The Jharkhand Biodiversity Board (JBB) has prepared a draft biodiversity site management plan for Canary Pahar in Hazaribag district, which is the state's first notified biodiversity heritage site. Canary Pahar is the first among 111 sites identified by the board to receive this status from the state government, making it the 45th biodiversity heritage site in India.
Consultation with Biodiversity Management Committees
Board chairperson Vishwanath Shah stated, "Last week, we conducted a meeting with the six biodiversity management committees (BMCs) of Canary Pahar to discuss the strategy to manage and conserve the site. Based on their inputs, the draft site management plan was prepared and shared with them for feedback."
Acknowledging Contributions
A JBB official noted, "The proposal for the site was made with inputs from the BMCs and submitted to the government. We would felicitate these six committees on Friday on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day to acknowledge their contribution behind the notification."
Identification and Notification Process
The JBB had identified 111 potential heritage sites across the state between September and December 2024. In the first phase, proposals for 20 sites were submitted to the state government, of which Canary Pahar was the first to be notified on November 14, 2025. Shah added, "The government had queries about the remaining sites, for which we have submitted the response. The government is considering the remaining proposals and we are hopeful for approval. The JBB is working on the reports for the remaining identified areas."
Legal Framework and Local Governance
Under Section 41 of The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, every local body at the gram panchayat level is required to constitute a BMC to promote the conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of local biological diversity. Canary Pahar, spread over 2110.67 acres, spans five panchayats and eight villages, incorporating six BMCs that each comprise seven members.
