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About the Grassland
- The Karnataka Cabinet has recently notified 5,678 acres of the Hesaraghatta region as the “Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve” to protect it from urban encroachment.
- Location & Type: Situated northwest of Bengaluru, it is the city’s last remaining dry tropical savanna and wetland ecosystem, often called the “second lung” after Bannerghatta National Park.
- Legal Status: Declared a Conservation Reserve under Section 36A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, acting as a protected buffer zone that allows community subsistence while barring large-scale commercial development.
- Hydrological Significance: It serves as the primary catchment area for the Arkavathy River (a tributary of the Cauvery) and feeds the Hesaraghatta Lake, which was once a major drinking water source for Bengaluru.
- Biodiversity Hotspot: Home to over 285 bird species, including the Critically Endangered Lesser Florican, and endangered mammals such as the Indian Leopard, Slender Loris, and Smooth-coated Otter.
- Ecological Functions: The area acts as a vital carbon sink and a “natural sponge” for groundwater recharge, mitigating the urban heat island effect and preventing flash floods.
- Unique Rediscoveries: The rare Lilac Silverline butterfly was rediscovered here after 103 years, highlighting the area’s importance as a refuge for specialized species.
