Natural World Heritage Sites of India
Topic: Biodiversity and its Conservation · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 1 "Geographical Diversity of India"; Class 7, Ch 2 "India and Her Neighbours"
Meaning
Natural World Heritage Sites are places that UNESCO (the UN body for education, science and culture) lists for their outstanding natural value to the whole world. India's natural sites are:
- Kaziranga, Manas and Keoladeo (1985)
- Sundarbans (1987)
- Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers (1988, extended 2005)
- Western Ghats (2012)
- Great Himalayan National Park (2014)
Khangchendzonga (2016) is a mixed site, which means it is listed for both its natural and its cultural value. Being listed brings world attention, and it puts pressure on the country to protect the site.
Example
Kaziranga National Park, on the Brahmaputra floodplain in Assam, has been a World Heritage Site since 1985. It holds about two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos.
Don't confuse with
- Mixed World Heritage Site: Khangchendzonga is listed for both nature and culture. It is India's only mixed site, so it is not a purely natural site.
- Ramsar site: this is a wetland listed under the Ramsar Convention, not by UNESCO. Keoladeo is both a Ramsar site and a World Heritage Site.
Related concepts
- National park
- Wildlife sanctuary
- Corbett National Park
- Kaziranga National Park
- Keoladeo National Park
- Great Himalayan National Park
- Sundarbans
- Sundarbans National Park