What is New

First occurrence of Kanger Valley Rock Gecko in Gupteswar Reserve Forest, Odisha

The natural ecosystem of Odisha provides conducive environment for a wide diversity of flora and fauna. To conserve such unique biodiversity, the state has wildlife sanctuaries, National Park, Biosphere Reserve and many reserve forests and protected forests. In addition to these, the biological diversity Act 2002 has also provisions under section 37 to declare special fragile habitats having unique biodiversity to be declared as “Biodiversity Heritage Sites” (BHS). In this regards, Odisha State Government on recommendation of Odisha Biodiversity Board has declared Mandasaru as the first BHS and further identified three others biodiversity rich sites like Gupteswar, Gandhamardhan and Mahendragiri.

The Odisha Biodiversity Board has recently completed biodiversity inventory and socio-economic studies in Gupteswar. Located in the southern Odisha, Gupteswar is an abode for many unique and interesting flora and fauna. One of the wonderful findings of the present study is the first report of occurrence of Kanger Valley Rock Gecko (Hemidactylus kangerensis Mirza, Bhosale & Patil, 2017). This gecko is an endangered species according to the IUCN Red List. The species is endemic to Chhattisgarh's Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP), Bastar. The current study established a new record for the species' distribution in Gupteswar, in the southern region of Odisha. The KVNP is situated adjacent to Gupteswar PRF separated by perennial Sabari River. This makes interesting occurrence of the species in Gupteswar. The defining characteristics of the species make it different from others: Snout Vent Length (SVL): 70mm, 9 to 11 pairs of Lamellae in the right pes of hind limb and as it is a female, femoral pores are absent. The dorsal side of the body is having four distinct broad band between head to caudal region, and one band in caudal construction. Further research is required to study the possible occurrence of the species in more parts of the southern Odisha for its conservation.

 

TRAINING OF ECO-GUIDES AND NATURALISTS BY ODISHA BIODIVERSITY BOARD

The Government of Odisha through Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department has given responsibility to Odisha Biodiversity board to enhance knowledge of Ecoguides, Naturalists, VSS members, EDC members and staffs working in the Nature Camps of Ecotourism destinations of the State, on the importance local biodiversity and the traditional knowledge. The State Government has identified more than 50 such sites and allotted 25 Ecotourism destinations in the first phase for training. This programme is also partly funded by the Tourism Department of the State Government. The main objective of this programme is to build capacity of the staffs working at Ecotourism sites on acquiring knowledge on local biodiversity and to disseminate the scientific, para-scientific and traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity, to the eco-tourists in an interesting and conveyable manner. This exercise will send a positive message about the ecotourism site to different parts of the country through the ecotourists. This exercise is might eventually lead to greater tourist flow. As a part of this novel initiative of the State Government, the Odisha Biodiversity Board has conducted training programmes in 21 ecotourism sites/Nature Camps during the last one year. Near about 530 participants were trained on various aspects of biodiversity on their locality as mentioned above

Flora and fauna at Rissia and Bichitrapur Nature camps, Balasore

Participants of training programme at Bichitrapur and Rissia water reservoir

Participants of training programme at Sarafgarh, Sundergarh