The Tamil Nadu government has officially notified Kasampatty (Veera Kovil) sacred grove as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This makes Kasampatty the second BHS in Tamil Nadu, after Arittapatti (Madurai)
- Location: Kasampatty, near Alagarmalai Reserve Forest, Dindigul district
- Cultural Significance: Home to the Veera Kovil Temple, where locals worship ‘Veeranan’ deity
- Biodiversity Importance:
- Rich in wild & domesticated species
- Home to rare & endemic species
- Helps regulate the local climate
- Recognized for high ecological & evolutionary value.
About Biodiversity Heritage Site
- Biodiversity Heritage Site is a unique conservation approach recognised under the Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Biodiversity Heritage Sites have rich biodiversity with wild as well as domesticated species; high endemism; rare and threatened species, keystone species, species of evolutionary significance, wild ancestors of domesticated/ cultivated species; fossil beds; cultural, ethical or aesthetic values for maintaining cultural diversity, with or without long human association with them.
- As per Section 37 (1) of the Biological Diversity Act,2002 the State Government may, from time to time in consultation with the local bodies, notify in the Official Gazette, of areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
