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GOVERNMENT OF KARANATAKA

PERFORMANCE

OF

KARNATAKA BIODIVERSITY BOARD

KARN

ATAK

A BIODIVERSITYBO

ARD

September 2010

Ground Floor, “VANAVIKAS”, 18th Cross, Malleshwara, BANGALORE - 03. Ph : 080- 23448783, Fax : 080-23440535

E-mail : kbb.kar@gmail.com Website : www.kbb.kar.nic.in

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Karnataka Biodiversity Board Activities I . Introduction The Government of India passed the Biological Diversity Act 2002 No. 18 of 2003, (5th February, 2003) The Act provides for 1. conservation of biological diversity, 2. sustainable use of its components and 3. fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources,

knowledge and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Government of Karnataka has framed Karnataka Biological Diversity Rules, 2005.

II. Constitution of the Board including changes therein. As per the Act each State is supposed to establish state Biodiversity Board under section 22 of the Act. Accordingly the Govt. of Karnataka has established the Board Vide G.O.No. FEE 125 ENV 2003 dated: 19-06-2003 and it has started functioning from 1st August 2003.

III Functions of the Board:

The functions of the Board as per section 23 of Act are :

a. advise the State Government, subject to any guidelines issued by the Central Government, on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of biological resources;

b. regulate by granting of approvals or otherwise requests for commercial utilization or bio-survey and bio-utilization of any biological resource by Indians;

c. perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 or as may be prescribed by the State Government.

IV. Activities of Karnataka Biodiversity Board as per the act and Rules.

1. Formation of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) 2. Awareness training on Biodiversity and related issues to BMC’s, villagers, government

servants, colleges, university students & teachers, general public. 3. Preparation of PBRs through BMC’s with the guidance from NGOs, Forest

Departments and Universities and Colleges etc., and other experts. 4. Preparation of proposals for declaration of some areas as heritage site under

Biodiversity act. 5. Collecting information on use of Bioresources by Pharmecitucal Companies. 6. Commissioning of Research and Special Studies.

1. The Board has formed Biodiversity Management Committees at District, Taluka and Gramapanchayath level so far as detailed below.

Sl. No District

To be formed at GP level

Total formed at GP level

To be formed at TP

level

Total formed at TP level

To be formed at ZP level

Total formed at ZP level

1 Bagalkote 162 129 6 6 1 2 Bangalore (R) 94 81 4 1 1 3 Bangalore (U) 109 68 3 3 1 4 Belgaum 485 180 10 1 5 Bellary 179 5 7 1 6 Bidar 176 142 5 5 1

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Biodiversity Management Committees formed Year-wise is as below:

Sl No Year Target Ach 1 2003-2004 - - 2 2004-2005 - 18 3 2005-2006 - 150 4 2006-2007 - 160 5 2007-2008 500 490 6 2008-2009 600 1000 7 2009-2010 1000 1452 8 2010-2011 1800 126 9 2011-2012 1658 Total 5558 3396

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7 Bijapur 200 166 5 1 1 8 Chamrajnagar 111 65 4 1 9 Chickmagalore 226 226 7 1

10 Chickballapur 146 134 4 1 11 Chitradurga 181 50 6 2 1 1 12 D.Kannada 205 176 5 2 1 1 13 Davanagere 229 150 6 1 1 14 Dharwad 123 4 5 1 15 Gadag 106 17 5 1 1 16 Gulbarga 337 237 10 1 17 Hassan 257 254 8 1 1 18 Haveri 206 149 7 2 1 1 19 Kodagu 101 97 3 1 20 Kolar 150 117 7 1 21 Koppal 132 19 4 1 1 22 Mandya 232 202 7 1 1 1 23 Mysore 235 151 7 1 24 Raichur 164 0 4 1 25 Ramanagar 129 116 5 1 26 Shimoga 244 76 7 1 27 Tumkur 312 138 10 4 1 1 28 Udupi 146 49 3 1 29 U. Kannada 207 188 11 1 1

Total 5584 3386 175 28 29 9

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2. People’s Bidiversity Register (PBRs)

People’s Biodiversity Registers were taken up in varios districts at Gramapanchayath level as suggested by the National Biodiversity Authority and direction of Secretary, Environment of Forests, Government of India while addressing the State Biodiversity Boards at Ooty meeting to review the working of State Biodiversity Boards. People’s Biodiversity Registers is a panchayat level register that documents local biodiversity and the local community’s knowledge on biodiversity including its conservation and traditional uses. The Peoples’ Biodiversity Registers are being preapred by Biodiversity Management Committees with the technical assistance from NGOs / Departments / Universities / Colleges and other knowledgable persons as per the format communicated by National Biodiversity Authority. The PBRs are prepared in Kannada and English.

Yearwise progress is as below:

Sl No

Year PBRs prepared

1 2003-2004 Board Established

2 2004-2005 0

3 2005-2006 0

4 2006-2007 0

5 2007-2008 0

6 2008-2009 38

7 2009-2010 82

8 2010-2011 47

Total 167

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3. Biodiversity Awareness Training Programme: The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has taken up the training programme on creation of Awareness in respect of Biodiversity and its related issues including Traditional Knowledge Biodiversity documentation and Management Plan.

Number of Training Programmes conducted Year-wise is as below: Sl No Year No. of Programmes

conducted 1 2003-2004 KBB Established 2 2004-2005 15 3 2005-2006 10 4 2006-2007 15 5 2007-2008 29 6 2008-2009 15 7 2009-2010 53 8 2010-2011 31 Total 168

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4. a) Establishment and Management of Biodiversity Hotspots/Heritage Sites: Prof. Madhav Gadgil and assocites have identified several spots of Biodiversity Significance in Karnataka the same are as below.

The list has been sent to Forest Department to provide better protection of these areas as they have significant Biodiversity under biodiversity hotspots.

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Sl. No

Name of the district

Name of the Spot

Category Taluka

Hotpots of Despair 1 Bangalore Rural Nallur Sacred Groove Revenue land Devenahalli 2 Bellary Daroji sloth bear sanctuary WLS Harapanahally Sandur Vally

3 Belgaum Chorla Reserve Forest Khanapur Talewadi Reserve Forest Khanapur

Anmode Reserve Forest Jogalpet Barapede Cave, Taewadi Reserve Forest Khanapur Hotspots of Despair

4 Chamrajnagar BRT Hills Sanctuary Chamrajnagar

5 Chickmagalore Bhadra Tiger Reserve Chikkamagalore Kemmangundi Reserve Forest Bhadravathi Bhagavati Valley National Park Mudigere

Kudremukh National park National Park Belthangadi Hotspots of Despair Kudremukh National Park National Park Belthangadi

6 Dakshina kannada

Kudremukh National Park National Park Belthangadi

Hotspots of Despair Kudremukh National Park National Park Belthangadi Charmadi Ghat Reserve Forest Belthangadi Kolli Bavali Vana

(Durgaparameshwari Temple)

Private Temple

7 Kodagu Brahmagiri WLS WLS Bagamandala Tadiandamol Reserve Forest Madikeri Brhmagiri WLS Sanctuary Madikeri Kodagu Devarakadu Resrve Forest Kodagu Pushpagiri WLS Somvarpet Brahmagiri WLS Sanctuary Madikeri Bisle Ghat Reserve Forest Subramanya

8 Mandya Melkote Scrub Forest Mandya

9 Mysore Bandipur National Park Gundlupet Nagarhole National Park Virajpet

10 Shimoga Agumbe Ghat Reserve Forest Thirthahalli Hotspots of Despair Agumbe Ghat Reserve Forest Thirthahalli 11 Udupi Bhagavati Valley National Park Karkala

Kudremukh National Park

National Park Karkala

Mookabika WLS WLS Kundapura Agumbe Ghat Reserve Forest Theerthahalli Hotspots of Despair Kudremukh National Park Karkala

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National Park 12 Uttara Kannada Aghanashini River bank River Siddapur Aghanashini River bank River Kumta Sharavathy Bank River Bank Honnavar Castle Rock Forest Joida Aghanashini River bank River Siddapur Torme Evergreen Myristica

Swamp Siddapur

Malemane Village Evergreen Forest Siddapur Hemgar Village Evergreen Forest Siddapur Kudgund village Evergreen Forest Siddapur Hukli Village Evergreen Forest Siddapur Mahime Village Evergreen Forest Honnavar Harigar & Unchalli Evergreen Forest Sirsi Karikan Evergreen Forest Honnavar Karikallani Gudda Evergreen Forest Siddapur Yana Reserve Forest Kumta Sharavati Valley WLS Honnavar Siddapur Evergreen Forest Sorab Dandelli WLS Haliyal Siddapur Reserve Forest Siddapur Gerusoppa Reserve Forest Siddapur Yellapur Reserve Forest Yellapur Siddapur Reserve Forest Siddapur Badal Reserve Forest Kumta Dodmane Reserve Forest Siddapur Devimane Reserve Forest Sirsi Malemane Reserve Forest Siddapur Sirsi Reserve Forest Sirsi Aghanashini River bank River Bank Sirsi Sharavathy Bank River Siddapur Netrani island Island Bhatkal Hotspots of Despair Aghanshini River Bank River Sirsi Sharavathi Bank River Siddapur Netrani Island Island Bhatkal B) Declaration of Heritage Site Karnataka Biodiversity Board has declared the following as Heritage site under Section 38 of Biological Diversity Act 2002. Name of the District Location Taluk The details Bangalore (R) Nalluru Devanahalli Nalluru Tamarind Grove has 300 Tamarind

trees spread over an area of 53 acres. These are very old trees. The age of the trees has been assessed as 410 years as per carbon dating.

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The Board has proposed the following for consideration of the Government. Netrani Island

Name of the Site - Nethrani Coral Reef Island Name of the district - Uttara Kannada Taluk - Bhatkal Gram Panchayat - Mavalli Extent - 50 acres

Location - 11 nautical miles west from the coast of Bhatkal (18 kms.) in Arabian Sea

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Hogrekhan

1 Name of the Site - Hogrekan 2 Name of the district - Chikmagalur 3 Taluk - Kadur 4 Gram Panchayat - Balliganuru 5 Extent - 2508.15 acres 6 Location - Left site of Birur to Lingadahalli road.

Gandhi Krushi Vignana Kendra

1 Name of the Site - University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore 2 Name of the district - Bangalore 3 Extent - 167 hectors

Ambargudda

1 Name of the Site - Ambargudda 2 Name of the taluk - Sagar 3 Name of the district - Shimoga

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5. Declaration of Heritage Trees Karnataka Biodiversity Board has intiated a programme to identify certain trees in various districts which are unique, historical and have high significance. The same will be considered for declaring for Heritage Trees. The Board recommends the following trees to be declared as Heritage trees under section 63 (2) (i) of the Biological Diversity Act 2002.

Sl No

Name of the Tree

Location Girth in meters

Height in meters

Approximate Age as reported by

locals.

1 Adansonia Digitata - Malvaceae

Bijapur taluk, Bijapur District,

10.84 5 600 years

2 Adansonia Digitata - Malvaceae

Bijapur taluk, Bijapur District,

9.20 7 359 years

3 Tamarindus Indica

Devarahipparagi village Sindagi taluk, Bijapur,

7.78 39.39 883 years

4 Azadirachta Indica – (Bevu)

T.Venkatapura village, Sidlagatta Taluk, Chickballapur district

5.4 25 200 years

5 Ficus Begalensis – (Alada Mara)

Chickkahally Village Mysore taluk Mysore District

11.2 30 260 years

6 Ficus Relegiosa – (Peepal)

Manasagangothri Campus, Mysore city,

8.80 32 160 years

7 Kempu Booraga Mara

DD Horticulture Office premises ,Mysore city

28 19.4 130 years

8 Ficus Bengalensis (Doddaalada Mara)

Kethohalli village, Bangalore (S),

- 30 400 years

9 Araucaria cookie Lalbagh, Bangalore, 7 50 140 years

10 Pilali Soraba taluk, Shimoga District,

330 5-6 400 years

6. In-situ Conservation of Biodiversity in Dry Zone of Karnataka Action has been initiated to identify and demarcate an area of 100 – 200 ha depending upon availability in the core forest area of 13 dry districts and In-situ conserve the species which are on the decline in the forests of districts namely Bangalore (R) Bagalkot, Bellary, Bidar, Bijapur, Chamrajanagar, Chitradurga, Gulbarga, Kolar, Koppal, Mandya, Raichur & Tumkur. The Deputy Conservator of Forests (Territorial) are implementing this project. The area is given full protection. There will be no harvest in these areas. The activities such as fire protection, sowing of indigenous Spp, soil and water conservation will be taken up. Inventorisation and documentation of Biodiversity will be done under the supervision and guidance of the Center for sustainable development. This way the change in Biodiversity will be monitored and reason for changes will be identified so that remedial measures can be planned

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7. Survey of Bio-industries and Utilisation of Bio Resources:

The National Biodiversity Authority has funded a project for Survey of Bio-industries utilizing of Bio-resources. An amount of Rs. 3.00 lakhs has been released by National Biodiversity Authority. Action was initiated to collect the information of Bio-resources from Bio-industries with the involvement of Karnataka Indian Medicine Manufacture’s Association (Regd) and Karnataka Unani Medical Associaton. The forest offiicals were also invovled in several districts.The information has been collected as per the format supplied by the National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai. The work completed and report has been submitted to National Biodiversity Authority.

8. Project on Integrated Ecological carrying capacity study of Western Ghat Karnataka The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has sponsored a study Western Ghat of Uttara Kannada district in the first phase to the Centre for Ecological Sciences, (Indian Institute of Science), Bangalore at a cost of Rs. 40.00 lakhs and duration 2 year. The other district will be coverd in Western Ghat in a phased manner. The study will be carried out by IISC, Bangalore. The following will be covered.

1. GIS database development – remote sensing and collateral data 2. Land – use, land cover changes – Remote sensing data analysis and collection

of field data. 3. Plant animal interaction in different landscape elements. 4. Understanding ecology, biodiversity and hydrology relationships. 5. Soil studies (ecosystem wise)

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6. Visits to other institutional herbaria/museum for reference. 7. Understanding cultural diversity in relation to conservation such as of sacred

groves and sacred trees, sacred animals, totemic species, etc. 8. Assessment of renewable energy potential (region-wise) 9. Assessment of carbon dynamics (sequestration potential, emission) 10. Assessment of ecosystem services and goods (ecosystem-wise) 11. Identification and mapping of natural disaster prone regions. 12. River basin-wise, integrated holistic valuation 13. Impact of developmental projects. 14. Formulation of ecologically sound developmental plan for sustainable productivity

of the district.

9. Preparation of Biodiversity Atlas: The Karnataka Biodiversity Board is planing to prepare the Biodiversity Atlas for the state of Karnataka at a cost of Rs. 35.96 lakhs and duration 11/2 years. 10. The following Research projects funded by Karnataka Biodiversity Board are going on.

Sl No

Name of the Project

Name of the Organization

Amount Released (Rupees in Lakhs)

1 Documentation and Evaluation of Indigenous methods of insect pest management using forest flora in Dakshina Kannada of Western Ghats.

Dept. of Entomology, College of Forestry, Sirsi.

15,000/-

2 Project on impact of forest fragmentation on the conservation of Biodiversity in protected areas.

Dept of Zoology, Christ University, Bangalore.

15,000/-

3 Project on Protection, Conservation and Cultivation method for Wild Banana in Kodagu District.

Dept. of Microbiology, Mangalore University, Madikeri.

20,000/-

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11. Consultative Workshop on Biodiversity: A Consultative Wrokshop was conducted in April 2010 on various aspects of Biodiversity and Traiditonal Knowledge. The workshop was attended by Scientists, Environmentalists, Officers of line departments, NGOs etc. 12. Consultative Meeting Cum Workshop on Bt.Brinjal / Bt.Crop: A Consultative Meeting cum workshop on Bt.Brinjal / Bt.Crop was organized by Karnataka Biodiversity Board on 26/5/2010. Scientists, Sujbect Specilists, NGOs and Progressive farmers attending the prorgramme gave their opinion on the subject.

13. Workshop on Agro Biodiversity The workshop on Agro Biodiversity has been conducted on 12/8/2010 following subjects were discussed.

1. Documentation and Charecterization of Agro biodiversity regions. 2. Genetic diversity studies and their utilizaiton in crop imporvement. 3. Conserve and utilize Agro biodiversity with community participation (Linking markets

through value addition) 4. Decalre specific sites as Heritage Site.

14 Awareness Programme: Awareness Programmes are being organised for the Range Forest Officers who have been declared as Authorised officers to prevent the illegal harvesting of Bioresources. Awareness

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programmes are being organised for Biodiversity Management Committes to activate the Biodiversity Management Committees in conservaton of Bioresources. 15. Biodiversity Award: Karnataka Biodiversity Board has instituted Biodiversity Awards in the following categories. In the year 2008-09 1. Prof. Prabhakar Achar…Individual…………U.Kannada 2. Nagarika Seva Trust……NGO…………….D.Kannada 3. Principal, Sri. Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara College -- D.Kannada

In the year 2009-10 1. Vice, Chancellor, Bangalore University – Educational Institution 2. Zilla Panchyath, Uttara Kannada- Govt. organisation 3. Janachintana, Chickmagalore, NGO 4. Karnataka Grameena Parmparika Vidya Parishat, Gadag , NGO 5. Sri. C.M.Fazal, Bangalore – Individual 6. Sri. G. M. Bhat – Uttara Kannada- Individual 7. Sri. M.K. Kailasa Murthy, Chamrajnagar - Individual The Board has initiated the following additional Agro Bidiversity Awards for conservation of traditional crop varities.

1. Vegetable Crop – 1 2. Cereal Crop – 1 3. Fruit Crop – 1 4. Animal Diversity - 1

16. Heritage Site Management Rules The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has prepared draft rules on the Management of Heritage Sites and submitted to Government for further action. 17. Identification and declaring some esturies as Heritage Site. Survey work has been taken up to identifiy the ecologically sensitive and biodiversity rich regions in the esturine beds of Kali and Aghanshini rivers to declare the same as Heritage Site. 18. Sacred Groves

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The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has initiated identification of sacred groves for declaration of Herigage Site. 19. News Letter Karnataka Biodiversity Board has started a News letter giving details of important information and articles from various sources on various components of Biodiversity. The Ist quarterly New letter was released in 2009. The programme attended by various dignitaries including Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, Government of India. So far 5 issues have been released. 20. The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has published the following so far

1. Karnataka Biodiversity Act and Rules handbook in Kannada and English. 2. PBR Guidelines. 3. Model PBR – 5 villages. 4. Hand book on formation of BMCs. 5. Karnataka Biodiversity Board Broucher (English & Kannada) 6. Training Materials on Awareness Training (Kannada & English) 7. Survey Report on Coastal Biodiversity of Karnataka. 8. Survey Report on Biodiversity of Nethrani Island. 9. Karnataka State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (KSBSAP). 10. Bird Diversity in Tamarind Grove, Nallur, Devenahalli taluk, Bangalore 11. Trees in Ancient Indian Literature. 12. Synoptic notes on various aspects of Biodiversity Act & Rules. 13. Quarterly News Letter on Biodiversity. 14. Proceeding of workshop on documentation of local traditional knowledge. 15. National Seminar on Plant Resources of Western Ghats 16. Collection of articles on Biodiversity - Samruddi 17. Proceedings of workshop on Coastal Biodiversity. 18. Biological Diversity Act – In a Nutshell. 19. Biodiversity of Karnataka at a glance. 20. Survey of Bio-industries using Bio-resources in Karnataka

21. Documentary film on Karnataka Biodiversity The Board has proposed to prepare a documentary film on Biodiversity of Karnataka incorporating the Awaraness Programme, Preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers, Formation of Biodiversity Management Commiittees, Delcaration of Heritage Sites and Trees, Threatened Species. 22. Formation of Expert Committee The Board has constituted the following committees

1. Expert Committee on Heritage Sites 2. Expert Committee on Agro Biodiversity

The committees will have the following assignment 1. Expert Committee on Heritage Sites.

1. Identification of sites for declaration as Heritage Site / Hotspots. 2. Frame the Rules for preparation of Management plan for conservation of Heritage sites

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3. Scrutinize the objections submitted by various stakeholders on declaration of Heritage Site and submit recommendation on the same.

2. Expert Committee on Agro Biodiversity 1. Identification of Agro Biodiversity Hotspots on various Agriculture/Horticulture crops

including local varieties /land races 2. Recommend action to be taken on conservation and sustainable utilization of the

concerned crops variety. 3. Advise the Government on geographic indicators and IPR issues in respect of the

above.

23. Programme under consideration Board is considering to declare the following as Heritage Sites.

1. Sahsralinga, Sirsi taluk, Uttara Kannda district 2. Hosagunda Devarakadu, Sagar taluk, Shimoga district 3. Fish Sanchuries – Shisila Belthangadi taluk and Seethanadi (Hebri) Kundapur taluk 4. Ecologicaly sensitive area of Kalinadhi river and Conservation area of Kandla, Karwar

taluk. 5. Ecologicaly sensitive area of Agnashini rivier and conservation area of Kandla, Kumta

taluk.. 6. Some villages of varad river basin near Banavasi to declare as Agro biodiversity

Heritage Site. 7. Some river patches for the consevation inland fish Biodiversity. 8. 13 patches of Dryzone Biodiversity Network. 9. Operationalising the Biodiversity Management Committees. 10. Leavy of collection fee by the Biodiversity Mangement Committees on the access of

Bio-resources and Traditional Knolwege for commercial utilisation. 11. Filing of complaints by the authorised officers in cases of violation of the provisions of

the act. 12. Preparation of Biodiversity Atlas of Karnataka. 13. Preparation of documentary film on Biodiversity of Karnataka. 14. Study on Cultural Expression of people related to components of Biodiversity.

24. National Award to the Biodiversity Board The Government of India and National Biodiversity Authrotiy have conferred the best Biodiversity Award to Karnataka Biodiversity Board for 2009-10 at Chandigarh meeting in September 2010 for over all performance in implementation of Biological Diversity Act and Rules.

(Dr. R.C. Prajapati) I.F.S Additional Principal Chief Conservator

of Forests and Member Secretary