Biodiversity Heritage Sites

The area has unique Shola vegetation and grass land with number of floral species which are unique and having lot of medicinal value. Hogrekan is moderately wooded land and its vegetation is of dry deciduous type and has a link with Bababudanagiri and Kemmangundi, adjoining Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Yemmedode Tiger Reserve and serving as "Wildlife Corridor" between Kudremukha and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.

This BHS has a good population of wild species of rice -Oryza rufipogon. The wetland located at 26.810888 N, 92.623559 E having area of 0.41 ha harbour a viable population of wild rice. This is a unique site due to population richness of this species, but both are vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic activities. The species (O. rufipogon) possess genes for disease and pest resistance, tolerance to submergence and salinity, thus, important resource in breeding and improvement of rice crop and many of our current varieties derive many genes from this species. Its in-situ conservation for evolutionary process and adaptation to changing climate is important. 

This will be wealth for posterity not only for India but for the whole world. Oryza rufipogon, the progenitor of present-day cultivated rice, O. sativa, is one of the most studied wild species of rice. It is a perennial plant commonly found in a marsh or aquatic habitats of eastern and southern Asia. O. rufipogon is photosensitive in nature and flowers during short days during the months of November and December. The seeds have a tendency to shatter as soon as they mature. It is tolerant of flooding and acidic soils.

It is a mosaic of natural habitats along with significant diversity of life forms. It is also an old  Sacred Grove with monoliths and religious spots.

The divine, “Gupteswar Forest” situated in the southernmost region of Odisha and a part of Eastern Ghats, is a great assemblage of significant species of flora and fauna. This sacred place always drags the attention of naturalists, environmentalists, researchers, and tourists for its rich biodiversity and the gigantic Shiva Linga which has rich mythological significance and mesmerizing beauty of the surrounding domain. The 350 hectares of demarcated area that intersects Gupteswar PRF and Dondrakhol RF comprises at least 608 faunal species and 615 floral species. Faunal richness includes 28 species of mammals, .188 species of birds, 18 species of amphibia, 48 species of reptiles, 45 species of Pisces, 141 species of butterflies, 43 species oI moths, 41 species of odonates, 30 species of spiders, six species of scorpion and 20 species of lower invertebrates. Gupteswar is also bestowed with sub terrain vegetation with a rich diversity of threatened and medicinal plants which include, 182 species of tree, 76 species of shrubs, 177 species of herbs, 69 species of climbers, and 14 species of orchids. other than that, 17 species of ferns, 20 species of bryophytes, 15 species of lichens, 44 species of macro fungi and one species of gymnosperm have also been documented in this area.

A patch of Betula utilis or Bhojpatra trees wilh some intersp~rsed Willow trees Dominant shrubs and herbs: Rosa species, Lonicera species, Sorbus species, Agropyron longearistatum, Festuca species, Primula denticulata, Polygonatum verticillatum, Plantago asiatica, Heracleum candicans, Berberis species, Artemisia species, Bunium Persicum etc. Major faunal species, in the surrounding area: Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Tibetan ·Wolf, Ibex etc

The GKVK campus is considered one of the greenest areas in Bengaluru. Biological diversity of this campus constitutes a critical repository of various forms of flora and fauna (including 13 sp of mammals, 10 sp of reptiles, 165 sp of birds and 530 sp of plants) which needs to be protected nurtured to posterity.

This BHS has rich biological and historical significance with the presence of around 250 bird species including 3 flagship Raptor species - Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, Bonelli's Eagle and wildlife like Indan Pangolin, Python and Slender Loris.

Mandasaru gorge is an adobe of 1563 species of plants, animals and fungi spreaded over an area of 528 ha. Out of 41 species of medicinal plants categorized under various threatened categories. Twenty three threatened species of plants, 3 endemics including Lithophytic orchid-Cirrhopetalum panigrahianum and one gymnosperm, Cycas orixensis occur in this place. Lasiococca comberi, Saraca asoca, Balanophora polyandra, Polyalthia simiarum, Dimorphocalyx glabellus, Stemona tuberosa, Pueraria tuberosa, Rauvolfia serpentina, Embelia ribes and Gnetum ula are some of the threatened plants of the gorge. The gorge provides congenial habitat for  fishing Cats, and Small clawed otters. One of the Eastern Ghats Endemics the Golden Geckos, having a good population inside the gorge. The gorge is also a sacred site for the local communities as they worship and conserve a fern (Patharagirdhini/ Drynaria quercifolia) in one of the hill tops.

Lyago is a sacred groove located nearby catchment areas for wet rice cultivation and paddy sapling nurseries in Hong Nitii village of Lower Subansiri District. It is considered sacred by the Apatani's of Hong Nitii as many traditional rituals arc performed within the sacred groove by erecting traditional alters for performing the rituals. Besides, it also consists of many naturally growing tree species which are often considered sacred such as Quercus sp.. Ficus spp. Castanopsis armata, Castanopsis indica, Mahonia nepaulensis, Prunus persica, wild grapes and other important species such as Berberis wallichiana, Pyrus calleryana. Pyrus pashia, Cerasus cerusoides Ficus sarmentosa etc.

Cotoneaster species, Lonicera species, Sorbus species, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromusasper, Fesruca species, Poa species, Primula denticulata, Picrorhiza kurroa, Anemone species. Iris species, Artemisia species. Lonicera spocies, Bunium persicum, Jurinea macrocephala etc. Important Horal species recorded in the area: Picrorhiza kurroa, Dactylorhiza haragirea, Aconitum heterophyllum, Podophyllum hexandrum and Saussurea costus (cultivated). Major faunal species, in the region: Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Black Bear, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Marmot, Ibex and Royle's Pika.

It is a revenue land located between Sharavathi Wild Life Sanctuary and Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. It has Shola vegetation which is primitive vegetation in the Western Ghat and also has grasslands.

Mahendragiri hill is situated at an elevation between 700-1501 m above mean sea level in Gajapati district of Odisha. With increase altitude, the hill complex demonstrates several micro climatic conditions like tropical shola, tropical semievergreen, tropical moist-deciduous & tropical dry deciduous. The diversified vegetation with rich floral diversity representing 40% of the reported flora of Odisha. A total of 1,358 species of plants including 1,042 species of angiosperms under 122 families, 60 species of pteridophytes, 104 species of bryophytes, 53 species of lichens and 72 species of macro-fungi and 2 species of gymnosperms occurring in the hill ecosystem.The ancient temples of Kunti, Shima, Arjuna and Yudhisthir at Mahendragiri have been declared as protected monuments under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological sites and Remains Act 1958 by the State Government. These monuments provide a sacred and holy background for receiving about one lakh devotees annually every year to worship the deities of the hill

Purvatali Rai is a unique combination of eco-theological, socio-ecological and sacred beliefs leading to conservation action even in force as of today in these modern times. The area is unique and has ecologically fragile ecosystems with significant cultural, ethical and aesthetic value , however with long history of human association.

This sacred grove has more than hundreds of different floral species with the potentiality of medicinal uses for human as well as other animals.

The area has a variety of wild flowers, wild vegetables, orchids, herbal medicines and edible tubers.

Thungeey gonpa is an important archaeological site surrounded by thick forest located at Shergaon village. It is also considered one of the oldest Buddhist gonpa or temple in West Kameng District. The speciality of this temple is that, it is made of mud. Hence, it is also called as 'Kamcho Yaam' meaning mud house in Sherdukpen dialect. The temple is surrounded by thick forests comprising of rich vegetation and numerous Rhododendron species like R.arboreum can be seen blooming over the season. Besides, flowers of Daphne papyracea (Paper Plant). Primula denticulata , other important medicinal plants like Valeriana jatamansi, Artemisia vulgaris, Paris polyphylla, Swertia chirayita, Gaultheria sps, edible lichens etc., are also found. The forest also is home to many wild animals like Himalayan black beer. barking deer, wild pig, yellow throated marten, giant flying squirrel etc.

Main trees are Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis) and Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiiana). A few middle aged trees of West Himalayan Spruce (Picea smithiana), Deodar (Cedrus deodara) and Juniper (Juniperus species) are interspersed in the proposed patch. Besides. Willow (Salix species) and Sea Buckthorn (Jlippophae salicifolia) are also present in the site. The proposed site also includes a very good patch of grassy area, which supports a very good population of important medicinal and aromatic plants like Picrorhzza kurroa. Dactylorhiza hacagirea, Aconitum heterophyllum, Podophyllum hexandrum, Aconitum violaceum, Bunium persicum, Hippophae rhamnoides etc.