Nagamalai hillock in Erode district notified as Tamil Nadu’s fourth Biodiversity Heritage Web site


The Tamil Nadu authorities has notified the Nagamalai hillock in Erode district because the State’s fourth Biodiversity Heritage Web site. , Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

In one other vital step in the direction of biodiversity safety, the Tamil Nadu authorities has notified Nagamalai hillock in Erode district because the State’s fourth Biodiversity Heritage Web site (BHS) underneath the provisions of the Organic Variety Act, 2002.

The state authorities has already declared Arittapatti in Madurai district, Kasampatti in Dindigul district, and Elathur lake in Erode district as Biodiversity Heritage Websites.

Spanning 32.22 hectares, Nagamalai hillock is an ecological hotspot and an important habitat for migratory and resident birds, aquatic species, and various wetland ecosystems. Its panorama of deep waters, shallow margins, mudflats, and rocky outcrops help wealthy biodiversity, in keeping with an official launch.

Surveys, together with the Tamil Nadu Synchronized Hen Census (2024), have documented 138 plant species, 118 hen species (together with 30 migratory species), seven species of mammals, 11 species of reptiles, 5 species of spiders, and 71 species of bugs within the hillock. Among the essential species discovered right here embrace the Better Noticed Eagle, Pallid Harrier, and Bonelli’s Eagle. The flora contains 138 plant species, together with 125 dicots and 13 monocots, spanning 48 households and 114 genera.

archaeological worth

Along with its ecological worth, Nagamalai hillock holds vital archaeological and cultural significance. Findings equivalent to cairn circles from the Iron Age, rock shelters, and artefacts of historical significance reveal its historic depth. A 400-year-old stone carving of Lord Anjaneya, recorded by the Archeology Division, underscores its cultural heritage, the official launch stated.

Biodiversity Heritage Websites are well-defined areas which are distinctive, ecologically fragile, and wealthy in biodiversity. They assist preserve uncommon, threatened, and keystone species, safeguard websites of evolutionary significance, and strengthen cultural linkages with nature.