Yaya Tso to be declared as Biodiversity Heritage Site

Why in news?

• Yaya Tso has been proposed as Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site (BHS).

About Yaya Tso:

• Yaya Tso is located in Ladakh.
• It is known as a birds’ paradise for its beautiful lake located at an altitude of 4,820 metres.
  • It is a nesting habitat for a large number of birds and animals, such as the bar-headed goose, black-necked crane and brahminy duck.
  • It also has the distinction of being one of the highest breeding sites of the black-necked crane in India.

What is a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)?

• State Government can notify the Biodiversity Heritage Sites in consultation with local governing bodies under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
• Definition of Biodiversity Heritage Sites:
  • BHS are 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 pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having 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.
• 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. The purpose is to enhance the quality of life of the local communities through conservation measures.
• There are more than 70 Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India.

Criteria for identification of BHS

• Areas that contain a mosaic of natural, semi-natural, and man made habitats, which together contain a significant diversity of life forms.
• Areas that contain significant domesticated biodiversity component and /or representative agro-ecosystems with ongoing agricultural practices that sustain this diversity.
• Areas that are significant from a biodiversity point of view as also are important cultural spaces such as sacred groves/trees and sites, or other large community conserved areas.
• Areas including very small ones that offer refuge or corridors for threatened and endemic fauna and flora, such as community conserved areas or urban greens and wetlands.
• All kinds of legal land uses whether government, community or private land could be considered under the above categories.
• As far as possible those sites may be considered which are not covered under Protected Area network under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 as amended.
• Areas that provide habitats, aquatic or terrestrial, for seasonal migrant species for feeding and breeding.
• Areas that are maintained as preservation plots by the research wing of Forest department.
• Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements:

1. Biodiversity Heritage Sites are notified by Central Government with the approval of  National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

2. Biodiversity Heritage Sites are notified under Environment Protection Act, 1986

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