Tamil Nadu’s First Biodiversity Heritage Site

The state government of Tamil Nadu recently issued a notification declaring Madurai district’s Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages as the state’s first biodiversity heritage site.

Biodiversity Heritage Site

• Biodiversity heritage sites are well-defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems with high diversity of wild and domesticated species, presence of rare and threatened species, and keystone species.

Legal Provision

• As per provision under Section 37(1) of ‘Biological Diversity Act, 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 under this Act.

Restrictions

• 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.

First BHS of India

• Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, Karnataka was the first Biodiversity Heritage Site of India, declared in 2007.

Last Five Additions to BHS

1. Debbari or Chabimura in Tripura (September 2022)
2. Betlingshib & its surroundings in Tripura (September 2022)
3. Hajong Tortoise Lake in Assam (August 2022)
4. Borjuli Wild Rice Site in Assam (August 2022)
5. Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh (July 2022)

Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site

• The Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site spans across two villages – Arittapatti village (Melur block) and Meenakshipuram village (Madurai East taluk).
• Arittapatti village is known for its ecological and historical significance. It hosts some 250 bird species, including three important raptors (birds of prey) – the Laggar Falcon, the Shaheen Falcon and Bonelli’s Eagle. It also hosts Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris and pythons and others.
• The area is surrounded by a chain of seven hillocks or inselbergs that are a source of water for 72 lakes, 200 natural springs and 3 check dams. The 16th century Anaikondan tank, which was built during the reign of the Pandiyan kings, is one of them.
• This BHS is also historically significant because of the presence of several megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions and Jain beds.
• Its notification as the BHS will further help prevent biodiversity loss and preserve the cultural and architectural heritage of the region.
• The declaration of this site was made under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.