Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)
Why it Matters?
The Karnataka government declared an 8.61-acre green area near Bengaluru’s Cantonment railway station a Biodiversity Heritage Site. Home to 371 trees, it was protected following strong public support and activist opposition to its commercial leasing plans.
What You Should Know?
Biodiversity Heritage Sites are notified under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
State Governments, in consultation with local bodies, can declare an area as a BHS.
These sites are chosen for their unique ecology, biodiversity, cultural, or aesthetic value.
The main aim is in-situ conservation of flora and fauna with active participation of local communities.
BHS protect rare, endemic, and threatened species.
They help conserve traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
The focus is on preventing destructive practices such as deforestation, over-extraction, and commercial exploitation.
As of May 2025, India has 49 BHS officially notified under the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) assist in the conservation and management of these sites.