Biodiversity heritage sites

Why in news?

• Maharashtra government has declared an area at Amboli in Western ghats in Sindhudurg district as a biodiversity heritage site.

About Biodiversity heritage sites:

• “Biodiversity Heritage Sites” (BHS) are well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems - terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity.
•  It comprises 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 pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds.
  • Significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values and are important for the maintenance of cultural diversity, with or without a long history of human association with them.
• Under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA) the State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify in the official gazette, areas  of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS).
• State Government in consultation with the Central Government may frame rules for the management and conservation of BHS.
• State Governments can also frame schemes for compensating or rehabilitating any person or section of people economically affected by such notification.
• India has 21 Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS).

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Biodiversity Heritage sites:
1.They are declared by the state government.
2.They are declared using provisions of wildlife protection act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question