

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			200ha	Geologically unique and diverse. Has large number of species of flora and fauna.
2	Patalkot	Madhya Pradesh	Chhindwara	Tamia		8367.49ha	1700-feet deep valley. About 6 million years -old ecosystem. Rare Bryophyte and Pteridopyte and other species are also found.
3	Sirpur Lake (proposed)	Madhya Pradesh	Indore	Indore	Indore	800 acre	130 endangered bird species	^[18]

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	6ha	A reserved forest with biological, ethnic and historical importance.
2	Anjarle and Velas beaches	Maharashtra	Ratnagiri		Anjarle and Velas	0.75 ha and 0.98 ha	Nesting sites of Olive Ridley turtles.	^[19]
3	Landor Khori forest	Maharashtra	Jalgaon			266 ha	Natural forest with 190 species of birds and 24 species of mammals	^[20]
4	Wardham Park	Maharashtra	Gadchiroli		Sironcha	8 ha	old plant and dinosaur fossils
5	Daldalkuhi	Maharashtra	Gondia	Salekasa			Swamp with a variety of ferns.
6	Shivaji Park	Maharashtra	Jalgaon				Natural forest and presence of migratory birds in the nearby Mehrun lake.
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.	^[21] ^[22]
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.
9	Myristica swamps	Maharashtra	Sindhudurg	Dodamarg	Hevale	6.5 acre	Fresh water swamp protected as sacred grove. Have myristicaceaeflowering plant family.	^[23]

Punjab

List of Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Punjab

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		528ha	Mandasaru gorge has 1563 species of fungi, plants, and animals.	^[26]
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.	^[27]
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.

|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.||}

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					^[28]
2	Keora-ki-nal	Rajasthan	Udaipur
3	Ram-kunda	Rajasthan	Udaipur
4	Nag-pahar	Rajasthan	Ajmer
5	Chhapoli- Mansa Mata	Rajasthan	Jhunjhunu

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			230ha	Medicinal plant conservation areas
2	Dhotrey	West Bengal	Darjeeling			180ha	Medicinal plant conservation areas
3	Chilkigarh Kanak Durga	West Bengal	Jhargram	Chilkigarh	Chilkigarh	55.9acres (1969m (6,460feet) perimeter)	A sacred grove rich in biodiversity.
4	Baneswar Shiva Dighi waterbody	West Bengal	Cooch Behar		Baneswar		Rare Black Softshell Turtle habitat	^[29]

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			1135ha
2	Ameenpur lake	Telangana	Sangareddy		Ameenpur	93acres	300 years old artificial lake with resident and migratory birds	^[30]
3	Majuli	Assam	Majuli			216300acres	A river island in the Brahmaputra river with ecological and cultural importance.
4	Gharial Rehabilitation Centre	Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow		Kukrail Reserve Forest	10ha	A centre for conservation and rehabilitation of Gharial.
5	Khlaw Kur Syiem KmieIng	Meghalaya	Ri-Bhoi	Umling	Dorbar	16.05ha	Natural habitats with biodiversity. Sacred grove having monoliths and religious places.	^[31] ^[32]
6	Purvatali Rai	Goa	North Goa	Bicholim	Surla	7300m2	Sacred Grove	^[33]
7	Arittapatti hillocks (2022), Melur	Tamil Nadu	Madurai district, Madurai				Seven hillocks with several water bodies. Many birds, raptors.	^[34] ^[35]
8	Vagaikulam (proposed)	Tamil Nadu	Tirunelveli				Birds
9

Notes and References

1. Web site: Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) Environment & Forest Government Of Assam, India . 29 October 2020 . environmentandforest.assam.gov.in . 24 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201124032742/https://environmentandforest.assam.gov.in/information-services/biodiversity-heritage-sites-bhs-0 . live .
2. Web site: Biodiversity Heritage Sites . 29 October 2020 . wiienvis.nic.in . 27 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927160000/http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/bhs_8650.aspx . live .
3. Web site: 19 December 2018. Biodiversity Heritage Sites In India And Why We Need To Know About Them . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410135424/https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/69271/biodiversity-heritage-sites-in-india-and-why-we-need-to-know-about-them . 10 April 2021 . 29 October 2020 . Outlook Traveller . live .
4. Web site: Dabhi . Parimal . 6 December 2018 . Gujarat may soon declare its first biodiversity heritage sites . https://web.archive.org/web/20201009180557/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-may-soon-declare-its-first-biodiversity-heritage-sites-5481265/ . 9 October 2020 . 29 October 2020 . The Indian Express . en . live .
5. Web site: Service . Tribune News . Kamrunag lake area in Himachal's Mandi set to be biodiversity heritage site . 29 October 2020 . Tribuneindia News Service . en . 2 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201102015007/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/kamrunag-lake-area-in-himachals-mandi-set-to-be-biodiversity-heritage-site-111867 . live .
6. Web site: Service . Tribune News . Kamrunag lake area in Himachal's Mandi set to be biodiversity heritage site . 11 September 2022 . Tribuneindia News Service . en . 11 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220911172853/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/reviews/story/kamrunag-lake-area-in-himachals-mandi-set-to-be-biodiversity-heritage-site-111867 . live .
7. Web site: Five places to be added to heritage site list . 29 October 2020 . The New Indian Express . 5 June 2020 . 13 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201113094546/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/jun/05/five-places-to-be-added-to-heritage-site-list-2152497.html . live .
8. News: Kamila . Raviprasad . 8 November 2020 . Four more biodiversity heritage sites for Karnataka . en-IN . The Hindu . 9 June 2021 . 0971-751X . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609162301/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/four-more-biodiversity-heritage-sites-for-karnataka/article33049144.ece . live .
9. Web site: 7 November 2019 . Binu . Karunakaran . Kerala to get its 1st local biodiversity heritage site . 10 February 2020 . The Times of India . en . 31 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200131215612/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-to-get-its-1st-local-biodiversity-heritage-site/articleshow/71945913.cms . live .
10. Web site: 2020 . Key Achievements 2016-2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210522075031/https://www.keralabiodiversity.org/images/2020/June/key_achievementsbook.pdf . 2021-05-22 . Kerala Biodiversity Board . 16 . dead .
11. Web site: 27 July 2017 . State's first biodiversity heritage site in Kollam . 22 August 2017 . The Hindu . 9 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109015341/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/states-first-biodiversity-heritage-site-in-kollam/article19373028.ece . live .
12. News: Nandakumar . T. . 3 August 2017 . State to get three new biodiversity heritage sites . en-IN . The Hindu . 10 February 2020 . 0971-751X . 11 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201111225605/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/state-to-get-three-new-biodiversity-heritage-sites/article19418899.ece . live .
13. News: Sudhi . K. s . 21 May 2018 . Rules for heritage tag to biodiversity sites . en-IN . The Hindu . 10 February 2020 . 0971-751X . 9 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109021504/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/rules-for-heritage-tag-to-biodiversity-sites/article23944687.ece . live .
14. Web site: Ksbbchairman Ksbb . 11 February 2020 . www.facebook.com . en . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610035740/https://www.facebook.com/ksbbchairman/posts/147763549842739 . live .
15. Web site: P. S. . Sajimon . 28 October 2020 . Kerala: Pathiramanal declared as first local biodiversity heritage site of Alappuzha . https://web.archive.org/web/20201029022811/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-pathiramanal-declared-as-first-local-biodiversity-heritage-site-of-alappuzha/articleshow/78917254.cms . 29 October 2020 . 29 October 2020 . The Times of India . live .
16. News: Kuttoor . Radhakrishnan . 29 July 2020 . Biodiversity heritage site status for Thudiyurulippara . en-IN . The Hindu . 29 October 2020 . 0971-751X . 31 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201031090241/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/biodiversity-heritage-site-status-for-thudiyurulippara/article32218103.ece . live .
17. Web site: Karunakaran . Binu . 29 July 2020 . Pathanamthitta gets its third biodiversity heritage site . https://web.archive.org/web/20200731105415/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/pathanamthitta-gets-its-third-biodiversity-heritage-site/articleshow/77236628.cms . 31 July 2020 . 29 October 2020 . The Times of India . live .
18. Web site: Sirpur Lake, Indore's only green lung, to become biodiversity heritage site . 9 June 2021 . Free Press Journal . en . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609182309/https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/sirpur-lake-indores-only-green-lung-to-become-biodiversity-heritage-site . live .
19. Web site: Kulkarni . Dhaval . 26 May 2017 . Six sites across state get biodiversity heritage tag . 10 February 2020 . DNA India . en . 10 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410135039/https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-six-sites-across-state-get-biodiversity-heritage-tag-2451310 . live .
20. Web site: 22 May 2020 . State biodiversity board dysfunctional without chairman, non-official members, says forest minister . 29 October 2020 . Hindustan Times . en . 31 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201031112050/https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/state-biodiversity-board-dysfunctional-without-chairman-non-official-members-says-forest-minister/story-2dh1vTIJHuouUeVm9H9icL.html . live .
21. Web site: Lewis . Clara . 31 March 2021 . Maharashtra gets one more biodiversity heritage site . 9 June 2021 . The Times of India . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609162943/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-gets-one-more-biodiversity-heritage-site/articleshow/81784537.cms . live .
22. News: PTI . 1 April 2021 . Area in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg named as biodiversity heritage site . en-IN . The Hindu . 9 June 2021 . 0971-751X . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609183336/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/area-in-maharashtras-sindhudurg-named-as-biodiversity-heritage-site/article34211679.ece . live .
23. Web site: Lewis . Clara . 29 January 2021 . Now, swamps in Sindhudurg a biodiversity heritage site . 9 June 2021 . The Times of India . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609172842/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/now-swamps-in-sindhudurg-a-biodiversity-heritage-site/articleshow/80523996.cms . live .
24. Web site: 2 March 2020 . Biodiversity Rich Areas or Sites . https://web.archive.org/web/20210124094450/http://punenvis.nic.in/index2.aspx?slid=5805&mid=1&langid=1&sublinkid=986 . 24 January 2021 . ENVIS Centre : Punjab . live .
25. Web site: 18 September 2017 . 'Great Banyan Tree' in Fatehgarh Sahib to be Punjab's 1st biodiversity heritage site . 11 February 2020 . Hindustan Times . en . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610035720/https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/great-banyan-tree-in-fatehgarh-sahib-to-be-punjab-s-1st-biodiversity-heritage-site/story-x3t6cAPOH5kFi50bHfmzdI.html . live .
26. Web site: Biodiversity Conservation Takes Precedence in Odisha's Silent Valley . 9 June 2021 . The Wire . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609175413/https://thewire.in/environment/biodiversity-conservation-takes-precedence-in-odishas-silent-valley . live .
27. Web site: 24 March 2023 . Odisha's historic Gandhamardan Hills declared as biodiversity heritage site . 26 March 2023 . timesofindia.indiatimes.com . 26 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123937/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/odishas-historic-gandhamardan-hills-declared-as-biodiversity-heritage-site/articleshow/98966162.cms?from=mdr#:~:text=Odisha's%20Gandhamardan%20Hill%20range%2C%20known,%2C%20Environment%2C%20and%20Climate%20Change. . live .
28. Web site: Biodiversity Heritage Sites . 10 February 2020 . environment.rajasthan.gov.in . 10 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200210072113/http://environment.rajasthan.gov.in/content/environment/en/rsbb/intiatives/biodiversity-heritage-sites.html . live .
29. Web site: Bengal forms Rs 120 cr plan to protect East Kolkata Wetlands . 9 June 2021 . Outlook India . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609175415/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/bengal-forms-rs-120-cr-plan-to-protect-east-kolkata-wetlands/2096662 . live .
30. Web site: India's First Urban Biodiversity Heritage Site - A Ray of Hope for Lake Conservationists . EARTHA . 21 June 2017 . en-US . 10 February 2020 . 12 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200112034330/http://www.earthamag.org/stories/2017/6/21/indias-first-urban-biodiversity-heritage-tag-a-ray-of-hope-for-lake-conservationists . live .
31. Web site: Biodiversity Heritage Sites Official website of Meghalaya Biodiversity Board,Government of Meghalaya, India . megbiodiversity.nic.in . 10 February 2020 . 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191031025550/http://megbiodiversity.nic.in/biodiversity-heritage-sites . live .
32. Web site: National Biodiversity Authority - Biodiversity Heritage Site . nbaindia.org . 10 February 2020 . 5 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200205193237/http://nbaindia.org/content/106/29/1/bhs.html . live .
33. Web site: Kerkar . Rajendra P. . 14 December 2019 . Grove in Surla is Goa's first biodiversity heritage site . https://web.archive.org/web/20200916231519/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/grove-in-surla-is-goas-1st-biodiversity-heritage-site/articleshow/72555055.cms . 16 September 2020 . 10 February 2020 . The Times of India . live .
34. Web site: 2 January 2021 . Arittapatti hillocks near Madurai's Melur to be declared biodiversity heritage site Madurai News - Times of India . 9 June 2021 . The Times of India . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609180513/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/arittapatti-hillocks-to-be-declared-biodiversity-heritage-site/articleshow/80065275.cms . live .
35. Web site: Vagaikulam, Arittapatty to be bio-heritage sites . 9 June 2021 . The New Indian Express . 10 December 2020 . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609182309/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/dec/10/vagaikulam-arittapatty-to-be-bio-heritage-sites-2234144.html . live .