Rules for heritage tag to biodiversity sites

Faced with persistent opposition from government departments to the declaration of Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS), the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) is planning to draw up a set of rules to facilitate the declaration and management of the sites.

The board had been unsuccessfully attempting to notify the sites as envisioned in the Biological Diversity Act 2002 for years. Section 37 of the Act prescribes the identification and notification of areas rich in biodiversity and cultural importance as BHS by the State governments in consultation with the local bodies.

The “creation of BHS may not put any restriction on the prevailing practices of the local communities, other than those voluntarily decided by them. The purpose is to enhance the quality of life of the local communities,” the guidelines laid down by the National Biodiversity Authority said.

A few government departments had raised the apprehension that the declaration may bring in restrictions on land use and related aspects. Most of the queries raised were earlier clarified, said S.C. Joshi, chairman, KSBB.

The board had repeatedly clarified that no restriction would be imposed with the notification of the sites. Moreover, proposals for the declaration came from local communities, who felt that the biodiversity-rich sites should be conserved

The formation of rules would alley the apprehensions regarding the management of the sites. The guidelines of the National Biodiversity Authority would be followed in framing the rules, he said. The rules would have provisions for the formation of management committees for each site. The committee would be headed by the District Collector concerned and a 12-member executive committee would be formed with local stakeholders and people’s representatives, Mr. Joshi said.

On the list

Once the rules are approved, the procedure for notifying the sites would be initiated, he said. The board has decided to push the case of the sacred grove of the Siva Vishnu temple at Kalassamala, near Kunnamkulam, and 250 acres at Asramam in Kollam in the first phase. It had also identified a few probable BHS including the Chettuva mangrove, Vellayani Lake, Pathiramanal Island, and Madayippara as possible BHS.