Paradip, Nov. 4: A two-member team of the International Union for Conservation of Nature today visited the Bhitarkanika National Park to assess the mangrove ecosystem's biodiversity ahead of its likely confirmation as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Unesco deputed the team to visit the park, which has already been accorded the status of Ramsar Site (wetlands of international importance).
At present, the Sun Temple in Konark is the only site in the state that enjoys the world heritage site status.
"Last year, the state government had submitted a comprehensive dossier of the park's biodiversity to Unesco. It merited positive consideration, paving the way for the team's visit," said chief wildlife warden Sidhanta Das.
M. Doak and Renco Van-Merm, members of the union's technical evaluation team, said the dossier provided to them by the state government had presented graphic details of Bhitarkanika's flora and fauna, along with its mangrove ecosystem. They will stay in the park for four days to assess its biodiversities.
"We caught glimpses of the mangrove cover during a boat journey to Bhitarkanika. We also interacted with local residents living on the fringes of the forest area. We will visit the park's core area and the surrounding water bodies. We will also visit the Wheelers' Island and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. We will assess the biodiversity, ecosystem, local human habitation, their socio-economic condition and their dependence on forest produce, as has been desired by Unesco," said Doak.
The accordance of heritage site status would pave the way for greater financial assistance to the national park from global institutions. The ecosystem here would flourish in a big way and the local economy would also benefit, said Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) divisional forest officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
"Our economic condition is poor. We hope that tourism-based economy would receive a fillip if the status is conferred on Bhitarkanika," said park-side Iswarpur village resident Pradip Kumar Das, who ekes out a living as a tourist guide.
