Odisha's Gupteswar Forest declared the state’s 4th Biodiversity Heritage Site

Good news from Odisha. The pristine Gupteswar Forest, which lies adjacent to the Gupteswar Shiva temple in Odisha's Koraput district, has officially been designated as the fourth Biodiversity-Heritage Site (BHS) in the state. Spread over a vast area of 350 hectares, the site features sacred groves revered by the local community and is endowed with a diverse range of flora and fauna. As per the biodiversity inventory and survey conducted by the Odisha Biodiversity Board, the site serves as home to a remarkable array of faunal species, including 28 species of mammals, 18 species of amphibians, 188 species of birds, 48 species of reptiles, 141 species of butterflies, 45 species of fishes, 43 species of moths, 41 species of odonates, 30 species of spiders, 20 species of lower invertebrates, and six species of scorpions. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced that farmers would march towards Delhi to press the government on their demands. Primary among these demands is the enactment of a law ensuring a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Other issues include the repeal of the Electricity Act 2020, compensation for farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri, and the withdrawal of cases against those involved in the farmers' movement.