Kendrapara, Aug. 11: In a move towards getting the world heritage site tag, the forest department and the Wildlife Institute of India have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for compiling a comprehensive biodiversity dossier of Bhitarkanika National Park.

A four-member team of scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, today visited the national park to assemble wide-ranging ground-level information on biodiversity, ecosystem, human habitation and the socio-economic condition of local residents and their dependence on the forest produce. In other words, the scientists will create a comprehensive casebook on Bhitarkanika.

Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden S.S. Srivastava said the team, headed by Manoj Nayar, was expected to submit the dossier within a month.

"The national park is currently under scrutiny of several Unesco committees to ascertain if it deserves the world heritage site status. The park also figures in the tentative list of heritage sites of the global body. We are optimistic that the wildlife institute's report, which would be later forwarded to the Unesco through the Union forest and environment ministry, would help a lot in getting the world heritage tag," said Srivastava.

Besides carrying out studies on the local flora and fauna, the scientists would also interact with the stakeholders and local residents, as the heritage site status would benefit them.

If Bhitarkanika were bestowed with the world heritage site, there would be a steady flow of funds from the international body.

At present, the central and state government grants are used to conserve the forest and for the welfare of local villagers.

"People living nearby would reap immense benefit once heritage tag is granted to the park," said a forest official.

"Besides, the world heritage site status would give an impetus to Bhitarkanika's fragile biodiversity. With the help from Unesco, the ecosystem here could flourish in a big way," he added.

Though the 145sqkm mangrove forest continues to suffer from the onslaught of poachers and illegal timber merchants, the much-acclaimed site possesses a rich reservoir of natural vegetation, and large variety of animals, said a park official.

Often described as nature's gift, Bhitarkanika also boasts of many endemic species.

Along with Bengal's Sundarban, which is already a world heritage site, the Bhitarkanika forest is part of the world's largest mangrove cover.

The park already figures in the list of Ramsar International wetland sites. It also acts as a natural barrier to environmental calamities. The coastal forest breaks down tidal surges and helps restrict cyclones.