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COMMITTEE
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GUIDELINES
ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the date, month, year
S.O. xxxx (E) – In exercise of the
power conferred by section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
(18 of 2003) the Central Government hereby makes the following
guidelines:-
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1. |
Guidelines for declaration of Biological Diversity Heritage
Sites (BHS):
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 under the provisions of
section 37 requires the State Biodiversity Boards (SBB) to
notify in the official gazette and frame rules for the
management and conservation of certain biodiversity rich
areas as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS). The following
paragraphs contain such guidelines, which shall be called
the “Guidelines for Biodiversity Heritage Sites”.
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2. |
Importance of Biological Diversity Heritage Sites
Biodiversity is closely linked to ecological security. Loss
of biodiversity and bioresources are in the increasing trend
and also threatened by the human activities. Therefore, it
is necessary to instill and nurture conservation ethics in
the community. The declaration of BHS will ensure bringing
home the values and ethics in the society and thereby
protecting the environment ensuring availability of
bioresources for the present and future generations.
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3. |
Participatory role of
the community |
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a. |
Bioresources are freely available for use to the
local people and communities on the proposed BHS. |
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b. |
Restriction in form of regulating the utilisation of
the bioresources imposed in some cases and such
restrictions shall be made voluntary. |
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4. |
Definition of BHS:
Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) are well defined areas
that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems -
terrestrial, freshwater or marine having rich biodiversity
comprising of any one or more of the components such as:
species richness, high endemism, presence of rare, endemic
and threatened species, keystone species, species of
evolutionary significance, wild ancestors of
domestic/cultivated species or land races or their
varieties, past pre-eminence of biological components
represented by fossil beds and having cultural or aesthetic
values. |
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5. |
The
criteria for identification of BHS:
The BHS shall be identified in accordance with the
definition above. Accordingly the following types of areas
of biodiversity importance shall qualify as BHS. |
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a. |
Areas of biodiversity importance that contain a
mosaic of natural, semi-natural, and human made
habitats, which together contain a unique diversity
of life forms. |
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b. |
Areas of biodiversity importance that contain
significant domesticated biodiversity and /or
representative of agro biodiversity and
agro-ecosystems. |
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c. |
Areas of biodiversity importance that are of
cultural significance such as sacred groves and
sites, or other large community conserved areas. |
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d. |
Areas of biodiversity importance that offer refuge
or corridors for threatened and endemic fauna and
flora, such as community conserved areas or urban
greens and wetlands. |
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e. |
Areas of biodiversity importance whether government,
community or private shall be considered.
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