Last Updated: 31.07.24

Conservation Management Plan for Bio-cultural Heritage of Konkan ‘Sadas’

Grant under The Habitats Trust (Lesser-known Habitats Grant) 2022

Rocky outcrops are a unique ecosystem with rich biodiversity and high endemism in flora mainly seen during the monsoon season, fauna, aquatic life and used as critical breeding sites for many mammal and avian predators and nesting sites for other birds.

Plateaus in the Konkan region of Maharashtra are locally known as ‘Sadas’ which have an abundance of endemic Utricularia-Eriocaulon vegetation and support populations of endemic geophytes and Dorle gecko. Five new species were discovered recently from this habitat.

These Sadas also have exceptional social-cultural and historical values. The Petroglyphs on the Sadas are evidence of human habitation of over 10,000 years.

Traditional, sustainable and ecological practices of harvesting water, fodder and cultivation of crops on Sadas continue to this date.

Currently the biodiversity and cultural heritage of Ratnagiri ‘Sadas’ are not protected under any law.

BEAG through documentation and research intends to support the identification and declaration of Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, (BDA). This will help in the conservation of bio-cultural values in a participatory manner. This includes preparing site specific Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) through a complete assessment of bio cultural heritage values, as well as awareness and capacity building efforts to involve local stakeholders in conservation. The CMPs will be submitted to the State Biodiversity Board for their approval to declare the sites as BHS. The declaration of the BHS will extend support to five of these sites which are currently being considered for declaration as UNESCO World (Mixed) Heritage sites.

Project objectives:

• Mapping proposed Biodiversity Heritage Sites
• Documentation of biological and cultural values (including populations of Rare, Endangered, Threatened species, endemic plant communities, petroglyphs and shrines) as per UNESCO’s bio-cultural Heritage guidelines.
• Assessment of key ecosystem services (water, fodder, cultural services) provided by the plateaus.
• Demarcation and land-use mapping of selected sites to identify current and plausible threats to the heritage elements
• Awareness campaign for local, national and global level policy organisations
• Capacity building of local leadership to sustainably manage the sites.
• Preparing Conservation Management Plans of the sites and submission to the State Government agencies for further action.