Bhubaneswar: The Bhitarkanika National Park is likely to find a place in the list of world heritage sites as the mangrove eco-system has been nominated as one among the nine natural eco-sites of the country for the tag.
According to reports, a six-member team of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will visit the eco-system on Friday to assess various aspects of the sanctuary for its inclusion in the world heritage list.
The delegation will evaluate different aspects relating to protection, conservation, bio-diversity, inclusiveness of the area, people's participation, tourism potential, livelihood of the people, environmental quality and make recommendations to the World Union for its inclusion, sources added.
Prior to visit to Bhitarkanika, the team consisting of eco-spot experts, wild life scientists and environment specialists yesterday hold discussions with senior officials of the State at a high -level meeting chaired Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at State Secretariat here.
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Among others, principal secretary forest and environment Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and chief wildlife warden Sidhant Das were also present during the meeting.
Briefing newsmen, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, said, “The team has given world heritage tag to seven sites so far. If Bhitarkanika will be selected, they will announce it next year and it will become eighth site in India to get the tag. We are very much hopeful that the mangrove eco-system will be included in the world heritage list.”