It is good news for biodiversity lovers that the Unesco has given the first phase clearance for enlisting Bhitarkanika National Park in the World Heritage Sites’ list, said Rajnagar DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
Meanwhile, the Unesco has directed the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Indian Ambassador to submit a detailed technical evaluation report after visiting the park before October 31. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) has received from the Centre in this regard.
An IUCN official would visit Bhitarkanika National Park on October 16 and 17. A committee led by PCCF would be formed to help the IUCN official conduct technical evaluation required for enlistment of the park in the world heritage list, according to information.
After the IUCN conducts technical evaluation, the report would be sent to the Unesco by December for final consideration.
Notably, the Forest Department had earlier sent a proposal to the Unesco requesting to enlist the Bhitarkanika National Park in the World Heritage sites’ list.
The park has already been designated as a Ramsar site in 2002. The park covers a total area of 2,154.26 sq km of which the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park covers 672 sq km, the Gahirmatha (Marine) Wildlife Sanctuary covers 1,435 sq km while the buffer zone in the Mahanadi delta covers 47.26 sq km.
The mangrove forest in the park performs an important ecosystem by breaking tidal surges and devastating cyclones and thereby restricting and slowing down erosion of tidal banks, stabilising silt deposits near the river mouth and also protect lives of millions of coastal inhabitants.
Bhitarkanika is a hot-spot of biodiversity. It is home to the country’s largest population of giant salt water crocodiles. It homes more than 215 species of avifauna, including amazing eight varieties of Kingfishers. It is the second largest viable mangrove eco-system with 70 species of mangrove. Gahirmatha is known to be one of the largest rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
The park provides home to 215 species of birds, including winter migrants from central-Asia and Europe. The wetland site is an important repository of fauna. It is the nursery of innumerable fish, prawn, crabs and other invertebrates, including the endangered king cobra.
The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is one of the world’s largest nesting and breeding grounds for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.