In Arittapatti; Tamil Nadu gets its first biodiversity heritage site

In Arittapatti; Tamil Nadu gets its first biodiversity heritage site

Subject :Environment

Context:

• The Tamil Nadu Government, issued a notification declaring Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages in Madurai district the first biodiversity heritage site in the State.

About the site-

• The site comprising 139.63 hectares in Arittapatti village (Melur block) and 53.8 hectares in Meenakshipuram village (Madurai East taluk) will be known as theArittapatti Biodiversity Heritage site.
• Arittapatti village, known for its ecological and historical significance, houses around 250 species of birds including three important raptors – birds of prey, namely the Laggar Falcon, the Shaheen Falcon and Bonelli’s Eagle.
• Other wildlife includes the Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris and pythons.
• The 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 one among them.
• Several megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions and Jain beds add to the historical significance of the region.

Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)-

• Under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 the State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify the areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
• The Biodiversity Heritage Sites are the well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems – terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of the following components:
  • richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific categories
  • high endemism
  • presence of rare and threatened species
  • keystone species
  • species of evolutionary significance
  • wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties
  • past preeminence of biological components represented by fossil beds
  • having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values; important for the maintenance of cultural diversity (with or without a long history of human association with them)
• Areas having any of the following characteristics may qualify for inclusion as BHS.

People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR):

• The PBRs focus on participatory documentation of local biodiversity, traditional knowledge and practices.
• The register shall contain comprehensive information on the availability and knowledge of local biological resources, their medicinal or any other use or any other traditional knowledge associated with them.
• They are seen as key legal documents in ascertaining the rights of local people over the biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.