Goa Set to Release Its First Biodiversity and Culture Map

Goa Set to Release Its First Biodiversity and Culture Map

Why in News? 

Goa is set to launch its first-ever biodiversity and culture map developed by WWF India, highlighting 48 common local species and elements of Goan heritage. The map will debut at the Goa Art and Literature Festival and be shared with schools to boost environmental awareness.

What is Goa’s Biodiversity and Culture Map?

• About: The Goa Biodiversity and Culture Map is the state’s first child-friendly visual tool that integrates biological distribution with cultural landmarks. It defines the state’s identity through its flora and fauna. 
• ​Institutional Framework: The development of this map is primarily spearheaded by WWF-India (Goa State Office) in collaboration with the Goa Forest Department and educational authorities. 
  • It operates within the broader framework of the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), which is mandated under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 
  • The framework ensures that the data aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, specifically focusing on experiential learning. 
  • Training for over 450 teachers has been initiated to integrate this map into the state’s formal schooling system.
• Objectives: ​The core objective of the map is to shift environmental education from entertainment to sustained learning. It aims to link classroom theories with field-based observations, allowing students to identify local biodiversity such as mangroves and insects. It seeks to preserve traditional knowledge by highlighting cultural practices that are often overlooked. 
• Features:
  • ​Diverse Biological Representation: It features 48 specific species, including birds like the Kingfisher, mammals such as the Tiger, various reptiles, and marine life like catfish.

• ​Cultural Integration: The map beautifully illustrates Kaavi Art (traditional red laterite murals), the Kunbi women’s attire, and folk dances like Ghoddemodni.
• ​Folk-Indica Art Style: Created by artist Sudarshan Shaw, the map uses a unique “Folk-Indica” style that avoids cartoonish depictions, maintaining the dignity of Goan traditions.
• ​Vocational Links: It highlights local practices like Manngetapnni (crocodile worship), connecting biodiversity with local vocations and ecotheological traditions.
• ​Ecosystem Focus: The map covers the vast Mhadei River basin, Western Ghats, and the intricate mangrove networks (specifically Rhizophora and Avicennia species).

Strategic Importance this Mapping Initiative

• Regional Ecological Benchmarking: The map provides a visual baseline for Goa’s high-density biodiversity, which currently supports over 1,512 species of flora and 400 species of birds. By documenting these in a student-accessible format, it creates a social record against which the effects of rapid urbanization—which has seen a 20% increase in built-up area over the last decade—can be measured and understood by the next generation of land stewards.
• Economic Linkage to Biodiversity: It highlights the economic significance of the Khazan lands, a 3,500-year-old traditional saline farming system. With approximately 18,000 hectares of these lands existing in Goa, the map demonstrates how biodiversity supports local food security. It connects the survival of specific mangrove species to the protection of these fields from siltation and salt-water ingress.
• Alignment with Conservation Targets: The initiative serves as a localized tool to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework goals, specifically the target of ensuring 30% of land and sea is effectively managed by 2030. By fostering “community-led conservation,” the map empowers the 191 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) across Goa to utilize local youth as citizen scientists to monitor species health in their specific panchayats.
• Mitigation of Human-Wildlife Conflict: As Goa experiences rising human-wildlife encounters, particularly with leopards and crocodiles, the map acts as a preventative educational tool. By familiarizing children with the natural habitats and behaviors of these species, it promotes a culture of “coexistence” rather than “conflict.” Data suggests that early education on keystone species significantly reduces irrational fear-based retaliatory killings of wildlife.
• Preservation of Indigenous Knowledge: The map functions as a repository for Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), which is often lost in standardized curricula. It preserves the linguistic heritage of biodiversity by documenting Konkani names for species. This is critical for the 15% of Goa’s population belonging to tribal communities (like the Gawdas and Kunbis), ensuring their ancestral environmental wisdom.

Goa’s Ecological Landscape

• Western Ghats Corridor: Nearly 20% of Goa’s land area is protected under the wildlife sanctuary network, primarily within the Western Ghats. This region acts as a critical carbon sink and a water tower for the state. Unlike the coastal plains, this zone hosts endemic species such as the Malabar Gliding Frog and the Goan Day Gecko. The high rainfall (averaging 3,000mm annually) supports moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests.
• Marine and Coastline: Goa’s coastline stretches 105 km, featuring a unique mix of sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mudflats. The state’s waters are home to the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, a flagship species for marine conservation. Interestingly, Goa has a higher density of marine fungal diversity compared to neighboring states, with researchers identifying over 100 species that play a crucial role in nutrient cycling within the Arabian Sea’s benthic zones.
• Mangrove Ecosystem Dynamics: Goa boasts approximately 33 square kilometers of mangrove cover, distributed across seven major estuarine rivers. While states like Maharashtra have larger total areas, Goa exhibits higher species richness per hectare. There are 16 documented mangrove species in Goa, including the rare Sonneratia alba. These forests act as a “bioshield” against coastal erosion and serve as a nursery for 70% of the state’s commercial fish species.
• Zuari and Mandovi Estuaries: The confluence of the Mandovi and Zuari rivers creates a unique brackish water environment. These estuaries are distinct because they are “tide-dominated,” meaning the salinity ingress reaches deep inland (up to 40 km). This allows for the growth of extensive seagrass beds, which are critical for carbon sequestration—storing carbon at a rate 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.
• Lateritic Plateaus (Sada): Goa’s lateritic plateaus are actually high-biodiversity zones. These plateaus host seasonal herbaceous vegetation that blooms only during the monsoon. Data indicates that these outcrops support over 50 species of endemic plants that have evolved to survive extreme heat and nutrient-poor soils during the summer, making them vital study sites for climate change resilience.
• Sacred Groves (Pann): Goa maintains hundreds of Sacred Groves, or Pann, which are patches of pristine forest protected by local deities. These groves act as relict flora repositories, containing plant species that have disappeared from the surrounding landscape. They function as “mini-biosphere reserves,” preserving soil moisture and providing a refuge for rare medicinal plants used in traditional Ayurvedic and Unani practices.

Goa’s Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives 

• Goa Bird Atlas (2026): Officially released on February 7, 2026, Goa became the second Indian state (after Kerala) to publish a comprehensive bird atlas. It maps bird distribution using grid-based scientific surveys and was launched during the 9th Bird Festival themed “Majestic Mhadei”.
• Panchayat-level Atlases: Following the Mayem village pilot, the government is developing 191 village atlases to document local flora and fauna. These 250-page documents integrate community heritage with scientific biodiversity data.
• GSBSAP 2025-2030: The updated State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan provides a 10-year roadmap for conservation. It aligns local efforts with the National Biodiversity Strategy and international SDG targets.
• Konkani Nomenclature Project: The publication “Olakh Suknayanchi” was launched in 2026 to popularize bird study in the local language. This initiative bridges the gap between indigenous wisdom and modern ornithological research.
• GoVan Livelihood Scheme: This flagship program establishes processing centers to create value-added products from local bio-resources. It ensures that conservation provides direct economic benefits to rural entrepreneurs.
• Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS): The government proactively notifies unique ecosystems like Chicalim Bay as protected BHS locations. This legal status prevents destructive activities while preserving endemic species.
• Climate & Disaster-Resilient SPV: A new Special Purpose Vehicle was formed to fund infrastructure that mitigates climate risks. It focuses on restoring Khazan lands and coastal bioshields.
• People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR): Goa has successfully completed electronic PBRs for all local bodies, securing sovereign rights over traditional knowledge. These registers are regularly updated through community-led validation exercises.
• Wetland Notification Drive: Over 100 wetlands are being systematically identified and notified by the State Wetland Authority. This provides strict legal protection to sites like Kodal Lake.
• Wildlife Rescue MoU: A 2026 agreement with the ResQ Charitable Trust enhances the coordination of wildlife rehabilitation. This partnership strengthens the state’s response to human-wildlife conflict incidents.
• Seed Bank Initiatives: The government supports community-managed seed banks to preserve rare paddy landraces. This preserves the genetic diversity of crops like Patni and Korgut rice.
• Biodiversity Conservation Awards: Annual state awards recognize outstanding work by BMCs and green journalists. This builds public pride and competition in environmental protection.
• Ecotourism Upgrades: The Goa Forest Development Corporation is upgrading cashew and rubber plantations into ecotourism hubs. These sites promote responsible travel while generating local employment.
• Sustainable Salt Pan Revival: New financial incentives aim to restore traditional salt pans (Agors) as unique ecosystems. This prevents the abandonment of heritage lands that support specific brine-tolerant flora.