bhopal thirteen years after framing mp biological diversity rules the state government is all set to come up with an atlas which would earmark species of plants and animals that are endemic to areas the state biodiversity board has roped in mp council and science and technology mpcst for the task at an estimated cost of rs 50 lakh the atlas would help give a better picture of biodiversity in madhya pradesh which has four major forest types 10 national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuariesthe state houses one of the richest fauna and floral diversity with about 5000 plant species as many as 500 birds species and 180 fish species the officials said the atlas is expected to get ready in next six months as a pilot project the work has already been started in seoni and chhindwara districts of the state and the entire state would be mapped soonofficials said animals resource data is still available to some extent but there has been limited information on plants and forest specifies many of them are commercially important specifies which must be known for their better use and conservation officials accepted a large percentage of biological wealth and its importance are still unknown in the statemadhya pradesh has rich biodiversity despite increase in population pressure in forest and wilderness areas once ready the biodiversity atlas would be available online for access to every person concerned with biodiversity and its conservationifs r sreenivasa murthy who is the member secretary of the board said the atlas would be a great help for better understanding of states rich biodiversity and to plan accordingly for its conservation apart from getting prepared atlas biodiversity nurseries are also being set up in 25 districts a sum of around rs 5 lakh would be incurred per nursery it would have a majority of the species of forest floral composite he said