Biodiversity Heritage Site

Canary Pahad BHS, in Hazaribag District is a Hilly Area spreading over an area of 2110.67 Acre which comes under Hazaribag East Forest Division. Canary Pahad BHS is situated about 704 meters above mean sea level. Major species of this site are Shorea robusta, Buchanania lanzan, Sterculia urens etc. 

The site consists of many Rare Endangered Species such as Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Boswella serrata, etc.

It is a Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas

The fish Schistura hiranyakeshi was spotted for the first time in a pond at the Mahadev Temple at Amboli in Sindhudurg district , Western Ghats The 2.11 ha area has now been declared as ‘Shistura Hiranyakeshi Biological Heritage Site’ in April 2021. It has become the 5th such heritage site in the state of Maharashtra. The fish was found by the team led by Tejas Thackeray, a wildlife researcher, and son of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.

Habitat for Himalayan Newt, which is an evolutionary significant species originated during the early-middle Miocene and endemic to the Indo-Nepal Himalayan region.

Mawtneng BHS is a vital area for biodiversity conservation due to its rich floral and faunal diversity. The Mawtneng BMC is responsible for management of BHS under guidance of Meghalaya SBB and in accordance with BHS guidelines issued by NBA.

It is a Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas

It offers refuge to Black Softshell Turtle Nilssonia nigricans listed under Appendix I of CITES and extinct  in the wild category of IUCN.

Habitat of nearly 100 species of avifauna with other Schedule-I fauna like Golden Monitor Lizard, smooth coated Otter, Golden Jackal etc and other rare animals.

Sirpur lake is an important habitat of Migratory birds and is also declared as Ramsar Site and Important Bird Area, which is very important from Biological point of view and which needs to be protected and it is a source of livelihood for Local communities.

This area is vital for biodiversity conservation due to its rich floral and faunal diversity. There are about 175 floral species and 177 faunal species present in Sirpur Lake, which includes 130 species of birds, 14 species of reptiles, 34 Butterfly species and other animals.

This comprises 1135 ha of Longku Forest and another 200 ha watershed areas of Joulangpang-Khoukao waterfalls. The Rongmei tribes of Dailong and other villages of Tamenglong district were conserving forest in the form of sacred groves known as “Raengan”, meaning gateway conservation (resting) site of the farmers which is precursor to all conservation activities of these tribes in Tamenglong district. The type of habitats includes Montane Wet Temperate Forest, Tropical Evergreen Forest, and Semi Evergreen Forest and Riparian forest. The area contains more than 159  plant species including 16 species of ethno-medicinal value, used by the local tribes. This includes the globally rare and endemic species of Indian wild orange (Citrus indica) and Jewel orchid (Anoectochilus albolineatus). A total of 101 avian species including the 2 endemic species: Grey sibia (Heterophasia gracillis) and Darjeeling woodpecker (Dendrocopos darjellensi), 8 mammalian species, 10 species of snakes have been recorded including rare and endemic Cherrapunji Keelback (Hebius xenura).

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 site has unique geological and palaeo-botanical features. Well preserved angiosperm wood fossil representing the existence of a forest dating back to the late Jurassic age.

It is an urban wetland providing refuge to 8 mammalian species, 170 avifauna (migratory and resident), 46 herpeto-fauna, 9 varieties of fish, 143 invertebrates and 250 species of rare and common plants.

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.

The land is a mangrove swamp with tidal influence and sustains littoral fauna. The peripheral part, the land water interface, is populated with Saccharum spontaneum, Phragmites karka, Vetiveria zizanioides, effective in controlling erosion. The char land inside is populated with Avicennia marina, A. officianalis, Sonneratia apetala, , Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Aegiceras corniculatum, Excoecaria agallocha and mangrove associates lke Derris scandens Thespesia populnea, Cryptocoryne ciliata, Acanthus ilicifolius, Clerodendron inerme, Dolichos sp. etc, It also has remarkable avifauna including Microcarbo niger, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis, Egretta sp, Nycticorax nycticorax, Ardeola grayii besides the other vertebrates like Varanus bengalensis and Herpestes sp.

WALMI campus is rich in Forest, Agricultural, Horticultural and Aquatic Biodiversity significant from ecological point of view and there are 151 faunal species which includes 29 reptiles, 07 Amphibians, 14 Squamata, 13 Mammals 71 Avifauna and 15 Butterfly species. Also, there are 173 plant species which comprises 53 medicinal and 08 rare plant species.

It is situated on the bank of Kaliyasot Dam which is important from ecological point of view and need to be conserved.

Ken nala area is located in Bhinga Reserved Forest of Shravasti Forest division adjoining to the Gulra Village. Generally, mangroves are found in saline water but unique freshwater mangrove areas are spread on and around the banks of Ken Nala in the Bhinga Reserve Forest. Fresh Water Mangrove Safari is developed in this area as ecotourism spot which is flush with freshwater mangrove tree known as ‘Barringtonia acutangula’ locally called as ‘Injad’.
Besides, this area supports rich floral diversity comprising a wide variety of trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses, which contribute to the stability and functioning of the ecosystem. Equally rich in faunal diversity like Monkey, Hanuman langur, Jackal, Leopard, Chital, Common mongoose, Small Indian mongoose. Various snakes like- cobra, python, common Krait, Rat snake, Water Snake. Diverse fish fauna, viz, Chilwa, Katla, Mirla, Mangur, Rohu & Girai are found in this Heritage Site. Ken nala is also paradise for avifauna such as Kingfishers, flycatchers, Drongos, Wood peckers, Vultures, Owls etc. as well as aquatic birds such as Heron, egrets etc.,