This decision was made to conserve the Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site located within the block's area.
- Tamil Nadu’s first BHS, Arittapatti (Madurai district) is rich in ecological & historical value, featuring megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, 2,200-year-old rock-cut temples etc.
About Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)
- Definition: BHS are well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems comprising of any one or more of the components (refer Infographic).
- First BHS in India: Nallur Tamarind Grove, Bengaluru (2007).
- Current Status: 47 BHS in India (as of Dec 2024).
- Legal Provision: Under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA), State Government in consultation with local bodies may notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS.
- State Government in consultation with Central Government may frame rules for management & conservation of BHS.
- Management: Biodiversity Management Committee (BMCs) or other appropriate institution as determined by relevant local body in absence of BMCs.
- Under the BDA, 2002, every local body in State shall constitute a BMC within its area for promoting conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity.
- Monitoring: State-level Monitoring Committee constituted by state biodiversity Board.
- Generally, no restriction is to be placed on the community on prevailing practices and the utilization of resources from the proposed BHS.
