Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve

A little while back, the Government of Odisha proposed a second biosphere reserve in Mahendragiri, which is a hill ecosystem featuring incredible biodiversity. Mahendragiri Mountain is also the second-highest mountain peak in the state, at an altitude of 1,501 metres.

Since Mahendragiri hills is going to be a new addition to the list of biosphere reserves in the country, aspirants need to know all about it for their UPSC preparation.

Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal or marine ecosystems or its amalgamation. The List of Biosphere Reserves in India constitute an important part of the UPSC Prelims and Mains examination. 

You will get a fair idea about Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve in the following sections. All UPSC exam aspirants must go through the key aspects discussed further below in this article. 

Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

Key Highlights of the Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve

Here are a few key pointers to know about the proposed biosphere reserve:

• The Mahendragiri biosphere reserve is spread across an area of around 4,70,955 hectares. 
• The Biosphere Reserve Committee prepared a feasibility report for this project, which states that the hill ecosystem performs the role of a transitional zone between flora and fauna of the Himalayas and Southern India. This contributes to the region being an ecological delta of genetic diversity.
• Native inhabitants of this area are the Soura people, who are a vulnerable tribal group.
• Mahendragiri constitutes 40% of Odisha’s existing flora, featuring around 1,358 plant species.
• This region’s vegetation can be classified into mixed forest, Sal forest, shrubs and grasslands.
• As per the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, amongst the 41 threatened medicinal plant species in Odisha, 29 are found in Mahendragiri itself.
• Apart from a diverse flora, this area also exhibits faunal distinction. It houses around 388 animal species, 165 bird species, 27 mammal species, 15 amphibian species, 19 lizards, and 3 species of turtles.

The government has submitted a feasibility report regarding this proposal, which awaits word from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Given below are other links related to the history, background and geography of Odisha:

About the Soura People

• The native inhabitants of Mahendragiri hills are the Munda ethnic group belonging to Eastern India. 
• They mainly reside in North coastal Andhra Pradesh and Southern Odisha. Especially in Odisha, Souras live in the areas surrounding Rayagada, Gajapati and Bargarh districts.
• They speak Sora, which is a Munda language.
• A few inhabitants undertake settled agriculture as their primary occupation while others mainly practise shifting cultivation.

Reasons Behind the Proposal of Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve

Due to various unsustainable environmental activities in Mahendragiri peak, the fauna population in this region is on a gradual fall. A huge number of plants and animals in this area appear in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Data Book as Endangered, Vulnerable, Threatened and Rare.

This hill also holds an intriguing history that dates back to the ancient period. For instance: 

• The narrow valleys and passes of this range served as a trade route between North and South India during ancient times. 
• On the upper part of the hill, early Ganga Kings constructed a hill-fort, the remains of which are still available in this area.
• Mahendragiri was the land of origin of Kalinga. As per legends, this place was the seat of Parasurama’s penance. 
• Due to its spiritual attachment, people consider it sacred land for Pinda Dana. 
• There is reference regarding this hill’s association with the worship of Lord Jagannath by its tribal population, as per renowned epigraphist Satyanarayan Rajguru.

Further, due to its diverse flora and fauna, there is ample scope for eco-friendly developments here.

By elevating the conservation status of Mahendragiri hills, Odisha will find this special ecosystem in UNESCO’s net worth. After the centre’s nod regarding this proposal, this region will experience sustainable development, as well as an enhanced socio-economic outlook of the locals.

Previously, the archaeological remains of Mahendragiri hills were featured in the tentative list of UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites. This makes it easier to announce it as a biosphere reserve.

Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here