The Mahendragiri hill terrain forest ecosystem in Odisha’s southern district of Gajapati, in its Rayagada Block, on the Eastern Ghats, is located within east longitudes 83045’ to 84045’ and north latitudes 18015’ to 18030’. The Mahendragiri with more than 1,500 meters is the second tallest hill in Odisha after Deomali in Koraput district. The watershed of Mahendragiri hill complex drains into Rushikulya, Vamsadhara, Bahuda, Mahendratanaya river systems and numerous big and small streams.

The hilly terrain, endowed with dense tropical semi-evergreen forests, composes a unique ecological marvel in harbouring the genetic diversity. The flora and fauna here is interesting as it represents Himalayan as well as peninsular Deccan Plateau species. Because of unsustainable anthropogenic activities in the area the population of wildlife including elephants and big cats is on the decline.  Many of the plant and animal species here find their place in the IUCN Red Data Book as ‘Threatened’, ‘Vulnerable’, ‘Endangered’ and ‘Rare’. Over a period of time many more species may add to the list, it is feared. In view of the fact that the ecosystem is yet potent in sustaining wildlife in the wild, immediate intervention is needed for its eco-restoration.

The hill complex is the natural habitat of the tribes including the primitive Lanjia saura, Sudha saura and Bhima saura. The other tribes include Kondh, Gond, Santal and Kolh. Their livelihood security is intricately linked to the biodiversity and other local natural resources of the hill complex.

The Wildlife Institute of India in their report “Planning a Wildlife Protected Area Network in India” have recommended for setting up a Biosphere Reserve (BR) in the Mahendragiri hills terrain on the basis of phyto-geographic affinities in north, north-eastern and south-eastern India. This was communicated by the Government of India to the Government of Odisha with request to prepare a project and submit for necessary action. The subject ‘Forest’ was originally enumerated in the State List. The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution (1976) transferred the subject from the State List to the Concurrent List.

At the initiative of Orissa Environmental Society (OES) the Government of Odisha in Forest and Environment Department had set up the Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve Committee to find the feasibility of setting up of a BR in this Mahendragiri Hill Complex, vide Notification No.20120, dated 02.11.2011. The Committee in its 4th meeting held on 20.12.2014 unanimously agreed in principle in favour of creating a BR here.  The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Odisha has already submitted the draft proposal to Government of Odisha on January 29, 2019 for onward transmission to Government of India for necessary follow-up action. The Odisha State Government may therefore recommend to set up a BR in Mahendragiri hill terrain covering an area of more than 5,000 sq. km for its eco-restoration and regeneration of erstwhile incredible biodiversity.

In the meantime, about eight years have elapsed, the Government of Odisha is yet to submit the proposal to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC) to accord the status of BR to this hill terrain. The hill complex has all the merit to be considered so. In Similipal forest complex of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha the eighth BR of the county was set up in June 1994. In case Mahendragiri hill complex gets the tag of BR it will be the second one in the state.

Once upon a time, the Mahendragiri terrain was rich with elephants and other wild animals and the forest was dense. What is worrying is that the ecosystem fast loses its natural habitat and wilderness, and now wildlife are rarely to be seen. A source from the MoEFCC discloses that out of the total 169 elephants killed by poaching in India in the last ten years, Odisha accounts for the highest of 49, followed by 23 in Kerala which is a State possessing the second highest elephant population after Karnataka. Similarly, a State-wise elephant death due to poisoning report finds Odisha to be the second highest with 15 deaths after Assam with 32. This is only one example to cite about how Odisha is fast losing its wildlife.

It is to appreciate that the Government of Odisha recently declared an area of 4,250 hectares covering two reserve forests (Idongiri or Indragiri and Mahendra RFs) as Mahendragiri Biodiversity Heritage Site, vide notification No 20954/FE&CC, dated 25th November 2022. Now going a step further, the government may initiate the process to include it in the list of World Heritage Sites. In fact, UNESCO has suggested that the Government should initially nominate the hill complex for inclusion in the “Tentative List” of World Heritage Sites.

However, by raising the status to a BR the conservation efforts will be strengthened with local community participation, before it is brought down to ruins by further degradation in all respects- ecosystem, environment, biodiversity, geomorphology, archaeological monuments  etc. A BR is a term given to an area for the conservation of the resources of the biosphere and the improvement of the relationship between man and the environment as a whole. It is internationally recognized within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme and nominated by national Governments. In the periphery of a BR there will be a manipulation zone where several human activities are permitted (within the framework) to meet local people's needs. In a BR, biodiversity heritage sites, world heritage sites, and archaeological sites can remain protected safely.

The CoP15 on Global Biodiversity Framework Convention was held from December 7 to 19 at Montreal, Canada. One of the goals was ‘the integrity and resilience of all ecosystems are maintained, enhanced, or restored, substantially increasing the area of natural ecosystems by 2050’. The other most important goal was ‘biodiversity is sustainably used and managed and nature’s contributions to people (including ecosystem functions and services) are valued, maintained and enhanced, with those currently in decline being restored, supporting the achievement of sustainable development, for the benefit of present and future generations by 2050. '

The Convention has set the target to protect 30 per cent of earth’s lands, oceans, coastal areas and inland waters by 2030. India is a party to the Convention and is obliged to respect the decisions.

In view of the facts, the BR status to Mahendragiri ecosystem would be in fitness of things for long-term conservation and regeneration of the ecosystem to prehistoric status. An early action, without any further delay,in this regard will serve the best interest of conservation of this hill terrain of mythological, historical, archaeological and biological fame, and livelihood of local communities who are the custodians and trustees of its natural resources by inheritance.

(Dr Patro is president, Orissa Environmental Society; snpatro11@gmail.com; Mob: 9437190420)