Conservation Reserve ( UPSC Prelims)

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News Context

The State Government has announced the designation of the Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve in accordance with Section 36A of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972.

About Conservation Reserve

• Recognized as a protected area under the WPA 1972, it can be designated by both State Governments and the Central Government to safeguard landscapes, seascapes, as well as flora and fauna.
 • Generally serve as buffer zones or act as connectors and migration corridors linking established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserved and protected forests in India.
 • Regulation: The Conservation Reserve Management Committee, appointed by the state Government, provides advice to the Chief Wild Life Warden.

About Hesaraghatta Grassland

 ● Location: Situated near Hesaraghatta Lake close to Bengaluru in Karnataka, this area represents the last existing grassland habitat in the Bengaluru vicinity.  
    ● Grasslands—open areas primarily covered with grass and marked by a warm, dry climate—are among the most extensively spread terrestrial biomes worldwide.  
      ○ Encompasses a significant catchment area for the Arkavathy River, Thippagondanahalli reservoir, and Hesaraghatta lake.