Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site

In Context

• Recently, the Tamil Nadu Government issued a notification declaring Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage site the first biodiversity heritage site in the State.

More about the Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage site

• About:
  • The state government notified 193.215 hectares of area spread across Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages in Madurai district as ‘Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site’. 
    • The declaration was made under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 
• First in the state:
  • This is the first Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) notified in Tamil Nadu.
• Wildlife:
  • Arittapatti village, known for its ecological and historical significance, houses around 250 species of birds including three flagship raptor species – 
    • Laggar Falcon , Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle—and wildlife such as Indian pangolin, python, and slender loris.  
  • It is also home to wildlife such as the Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris and pythons.
• Chain of seven hillocks:
  • The village Arittapatti consists of a chain of seven barren granite hillocks. The distinctive landscape of rocky hills acts as a watershed and supports 72 lakes, 200 natural spring pools, and three check dams. 
    • The Anaikondan tank, built during the reign of Pandiyan kings in the 16th century is one among them.
• Other structures:
  • The site also features various megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, Jain Beds, and 2,200-year-old rock-cut temples, lending it historical value.

Biodiversity Heritage Sites

• About:
  • Biodiversity heritage sites are well-defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems with high diversity of wild and domesticated species, presence of rare and threatened species, and keystone species. 
• Statute:
  • The significance and aims of BHS are outlined in Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act of 2002. 
  • As per provision under Section 37(1) of ‘Biological Diversity Act, 2002’: The State Government may, from time to time in consultation with the local bodies, notify in the Official Gazette, areas of biodiversity importance as under this Act.
• First BHS of India:
  • Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, Karnataka was the first Biodiversity Heritage Site of India, declared in 2007.
• Significance:
  • Creation of BHS may not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local communities, other than those voluntarily decided by them. 
  • The purpose is to enhance the quality of life of the local communities through conservation measures.

Source: TH