The Odisha government has declared the Gandhamardan Hill Range in Bargarh and Balangir districts as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), making it the third such site in the state. The hills are considered the ‘Ayurvedic paradise’ of Odisha, with traditional knowledge holders collecting wild medicinal plants to treat various diseases. The hills are also home to historical monuments such as the Nrusinghanath and Harishankar temples, with rich cultural significance. However, the biological resources of the area are under threat due to anthropogenic and climatic factors, and the traditional knowledge associated with the bio-resources is also declining. The Odisha Biodiversity Board found 1,700 species of plants and animals in the hill ecosystem, of which 18 species are threatened and one species is endemic. The BHS tag will provide long-term protection, conservation, and management of biological resources in the hill range.
The Odisha government has declared the Gandhamardan Hill Range in Bargarh and Balangir districts as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), making it the third such site in the state. The hills are considered the ‘Ayurvedic paradise’ of Odisha, with traditional knowledge holders collecting wild medicinal plants to treat various diseases. The hills are also home to historical monuments such as the Nrusinghanath and Harishankar temples, with rich cultural significance. However, the biological resources of the area are under threat due to anthropogenic and climatic factors, and the traditional knowledge associated with the bio-resources is also declining. The Odisha Biodiversity Board found 1,700 species of plants and animals in the hill ecosystem, of which 18 species are threatened and one species is endemic. The BHS tag will provide long-term protection, conservation, and management of biological resources in the hill range.
