Context:
Kasampatty Sacred Grove in Dindigul district has been notified as Tamil Nadu’s second Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Key Highlights:
- About Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS):
- Defined as ecologically fragile areas with rich biodiversity, endemism, and cultural significance.
- Declared under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Often include sacred groves, ecological corridors, and habitats of threatened species.
- Criteria for Declaration:
- Presence of rich species diversity (wild & domesticated)
- Endemic or rare species
- Cultural or religious significance
- Ecological connectivity or wildlife habitats
- Procedure:
- Proposals initiated by State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) via Panchayats/Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)
- Scientific and cultural assessment with community consultation
- Final notification through State Government Gazette
- Managed by local bodies, monitored by SBBs
- About Kasampatty Sacred Grove:
- Located in Dindigul district, near Alagarmalai Reserve Forest
- Area: 4.97 hectares
- Second BHS in Tamil Nadu (after Arittapatti, 2022)
- Ecological & Cultural Importance:
- Sacred grove with worship of Veeranan deity
- Functions as an ecological bridge aiding pollination & soil fertility
- Enhances climate stability and biodiversity connectivity
- Community Role:
- Declared following resolution by Reddiyapatty Panchayat
- Supported by Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board & District Administration
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002 → Provides legal basis for BHS declaration
- Section 37 → Specific provision for BHS
- Difference between Biosphere Reserve, National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, BHS
- Sacred groves → Traditional conservation systems
- Role of BMCs & SBBs in biodiversity governance
Relevant Mains Points:
- Community-led conservation as a sustainable model
- Role of local governance (Panchayats) in environmental protection
- Integration of traditional knowledge with formal conservation policy
- Challenges:
- Lack of awareness
- Encroachment & developmental pressures
- Limited funding for management plans
- Importance of decentralized biodiversity conservation
- Way Forward:
- Strengthen community participation and incentives
- Integrate BHS into eco-tourism and livelihood models
- Improve monitoring and funding mechanisms
- Promote documentation of traditional ecological knowledge
UPSC Relevance:
- Prelims: Biological Diversity Act, Sacred Groves, BHS
- Mains: GS III – Environment, Conservation, Community participation