The Bhitarkanika sanctuary has been nominated as one of the nine natural eco spots to be included as a World Heritage site. A five-member assessment team from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) consisting of wildlife scientists, environment specialists and eco-spot experts interacted with senior officers of the State in a high level meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Thursday.
It was discussed that the team would visit Bhitarkanika on Friday and would assess the eco-site from various aspects. The issues relating to protection, conservation, bio-diversity, inclusiveness of the area, people’s participation, tourism potential, livelihood of the people and environmental quality etc would be examined by the team. The team would make recommendations to the World Union about its inclusion.
Speaking about the community participation in maintenance of eco-sites, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan said that respect and love for the natural eco-sites is an inherited part of Odishan culture for which a number of eco-sites along the coast and hill tracks have been conserved and developed through time.
Principal Secretary Forest and Environment Suresh Chandra Mohapatra along with Conservator of Forests Sidhant Das outlined the physical, environmental and management features of Bhitarkanika.
State Pollution Control Board member Debidatta Biswal appraised that the indicators of pollution are well below the defined limits and the site has a balanced eco-system. The senior officers from departments of Home, Pollution Board, Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development, Tourism, Bio-diversity Board , Wild life Institute of India participated.