Biodiversity sites in 13 dists
The Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) has proposed to establish in situ conservation sites in 13 districts of the State, where it would collect information about floral biodiversity and document it.
The Centre is also planning to start research and conservation of Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) species and link cultural relationship in management of biodiversity.
This came to the fore at a workshop conducted by CSD along with the Karnataka Biodiversity on ‘Conservation and Documentation of Forest Diversity in Dry Zones or Maidan Areas’ here on Thursday.
During the first botanical survey conducted by CSD in the 13 conservation sites, 782 plants species were identified, where 31 per cent of the entire biodiversity comprises herbal composition. Now, another survey is planned to be conducted in September and October to document more plants and shrubs.
Western Ghats Task Force Chairman Anantha Hegde Ashisar said a proposal has been sent to Chief Minister to declare Chincholi in Gulbarga and Kappatagudda in Gadag as biodiversity sensitive areas.
Also, Gurusidappa, a traditional medicine practitioner, appealed to the government to provide 25 acres of land in Davangere that would be developed as medicinal garden.
India has two biodiversity hotspots mainly Western Ghats and eastern Himalayas.
However, the plethora of flora found in dry areas is also significant and needs to be documents.
Dr A Ravindra, advisor to Chief Minister, in his presidential address said after Rajasthan, the next dry region is Karnataka. Yet, the State has rich biodiversity hot spots. However, there was a lot to be done to protect them.
“Information system should be linked to computerised network system even at village level. Also, awareness should be created among people, especially the panchayats and village forest committees, and they should be included in the programmes,” he suggested. Even conservation of urban biodiversity –– lakes and mangroves –– should be looked into, he added.
13 dry zone conservation sites
Karapakapalli Humnabad range Bidar
Sheribikanahalli Chincholi range Gulbarga
Guntagola Lingasugur range Raichur
Donimalai block Sandur range Bellary
Indargi Munirabad range Koppal
Siddarbetta Koratagere range Tumkur
Maklidurga Doddaballapur range Bangalore rural
Sunakal Royalpod SF Srinivasapura range Kolar
Chikkamakali Malavalli range Mandya
Jogimatti Chitradurga
Malebennur Davangere
Mamadapura Bijapur
Makuta Badami
