Biodiversity
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National Biodiversity Authority
(An Autonomous and Statutory Body of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India)
Biodiversity Heritage Site

Guidelines for Selection and Management of the Biodiversity Heritage Sites

Declared Biodiversity Heritage Sites

Name of the Site1. Nallur Tamarind Grove
Name of the District Bengaluru
Taluk Devanahalli
Area 54 acres
Importance of the area It is popularly believed to be a relic of the Chola Dynasty that ruled nearly 800 years ago, is spectacle of awesome wonder and a freakish site. This BHS spread over 54 acres comprising a population of nearly 300 trees, is a picture of dynamic pattern of plant diversity. The significant component of this popular structure is a group of old plants standing like ageless sentinels, firmly rooted to the ground with their gigantic trunks, along with large picturesque crowns spread very high and aloft like open wings.
Government Notification Aaapaji 154 ENV 2006, B'lore dt.24.01.2007

Name of the Site2. Hogrekan
Name of the District Chikmagalur
Taluk Kadur
Gram Panchayat Balliganuru
Area 2508.15 acres
Importance of the area The area has unique Shola vegetation and grass land with number of floral species which are unique and having lot of medicinal value. Hogrekan is moderately wooded land and its vegetation is of dry deciduous type and has a link with Bababudanagiri and Kemmangundi, adjoining Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Yemmedode Tiger Reserve and serving as "Wildlife Corridor" between Kudremukha and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
Government Notification ENV 2009 dated 4.9.2010

Name of the Site3. University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bengaluru
Name of the District Bengaluru
Area 167 hectares
Importance of the area The GKVK campus is considered one of the greenest areas in Bengaluru. Biological diversity of this campus constitutes a critical repository of various forms of flora and fauna (including 13 sp of mammals, 10 sp of reptiles, 165 sp of birds and 530 sp of plants) which needs to be protected nurtured to posterity.
Government Notification ENV 2009 dated 2.9.2010

Name of the Site 4. Ambaraguda
Name of the District Shimoga
Area 3857.12 hectares
Importance of the area It is a revenue land located between Sharavathi Wild Life Sanctuary and Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. It has Shola vegetation which is primitive vegetation in the Western Ghat and also has grasslands.
Government Notification 2011

Name of the Site 5. Glory of Allapalli
Name of the State Maharashtra
Name of the District Gadchiroli
Taluk ---
Area 6 hectares
Importance of the area It is a reserved forest being preserved as natural forest having biological, ethinical and historical values.
Government Notification No.WLP.0914/C.R.317/M-1 dated 15th July 2014

Name of the Site 6. Tonglu BHS under the Darjeeling Forest Division
Name of the State West Bengal
Name of the District Darjeeling
Taluk ---
Area 230 hectares
Importance of the area It is a Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas
Government Notification No.716-ENT/T-11-7/003-ii/2003 dated 20th March, 2015

Name of the Site 7. Dhotrey BHS under the Darjeeling Forest Division
Name of the State West Bengal
Name of the District Darjeeling
Taluk ---
Area 180 hectares
Importance of the area It is a Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas
Government Notification No.716-ENT/T-11-7/003-ii/2003 dated 20th March, 2015

Name of the Site 8. Dialong Village
Name of the State Manipur
Name of the District Tamenglong
Taluk ---
Area 11.35 Sq.km
Importance of the area ---
Government Notification No.24/3/2017-For &ENVT dt. 23rd May, 2017

Name of the Site 9. Ameenpur lake
Name of the State Telangana
Name of the District Sangareddy
Taluk Ameenpur
Area ---
Importance of the area ---
Government Notification 449/EFS&T (FOR.II) Department, dated 21.11.2016

Name of the Site 10. Majuli
Name of the State Assam
Name of the District Majuli
Taluk ---
Area 875 Sq.km
Importance of the area It is an island situated in the Brahmaputra River which is harboring unique Ecological and Cultural Heritage.
Government Notification FRW 57/2005/Vol.II/14 dated 29th March, 2017

Name of the Site 11. Ghariyal Rehabilitation Centre
Name of the State Uttar Pradesh
Name of the District Lucknow
Taluk Kukrail Reserve Forest
Area 10 Hectares
Importance of the area It is a centre established for conservation and rehabilitation of critically endangered species of Gharial.
Government Notification 1348/XVI-5-2016-15/2016 dated 11th August, 2016

Name of the Site 12. Chilkigarh Kanak Durga
Name of the State West Bengal
Name of the District Jhargram
Taluk Chilkigarh
Area 55.9 Acres (Perimeter Of 1,969 Meters)
Importance of the area Chilkigarh Kanak Durga Sacred Grove is a remnant forest with traditional beliefs and taboos of local inhabitants and rich in biodiversity covering an area of 55.9 acres in Jhargram District of West Bengal.
Government Notification No. 926/EN/T-II-7/003-II/2003 dt 16th April 2018

Name of the Site13. Khlaw Kur  Syiem KmieIng
Name of the State Meghalaya
Name of the District Ri-Bhoi
Taluk Umling
Area 16.05 ha
Importance of the area It is a mosaic of natural habitats along with significant diversity of life forms. It is also an old  Sacred Grove with monoliths and religious spots.
Government Notification No. FOR.53/2018/59 dated 13th December, 2018  issued by Government of Meghalaya

Name of the Site14. Mandasaru
Name of the State Odisha
Name of the District Kandhamal
Taluk Raikia
Area 528 ha
Importance of the area Mandasaru gorge is an adobe of 1563 species of plants, animals and fungi spreaded over an area of 528 ha.
Government Notification Office Order issued by Government of Odisha

Name of the Site15. Purvatali Rai
Name of the State Goa
Name of the District North Goa
Taluk Bicholim
Area 7300 Sq. mts.
Importance of the area Sacred Grove
Government Notification Office Order issued by Government of Goa

Name of the Site16. Naro Hills
Name of the State Madhya Pradesh
Name of the District Satna
Taluk
Area 200 hect
Importance of the area Unique and varied geology and it supports a large number of ecosystem and species of Flora and Fauna.
Government Notification Notifications by Government of Madhya Pradesh

Name of the Site17. Patalkot
Name of the State Madhya Pradesh
Name of the District Chhindwara
Taluk
Area 8367.49 hect.,
Importance of the area terrain of 1700 feet deep valley and ecosystem of estimated age of 6 Million years and species of rare flora and fauna including rare Bryophytes and Pteridopytes;
Government Notification Notification by Government of Madhya Pradesh

Name of the Site18. Asramam
Name of the State Kerala
Name of the District Kollam
Taluk
Area 57.53 hect.,
Importance of the area The BHS hosts a unique diversity of Mangrove species with diverse flora and fauna. The area harbours 15 sp. of true mangroves, 22 sp. of mangroves associated. 122 sp. of plants, 34 sp. of edible fish and about 62 sp. of birds. Most importantly, the site has the rare and endangered heritage trees of Syzygium travancoricum which is listed as critically endangered in IUCN Red List.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Kerala

Name of the Site19. Bambarde Myristica Swamps
Name of the State Maharashtra
Name of the District Dodamarg
Taluk
Area 2.59 Ha.,
Importance of the area
Government Notification Notification by Government of Maharashtra

Name of the Site20.  Ganeshkhind Garden
Name of the State Maharashtra
Name of the District Pune
Taluk
Area 33.01 Ha.,
Importance of the area
Government Notification Notification by Government of Maharashtra

Name of the Site21. Landorkhori
Name of the State Maharashtra
Name of the District Jalgaon
Taluk
Area 48.08 Ha.,
Importance of the area
Government Notification Notification by Government of Maharashtra

Name of the Site22. Schistura Hiranyakeshi
Name of the State Maharashtra
Name of the District Sindhudurg
Taluk Western Ghats
Area 2.11 Ha.,
Importance of the area The fish Schistura hiranyakeshi was spotted for the first time in a pond at the Mahadev Temple at Amboli in Sindhudurg district , Western Ghats The 2.11 ha area has now been declared as ‘Shistura Hiranyakeshi Biological Heritage Site’ in April 2021. It has become the 5th such heritage site in the state of Maharashtra. The fish was found by the team led by Tejas Thackeray, a wildlife researcher, and son of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Maharashtra

Name of the Site23. Baneswar Shiva Dighi
Name of the State West Bengal
Name of the District Coochbehar-II
Taluk Baneswar
Area 1.65 Acre
Importance of the area It offers refuge to Black Softshell Turtle Nilssonia nigricans listed under Appendix I of CITES and extinct  in the wild category of IUCN.
Government Notification Notification by Government of West Bengal

Name of the Site24. Sacred Grove at Sural Bhatori Monastery
Name of the State Himachal Pradesh
Name of the District Chamba
Taluk Pangi
Area 07.15 Acre
Importance of the area Uniqueness: A patch of Betula utilis or Bhojpatra trees wilh some intersp~rsed Willow trees Dominant shrubs and herbs: Rosa species, Lonicera species, Sorbus species, Agropyron longearistatum, Festuca species, Primula denticulata, Polygonatum verticillatum, Plantago asiatica, Heracleum candicans, Berberis species, Artemisia species, Bunium Persicum etc. Major faunal species, in the surrounding area: Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Tibetan ·Wolf, Ibex etc
Government Notification Notification by Government of Himachal Pradesh

Name of the Site25. High Altitude Meadow @ HUDAN BHATORI
Name of the State Himachal Pradesh
Name of the District Chamba
Taluk Pangi
Area 108 Acre
Importance of the area Uniqueness: Cotoneaster species, Lonicera species, Sorbus species, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromusasper, Fesruca species, Poa species, Primula denticulata, Picrorhiza kurroa, Anemone species. Iris species, Artemisia species. Lonicera spocies, Bunium persicum, Jurinea macrocephala etc. Important Horal species recorded in the area: Picrorhiza kurroa, Dactylorhiza haragirea, Aconitum heterophyllum, Podophyllum hexandrum and Saussurea costus (cultivated). Major faunal species, in the region: Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Black Bear, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Marmot, Ibex and Royle's Pika.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Himachal Pradesh

Name of the Site26. Birch-pine Forest Patch @ Nain Gahar
Name of the State Himachal Pradesh
Name of the District Lahaul & Spiti
Taluk Uadipur
Area 151 bighas
Importance of the area Uniqueness: Main trees are Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis) and Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiiana). A few middle aged trees of West Himalayan Spruce (Picea smithiana), Deodar (Cedrus deodara) and Juniper (Juniperus species) are interspersed in the proposed patch. Besides. Willow (Salix species) and Sea Buckthorn (Jlippophae salicifolia) are also present in the site. The proposed site also includes a very good patch of grassy area, which supports a very good population of important medicinal and aromatic plants like Picrorhzza kurroa. Dactylorhiza hacagirea, Aconitum heterophyllum, Podophyllum hexandrum, Aconitum violaceum, Bunium persicum, Hippophae rhamnoides etc.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Himachal Pradesh

Name of the Site27. Baramura waterfall
Name of the State Tripura
Name of the District Khowai
Taluk Khowai
Area 150 Ha
Importance of the area Uniqueness: The highest natural waterfall in Tripura. Critical habitat for rare wildlife. Rich in floristic diversity. Habitat for many stream water favored fauna
Government Notification Notification by Government of Tripura

Name of the Site28. Unakoti
Name of the State Tripura
Name of the District Unakoti
Taluk Unakoti
Area 40 Ha
Importance of the area Uniqueness: Cultural and religious significance, Example of Ethno-religious aspects, Sacred trees and stones,Rich forest flora and fauna, Source of natural stream flow has diverse ecosystem services, Site of semi wild, wild and domesticated ornamental plants.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Tripura

Name of the Site29. Silachari Caves
Name of the State Tripura
Name of the District Gomati
Taluk Gomati
Area 100 Ha
Importance of the area Uniqueness: Only natural cave of Tripura. Unique habitat for several threatened cave bat species in Tripura. Rich floristic diversity. Ethno-religious and cultural significance. Critical habitat for rare wildlife. Stream rich in aquatic fauna. Multi- ecosystem services.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Tripura

Name of the Site30. Debbari or Chabimura
Name of the State Tripura
Name of the District Gomati
Taluk Gomati
Area 215 Ha
Importance of the area Uniqueness: River forest ecosystems at Debbari with rich fauna and flora. Unique habitat for threatened plants of Tripura like Dhup tree and cane resources of India. Unique breeding habitat for threatened fishes of Tripura. Unique breeding habitat for threatened wildlife of Tripura.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Tripura

Name of the Site31. Betlingshib & its surroundings
Name of the State Tripura
Name of the District North District
Taluk
Area 350 Ha
Importance of the area Uniqueness: Geographical/ topographical significance: The highest peak of Tripura allows unique habitat ecosystem. Aesthetic value: View of Mizoram and Chittagon hill tracts, other hills of Jampui, orange orchards. Due to change in altitude, topography and climate the vegetation is totally unique compared to the mainland of the state. Biodiversity Significance: Highest floristic diversity in Tripura. Conservation significance: Suitable habitat for several red listed flora and fauna. Medicinal plant conservation area. Cultural significance: Diverse agro-ecosystem model.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Tripura

Name of the Site32. Amarkantak @ Madhya Pradesh
Name of the State Madhya Pradesh
Name of the District Anuppur
Taluk Anuppur
Area 7681.50 Ha
Importance of the area Uniqueness: site is situated on the Maikal mountain range which links the Vindhyachal and Satpura mountain ranges, at about 1067 meters above mean sea level. Site has unique terrain of 1700 ft. deep valley and ecosystem of estimated age of 6 Million year and species of rare flora & fauna including rare Bryophytes and Pteridophytes. Site is spread over 8367 .49hectare area. Amarkantak ecological system is the origin of three major rivers which contributes to water security of India, which need to be conserved.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Madhya Pradesh

Name of the Site33. Hajong Tortoise Lake @ Assam
Name of the State Assam
Name of the District Dima Hasao
Taluk Maibang
Area 526.78 Ha
Importance of the area This lake is a natural habitat of Critically Endangered freshwater ‘Black Softshell turtle’ Nilssonia nigricans and Endangered ‘Indian Peacock Softshell turtle’ Nilssonia hurum besides other major flora and fauna. This site also harbour the threatened species like Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Vulnerable Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), Sambar (Rusa unicolor), Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus), Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus) etc.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Assam

Name of the Site34. Borjuli Wild Rice Site @ Assam
Name of the State Assam
Name of the District Sonitpur
Taluk Rangapara
Area 0.41 Ha
Importance of the area Uniqueness: This BHS has a good population of wild species of rice -Oryza rufipogon. The wetland located at 26.810888 N, 92.623559 E having area of 0.41 ha harbour a viable population of wild rice. This is a unique site due to population richness of this species, but both are vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic activities. The species (O. rufipogon) possess genes for disease and pest resistance, tolerance to submergence and salinity, thus, important resource in breeding and improvement of rice crop and many of our current varieties derive many genes from this species. Its in-situ conservation for evolutionary process and adaptation to changing climate is important. This will be wealth for posterity not only for India but for the whole world. Oryza rufipogon, the progenitor of present-day cultivated rice, O. sativa, is one of the most studied wild species of rice. It is a perennial plant commonly found in a marsh or aquatic habitats of eastern and southern Asia. O. rufipogon is photosensitive in nature and flowers during short days during the months of November and December. The seeds have a tendency to shatter as soon as they mature. It is tolerant of flooding and acidic soils.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Assam

Name of the Site35. Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site @ Tamil Nadu
Name of the State TamilNadu
Name of the District Madurai
Taluk Madurai
Area 193.215 He
Importance of the area Uniqueness: This BHS has rich biological and historical significance with the presence of around 250 bird species including 3 flagship Raptor species - Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, Bonelli's Eagle and wildlife like Indan Pangolin, Python and Slender Loris.
Government Notification Notification by Government of Tamil Nadu

Name of the Site36. Mahendragiri hill Biodiversity Heritage Site @ Odisha
Name of the State Odisha
Name of the District Gajapati
Taluk Gajapati
Area 4250 He
Importance of the area Uniqueness: Mahendragiri hill is situated at an elevation between 700-1501 m above mean sea level in Gajapati district of Odisha. With increase altitude, the hill complex demonstrates several micro climatic conditions like tropical shola, tropical semievergreen, tropical moist-deciduous & tropical dry deciduous. The diversified vegetation with rich floral diversity representing 40% of the reported flora of Odisha. A total of 1,358 species of plants including 1,042 species of angiosperms under 122 families, 60 species of pteridophytes, 104 species of bryophytes, 53 species of lichens and 72 species of macro-fungi and 2 species of gymnosperms occurring in the hill ecosystem.The ancient temples of Kunti, Shima, Arjuna and Yudhisthir at Mahendragiri have been declared as protected monuments under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological sites and Remains Act 1958 by the State Government. These monuments provide a sacred and holy background for receiving about one lakh devotees annually every year to worship the deities of the hill
Government Notification Notification by Government of Odisha

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