- Assam’s Sonitpur district recently received a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), a legally protected area recognised for its unique ecosystems, rich biodiversity, rare species, wild crop relatives, and ecological significance.
- BHSs are notified under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 by State Governments in consultation with local bodies and community institutions.
- They conserve ecologically fragile habitats such as sacred groves, wetlands, wildlife corridors, and wild crop gene pools, complementing the protected area network beyond National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
APSC Relevance: Biodiversity Conservation; Biological Diversity Act
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