{"id":2734,"date":"2018-07-03T07:42:24","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T02:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-256057-797351.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=2734"},"modified":"2019-01-13T13:40:03","modified_gmt":"2019-01-13T08:10:03","slug":"un-designates-western-ghats-as-world-heritage-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyjag.com\/featured\/un-designates-western-ghats-as-world-heritage-site\/","title":{"rendered":"UN: Western Ghats, A World Heritage Site"},"content":{"rendered":"
United Nations has added India’s Western Ghats to the prestigious list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites<\/a>.Western Ghats are rich in biodiversity and natural beauty. And its splendor has made it one of the most beautiful places on earth that needs delicate care and protection. But will its addition to World Heritage Sites ensure its protection?<\/p>\n Western Ghats got added to the list by a sustained campaign by the Government Of India and conservationists who supported and voted for India’s prized nomination.\u00a0International Union for Conservation of Nature<\/a> (IUCN) also recommended the site to UNSECO but with a word of caution.<\/p>\n The press statement by IUCN has clearly indicated that Western Ghats need protection and serious steps need to be taken in order to protect its crown.<\/p>\n IUCN\u00a0director, Tim Badman said: “The Western Ghats and the Lena Pillars are certainly regions that hold\u00a0spectacular\u00a0natural values, but IUCN’s evaluations considered that more work was needed on these nominations to meet the standards the Convention has set in its Operational Guidelines.” He added that “We welcome these sites to the World Heritage List, but note the conservation challenges that they face will need additional monitoring by the World Heritage committee to ensure that these sites meet the requirements that accompany this listing as flagships for global conservation.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Madhav Gadgil, ecologist and head of Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel<\/a> (WGEEP) informed that while he welcomed the recognition by\u00a0United Nations\u00a0but the tag would actually make very little difference on ground. No tag can save it, until the government gets\u00a0determined about really protecting the region.<\/p>\n He said, “I welcome UN’s recognition given to western ghats. But it’s equally debatable whether this tag would mean any action on ground. . The tag is good for international postering and putting India on the global map. But, I have heard that IUCN had also expressed caution”.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n