Odisha gets 'good' rating in protected area mgmt

ODISHA has been rated 'good' in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) 2020-25, conducted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), to assess how well protected areas are managed in the country.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bhubaneswar

As per the latest evaluation carried out across 438 protected areas in the country, Odisha's MEE score stood at 66.91 per cent, slightly better than the national average of 64.41 per cent. Of the 15 protected areas in the state that were covered in the evaluation over multiple phases, nine fared well while MEE rating of three wildlife sanctuaries plunged marginally.

Chilika (Nalaban) which was rated 'good' in the first cycle in 2012-13, stood as the only wildlife sanctuary to be rated 'very good' in the repeat cycle of evaluation conducted during 2020-22. Other wildlife sanctuaries - Sunabeda, Chandaka-Dampada, Gahirmatha, Hadgarh, Kapilash, Lakhari Valley, Baisipalli, Badrama, Karlapat and Kuldiha - were also rated 'good' with improved scores.