The state of Orissa is located on the eastern coast of Indian peninsula is quite rich in natural resources and has several bio-diversity hot spot areas of the Indian subcontinent. It has varied and wide spread forests harbouring dry deciduous, moist deciduous forests as well as mangroves with several unique, endemic, rare and endangered floral and faunal species. Orissa is one of the richest bio-diversity regions in Southeast Asia. It has 7 major river deltas of varies sizes and shapes formed by the rivers Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, Baitarani, Brahmani, Mahanadi, Rushikulya and Bahuda. This region has 5 major morphological zones – the coastal plains, the middle mountainous and highlands region, the central plateaus, the western rolling uplands and major flood plains. Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary (BKWS) has been designated a Ramsar site in 2002(2 nd in the state). It was declared as Bhitarkanika National Park in 1988. It is located in Kendrapara district. The deltaic region is surrounded by the rivers Brahmani and Baitarani sea. The dominant vegetation type is mangrove. Wild animals like Leopard cat, fishing cat, jungle cat, hyena, wild boar, spotted deer, porcupine, dolphin, saltwater crocodile including partially white (sankhua) crocodile, python, king cobra, water monitor lizard, terrapin, marine turtle, kingfisher, wood pecker, hornbill, bar headed geese, Brahminy duck, pintail white bellied sea eagle, tern, sea gull, waders and a large variety of resident and migratory birds can be seen.

Chandaka – Dampara Sanctury is located in between Khurda and Cuttack districts. Mixed and bamboo forests along with wild animals such as Asian Elephants, Chital, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pig, common langur, rhesus monkey, common Indian mongoose, hyena, sloth bear, ratel, monitor lizard and rock python and birds such as red jungle fowl, peafowl, crested serpent eagle and great horned owl can be seen.

Chilika, a wonder creation of nature, has been designated as a Ramsar site. Over a million migratory waterfowl and shore birds winter here. Over 400 vertebrate species have been record here. Several endangered, rare, threatened and vulnerable species are found here. 230 species of migratory and resident birds find their abode in this wetland. Some of them are Flamingo, white bellied sea eagle, Brahiminy kite, spotbilled pelican, Bar headed goose, open bill stork, spoonbill, Brahiminy duck, pigeon, pintail, shoveller and a large number of other ducks and geese, white ibis, cormorant, heron, egret, stork, stilt, avocet, gulls, tern, coot, osprey, purple moon hen, lapwing, curlew, whimbrel, godwit, sandpiper, little stint, plover, kingfisher etc. A total of 102 species of algae and 546 species of Angiospermic plants have been reported from Chilika lagoon and its immediate neighborhood. Some of the plants are Gracilaria verrucosa, Chaeotomorpha linum, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Potamogeton pectinatus, Halophia ovalis, Schoenoplectus litoralies, Phramitis karka, Cassipourea cylanica etc.

In Debrigarh Sanctuary located in Bargarh district, the floral species found are Bija, Sal, Sisoo, Bandhan, Manul, Dhaura, Karada, Harda, Ainla, Bahada, Domkurdu and Bamboo. The wildlife found in this region are Tiger, Leopard, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted deer, four horned antelope, sloth bear, wild boar, langur, percupine, malabar giant squirrel, common civet etc. and Avifauna are peafowl, Bluejay, jungle crow, spur fowl, varieties of eagle, owls etc. Migratory birds such as great crested grebe, Brahminy duck, pintail, shoveller, godwal, tufted pochard and several ducks during winter.

Karlapat sanctuary is located closed to Bhawanipatna of Kalahandi districts. The forest consists of floral species such as Bija, Asan, Harida, Karyada, Amla, Bahada, Karada, Sidha and Kumbhi. The major wildlife include Tiger, Leopard, Black panther, Elephant, Barking deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Wild pig, Sloth bear, Gaur, Sambar, Pangolm, Mouse deer, Indian Wolf, Common palm civet, Wild dog, Jangle cat, varieties of birds like Peafowl, Hornbill, Red jungle fowl, Spur fowl, partridges, Hill myna, Brahminy kite etc and reptilian fauna includes mugger crocodile, monitor lizards, snakes both poisonous and non-poisonous.

Satkoshia sanctuary spreads over four districts i.e. Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, Nayagarh. So far 400 species of plants (126 trees, 98 shrubs, 125 herbs and 51 climbers) are found.

Fauna species found in this region are highly endangered gharial, mugger, fresh water turtles along with other wildlife like Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Sambar, Spotted deer, Barking deer, Chousingha, Mouse deer, Rhesus macaque, Langur, Porcupine, Hare, Civet cat, Ratel, Wild dog etc. 128 species of birds, 27 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibians and 183 species of fish have been recorded in the region.

There are 94 species of orchids and 1076 species of other plants in similipal. It includes two species of orchids which are endemic, eight plants endangered, eight species vulnerable and 34 rare species of plants. It has a rich variety of animals. The identified species of fauna include 12 species of amphibians, 29 species of reptiles, 264 species of birds and 42 species of mammals. Rare species such as black and melanistic tiger are also seen.

Sunabeda sanctuary is located close to the boundary of Chhatisgarh state. The rich flora species are piasal, teak, bija, sisoo, ashan, harida, sidha, mai, char, kumbhi, genduli, salia bamboo.

A varieties of endangered species in this region are Tiger, Leopard, Wild buffalo, Nilgai, Sambar, Gaur, Barking deer, Chital, Porcupine, Hyena, Wild bour, Langur, Rhesus monkey etc. birds like hill myna, peafowl, red jungle fowl, patridge, green pigeon, coots, dabchick, teals, snake bird, open billed stork, fishing eagle etc. are seen in this region.