The West Bengal Government has notified four more biodiversity heritage sites (BHS), taking the tally in the state to eight.
- BHS are defined areas with unique and ecologically fragile ecosystems with rich biodiversity.
- The significance and aims of BHS are outlined in Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
- The State Government may, from time to time in consultation with the local bodies, notify in the Official Gazette, areas of biodiversity importance as biodiversity heritage sites under thte Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
- Creation of BHS may not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local communities, other than those voluntarily decided by them.
Key points
- West Bengal now has the highest number of biodiversity heritage parks in the country.
- The state government has notified Char Balidanga (Nadia), Namthing Pokhari (Darjeeling), Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park (Birbhum) and State Horticulture Research and Development Station (Nadia) as the four latest biodiversity heritage parks.
- Char Balidanga, located in Kaliganj block, comprises two islands spread across 115 acres. It has tropical riverine vegetation with tall grasses and trees, along with swampy flat land covered with algal mats, which are periodically inundated with tidal ebbs.
- Namthing Pokhari is a natural Himalayan wetland in the Kurseong block, covering an area of 11.9 acres, and home to the Himalayan Salamander.
- Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park near Illambazar, spread across 10 hectares, has unique geological and paleo-botanical features.
