Koraput, Feb 9: Gupteswar Forest in Odisha’s Koraput district has been accorded Biodiversity Tag, for its scenic beauty and natural ambiance.
The Gupteswar Forest, adjacent to the Gupteswar cave shrine is now a Biodiversity Heritage Site under the Biological Diversity Act 2002, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed on Friday.
“The unique terrestrial ecosystem with wide array of flora and fauna has been recognised as a prized gift of nature,” he posted on X.
The Gupteswar forest is spread over 350 hectares and is home to 608 faunal species. “Its floral diversity includes 182 species of trees, 76 species of shrubs, 177 species of herbs, 69 species of climbers and 14 species of orchids and threatened medicinal plants,” he added.
The Odisha government had earlier notified the Mahendragiri hills in Gajapati, the Mandasaru Gorge in Kandhamal district and the picturesque Gandhamardan Hill range adjoining Balangir and Bargarh districts as bio heritage sites.