Odisha Government Declares Gupteswar Forest as Fourth Biodiversity Heritage Site: A Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna

The Odisha government has designated the Gupteswar Forest, situated near the renowned Gupteswar Shiva temple within the Dhondrakhol reserve forest, as the fourth Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) in Odisha. Additionally, the government has tasked the Odisha Biodiversity Board with devising a long-term action plan for the comprehensive conservation and development of all four biodiversity-heritage sites, including the Gupteswar forest. A sum of Rs 35 lakhs has been allocated by the government for the formulation of this action plan and for conducting awareness campaigns in the local communities.

Spanning across 350 hectares of demarcated area, the Gupteswar Forest boasts a diverse array of flora and fauna, complemented by sacred groves revered by the indigenous populace. A comprehensive biodiversity inventory and survey conducted by the Odisha Biodiversity Board has identified the presence of over 600 faunal species, encompassing mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, butterflies, moths, odonates, spiders, scorpions, and lower invertebrates.

Noteworthy faunal species documented during the survey include the mugger crocodile, kanger valley rock gecko, sacred Grove Bush Frog, as well as avifauna such as the black baza, Jerdon’s baza, Malaber trogon, common hill myna, white-bellied woodpecker, and banded bay cuckoo. The limestone caves within the Gupteswar area are inhabited by eight bat species, two of which, Hipposideros galeritus and Rhinolophus rouxii, are categorized as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The Gupteswar Forest also harbors a rich diversity of flora, comprising 182 tree species, 76 shrub species, 177 herb species, 69 climber species, 14 orchid species, and various threatened medicinal plants like the Indian trumpet tree, Indian snake root, Cumbi gum tree, Garlic pear tree, Chinese fever vine, Rohituka tree, Jodpakli, Indian jointfir, as well as several wild crop relatives of ginger and turmeric. Moreover, the ecosystem supports numerous agriculturally and industrially significant micro-organisms.

The other three biodiversity-heritage sites in Odisha are the Mandasaru Hills in Kandhamal district, the Mahendragiri Hills in Gajpati district, and the Gandhamardan Hills in the Bolangir and Bargarh district.

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