Rivona plateau, Chicalim bay to be biodiversity heritage sites

Panaji: After the Purvatali Rai sacred grove at Surla in Bicholim and the Curtorim lakes, the other sites in the state earmarked to be declared as biodiversity heritage sites are the Rivona plateau and the Chicalim bay.
In a reply tabled in the assembly on Friday, environment minister Nilesh Cabral said that the Rivona plateau is home to the unique flora Dipcadi goense, a critically endangered species.
The Chicalim bay is the habitat of the window-pane oyster, known scientifically as placuna placenta, also an endangered species. This species is present at Tambsollo, between the St Anthony chapel and the Vareg island, said Cabral.
Once an area is declared a biodiversity heritage site, the local biodiversity management committee, local panchayat and owners and tenants of the land become jointly responsible for its management.
In such notified biodiversity heritage sites, all existing traditional practices are permitted, such as farming, fisheries, bund making/restoration using traditional or new eco-friendly techniques.
However, any change in land use detrimental to ecological characteristics of the site area is prohibited.
In May this year, more than 6.1 lakh sqm of area in Curtorim village, including several major water bodies, were notified as Goa’s second biodiversity heritage site. The water bodies of Rai Tollem, Angdi Tollem, Maitoloi and adjoining paddy field, Sonbem Tollem, Gud Tollem, Mai Tollem, Colamb Tollem and the field channels comprise the area notified as the heritage site.
Goa’s first biodiversity heritage site was notified in 2019. Purvatali Rai in Surla, Bicholim, comprises 7,300sqm of forested area replete with medicinal herbs, mushrooms, lichen and wild animals. As religious and community beliefs prevent locals from even breaking a twig from the sacred grove, Purvatali Rai has seen rich biological wealth being preserved inside the area.
Goa’s first biodiversity heritage site, notified in 2019, Purvatali Rai in Surla covers 7,300sqm of forested area replete with medicinal hherbs, mushrooms, lichen and wild animals