“Biodiversity Heritage Site” Recognition for Gandhamardan Hill range

Bhubaneswar: Gandhamardan Hill range, which houses a plethora of medicinal plants as well as a unique ecosystem, was accorded the ‘biodiversity heritage site’ tag. These hills are also termed the ayurvedic paradise of Odisha because of the presence of ample varieties of medicinal plants.

The Forest, Environment and Climate Change department declared the Gandhamardan hill system spread over Bargarh and Bolangir districts as a biodiversity heritage site. A notification issued by the state forest and environment department said that status was accorded as per section 37 of the Biodiversity Act and Rule 20(2) of the Odisha Biodiversity Rules, 2012.

Gandhamardan hills are the home to 1,200 species of plants and 500 species of animals. ‘Biodiversity heritage site’ recognition will help in the preservation, protection, conservation, and management of the species that are facing extinction.

Gandhamardan region has two major religious tourism sites, the Nrusinghanath Temple on the northern slope and the Harishankar Temple on the southern slope.

Gandhamardan Hill range is the third natural site in Odisha to get biodiversity heritage site tag. In the past, Mahendragiri in Gajapati district and Mandasaru Hills in Kandhamal district had received the biodiversity heritage site tag.