Status: Not ApprovedHEAD: 24_Ban_JT_AppemidiByline: Jahnavi T RProposal seeks to declare Appemidi mango diversity region along Aghanashini river as biodiversity heritage siteTimes News NetworkBengaluru:The stretches along the Aghanashini River in Uttara Kannada, known for the Appemidi mango, are facing growing threats from land-use changes, monoculture expansion, and climate variability. Locals and environmentalists warn that these pressures could jeopardise not only the ecological balance but also the cultural heritage tied to this unique mango variety.A proposal is now put forward to declare the Appemidi mango diversity region along the Aghanashini River as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act.The Appemidi is a popular table mango variety predominantly used for pickles and is native to the Western Ghats. Studies showed that the Appemidi varieties from this region possess distinct genetic characteristics, with 33 unique accessions identified and conserved in gene banks. These traits make the variety important for breeding programmes and climate resilience research.Local communities, relying on generations of traditional knowledge, rituals, and culinary practices, also identified over 100 distinct types of Appemidi mangoes native to the area.According to Ananth Hegde Ashisara, former chairperson of the Western Ghats Task Force and the State Biodiversity Board, a recent study recorded over 1,000 Appemidi trees along a 10-kilometre stretch of the Aghanashini River.“These are all natural trees and were not planted by anyone. Each tree has a distinct flavour and uniqueness,” he said. He added that the varieties include Ananta Bhattana Appe, which was grafted and distributed across the state, Jeerige Midi, Kanchappe, Gilisundi, and several others.When asked about the need for heritage recognition, he said that the number of trees along the river is likely to reduce over time due to encroachment, conversion of riverbanks for agriculture, tourism development, and natural factors such as old trees falling.“The varieties here are unique and cannot be compared with other mangoes. They do not grow well outside this region. There is an urgent need to protect this genetic diversity. Declaring the stretch a BHS will help conserve existing trees and drive long-term conservation efforts into the future.” MSID:: 128753153 413 |
