Burdekin

Chilika Lake is one of the hotspots of biodiversity in Ganjam.  It is the largest wintering ground for migratory water-fowl found anywhere on the Indian subcontinent  Chilika 4 types of crocodiles,24 types of mammals, 37 types of reptiles and amphibians are seen.  Some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in the IUCN Red

List of threatened animals inhabit the Lake area.Like Irrawady dolphins, Barakudia limbless skink, Fishing cat, White bellied Sea

eagle, White spoonbill, Osprey and Spoon billed sandpiper. FAUNA

- 800 species of fauna

 24 mammalian species were reported.  37 species of reptiles and amphibians are also reported.  “Tiger Crab” is the most important species and occurs in greater nos.  The Irrawaddy Dolphin is the flagship species of chilika lake & only 2 lagoons in the world are home to this species .

ENDANGERED SPECIES Dolphin Habitat

An overall 726 species of flowering plants belonging to 496 genera and 120 families. This represents about one–fourth of the vascular plant species of the Odisha state with 2900 species.

Aquatic Vegetation

1. Emergent 2. Submerged 3. Floating forms

Source: Chilika: an Integrated planning framework for wise use, 2012

MAHENDRAGIRI HILLS

 The forest of Mahendragiri hills falls mainly under (a) Tropical moist deciduous & (b) Tropical dry deciduous type.  The vegetation can be classified broadly into four types as Sal Forest,

Mixed Deciduous Forest, Scrub Forest &

Grasslands.

 Mahendragiri may be recognised as a biosphere reserve as well as a heritage site.  All kinds of eco-development activities including eco-tourism, tourism would be allowed in the periphery as well as the transition zones.

FLORA

 The floral diversity of the hill includes 642 species of flowering plants which is 35% of the flora of

Orissa.  It is rich with medicinal plants and orchids.  The hilly terrain, endowed with

dense tropical semi-evergreen

forests, composes a unique ecological marvel in harbouring the genetic diversity.

FAUNA

SPECIES AT RISK

Source: http://odishawildlife.org/.html,http://www.wildlife.odisha.gov.in/, https://www.downtoearth.org.in. Lakhs of endangered Olive Ridley turtles flocked the Rushikulya river mouth for their annual mass nesting in Odisha’s Ganjam district. Odisha is the largest mass nesting site for Oliver Ridleys in the world.

Division Forest Name No of Species Diversity of species

Berhampur Forest Sub Division

Mayuranancha RF 12 Athagarha PF 27 Barhgarhi RF 153 Kriamba RF 161 Gaida RF 169 Ramapalli RF 192 Banamari RF 212 Karakhol RF 213 Ambilijhar RF 268 Nakoi Block PF 287 Tangiri RF 387 Rushimal RF 394 Sandabhuja RF 412 Tumba RF 457 Singraju RF 464 Low Diversity (0-150 of species count)

Medium Diversity (151350 of species count)

High Diversity (>350 of species count)

Ghumsur North Forest Division

Ghumsur South Forest Division

Barhgarhi RF 47

Hukuma RF 135

Malati RF 191

Karaohul RF 213

Rambha RF 489 Jagnnathprasd RF 571

Pakirhi RF 37

Rambha RF 56

Athagarha PF 67

Karaohul RF 187

Kriamba RF 329

Hukuma RF 351

Barhgarhi RF 432

Ragarha RF 476 Low Diversity (0-150 of species count) Medium Diversity (151350 of species count) High Diversity (>350 of species count)

Low Diversity (0-150 of species count) Medium Diversity (151350 of species count) High Diversity (>350 of species count)

Paralakhemundi Medium Diversity (151-Barhgarhi RF 287

Sub Division 350 of species count)

Division Forest Name No of Rare Species Sensitivity

Berhampur Forest Sub Division

Athagarha PF Gaida RF 0 0

Kriamba RF

0 Ramapalli RF 0 Mayuranancha RF 3 Barhgarhi RF 6 Banamari RF 11 Ambilijhar RF 12 Karakhol RF 12 Nakoi Block PF 14 Rushimal RF 37 Tumba RF 39 Sandabhuja RF 41 Tangiri RF 46 Singraju RF 48 Low Sensitivity (0-15 of rare species count)

High Sensitivity (>35 of rare species count)

Ghumsur North Forest Division

Ghumsur South Forest Division

Barhgarhi RF Malati RF Hukuma RF 0 12 15 Low Sensitivity (0-15 of rare species count)

Karaohul RF Medium Sensitivity (16-

16 35 of rare species count)

Jagnnathprasd RF 47 Rambha RF 54 High Sensitivity (>35 of rare species count)

Athagarha PF Rambha RF Pakirhi RF Karaohul RF Kriamba RF Hukuma RF Barhgarhi RF Ragarha RF 0 0 5 28 33 36 39 49 Low Sensitivity (0-15 of rare species count) Medium Sensitivity (1635 of rare species count) High Sensitivity (>35 of rare species count)

Paralakhemundi Barhgarhi RF

Sub Division Low Sensitivity (0-15 of

0 rare species count)

Division Forest Name No of Endangered Species Sensitivity

Berhampur Forest Sub Division

Ghumsur North Forest Division

Ghumsur South Forest Division

Paralakhemundi Sub Division

Ambilijhar RF Athagarha PF Barhgarhi RF Kriamba RF Nakoi Block PF Mayuranancha RF Gaida RF Banamari RF Karakhol RF Ramapalli RF Tumba RF Rushimal RF Sandabhuja RF Tangiri RF Singraju RF Barhgarhi RF Hukuma RF Malati RF Rambha RF Karaohul RF

Jagnnathprasd RF

Hukuma RF Karaohul RF Pakirhi RF Ragarha RF Rambha RF Athagarha PF Kriamba RF

Barhgarhi RF

Barhgarhi RF

BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF CHILLIKA LAKE

PARAMETERS NO OF SPECIES SENSITIVITY ES Zone

Species Diversity 652

Rarity of Species 42

Endangered Species 36

Historical Significance 126 HIGH(<150=low,151 350=medium,>350 =high) HIGH (<15=low,1635=medium,>350= high) HIGH (<15=low,1530=medium,>30=hi gh) HIGH (<50=low,51100=medium,>100 =high)

ES - I BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL BREEDING SITE

PARAMETERS NO OF SPECIES SENSITIVITY ES Zone

Species Diversity

Rarity of Species

Endangered Species

Historical Significance

2

1

1

1

LOW(<150=low,151350=medium,>350= high) LOW (<15=low,1635=medium,>350=h igh) LOW(<15=low,1530=medium,>30=hi gh) LOW (<50=low,51100=medium,>100= high)

POTENTIAL OF THE ECO SENSITIVITY ZONES ISSUES OF THE ECO SENSITIVITY ZONES

 Improved Forest Extent and Condition on forest lands and tree cover which were recognized as Reserve Forest

Areas.  Higher allocations, investment, insurance and incentives for better forest management.  Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lake with estuarine character that sprawls along the east coast of

India. Also this lake is a highly productive ecosystem, with rich fishery resources.  Many of the existing Protected Areas have already undergone tremendous development in close vicinity to their boundaries.  Areas with forest fire spark human-wildlife conflict.

Especially Elephants, wild boars have started coming out of forests on fire.  Freshwater flow from streams and rivers turned the Chilika into a freshwater lake. Invasive freshwater weeds proliferated silt by rivers made the lake even shallower.