Conservation Status of Natural World Heritage Sites

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has categorised parts of the Western Ghats and two national parks in India—Assam’s Manas and West Bengal’s Sundarbans—as being of "significant concern" in its recent World Heritage Outlook 4 report.

Key Threats Identified

• Climate change
• Tourism activities
• Invasive alien species
• Roads and railroads

The report reveals that 40% of World Heritage sites face conservation challenges, with climate change as the predominant threat. A decrease in sites with a positive conservation outlook has been noted, dropping from 63% in earlier years to 57% predicted by 2025.

Specific Threats in Asia

• Protected areas are rapidly being encroached upon, leading to habitat destruction.
• Additional threats include forest fires, hunting, waste disposal, illegal logging, and road construction.

Conservation Status of Indian Sites

• Four Indian sites are rated "good with some concerns": 
  • The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
  • Kaziranga National Park
  • Keoladeo National Park
  • Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
• Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim is rated "good".

Challenges in the Western Ghats

• Highly endangered due to hydropower projects, tourism, and climate change.
• Exotic species such as eucalyptus and acacia are colonizing the natural forests.

Issues in the Sundarbans

• Threats include salinity, heavy metal contamination, and unsustainable resource extraction.
• Sea-level rise and storm surges are reducing mangrove biodiversity.

Positive Conservation Examples

Outside India, seven sites in China are noted for exemplary protection and management. The report highlights World Heritage sites as crucial for preserving global biodiversity, housing over 75,000 species of plants and 30,000 species of animals.

Global Conservation Initiatives

The report emphasizes the importance of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in halting biodiversity loss. It calls for bridging nature and culture, involving community and younger generations in conservation efforts.

Conclusion

The report serves as a guide for action, offering hope through good practices in conservation efforts, such as those seen in Mount Wuyi in China and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka.