UNESCO World Heritage Site tag for 19 sites in Kerala

Hibiscus fencing, Kuttikkanam, Idukki district.

The eco-sensitive Western Ghats along the west coast of India have been included on the coveted list of the World Heritage Sites, at a meeting of the World Heritage Committee held in Russia Sunday evening, 

Of the 39 serial sites that won global recognition for their Outstanding Universal Value, Kerala accounts for the most number of sites at 19, followed by 10 in Karnataka, six in Tamil Nadu, and four in Maharashtra.

The inscribed sites from Kerala include two national parks (Silent Valley and Eravikulam), five wildlife sanctuaries (Shendurney,
Neyyar, Peppara, Chinnar, and Aralam), Periyar Tiger Reserve, four forest ranges (Kulathupuzha, Palode, Mankulam, and Kalikavu), three forest divisions (Ranni, Konni, and Achencoil), two reserve forests (New Amarambalam and Attappady) and two shola forests (Karian shola and Mannavan shola).

Older than the Himalayas, the mountain chain of the Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes. Spread over nearly 8,000 sq km, the Western Ghats are between 60-160 km at the narrowest end points, harbouring a wealth of flora & fauna and more being discovered regularly.

"The site's high montane forest ecosystems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern. Moderating the tropical climate of the region, it presents one of the best examples of the monsoon system in the planet," the Unesco said in a statement late Sunday.

It added that the site also has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism. It is recognised as one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity.

"The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species."

Says noted environmentalist Prof. Madhav Gadgil. In 2010, Gagdil headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) which submitted a comprehensive report suggesting, among other things, measures to save and protect the Western Ghats.

Tea ,On road to Munnar, Idukki district

However the World Heritage Site tag is unlikely to affect life and land-use patterns in the Kerala part of the Western Ghats. Life is expected to go on unhindered in the sites and adjoining areas despite the tag. There will not be any fresh restrictions on activities that are currently permitted in the forest areas of Kerala, say authorities.

V. Gopinath, Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala, is of the view that the tag may not have any major impact on life in Kerala as 10 sites are already notified as protected areas including national parks and tiger reserve. The remaining nine are either reserve forests or interior forest areas. All the protected areas and reserve forests are governed by the Wildlife Protection Act and the Forest Conservation Act. The activities in these areas are regulated by these laws. Hence, there need not be any apprehensions regarding new restrictions, Mr. Gopinath said.

All the activities which are currently permitted will go on uninterrupted in the sites and there will not be any changes in the land-use patterns. The plantations in these sites will continue to remain as such and the tag will not introduce any change in its land-use status. Eco-tourism activities, which are currently under way, will also go on, he said.

The World Heritage Site tag has a symbolic value in terms of conservation activities and the inscription may bring global recognition and some funds from agencies such as Unesco and the World Heritage Fund. Moreover, the tag will help these sites get an extra mileage when some projects for external funding are prepared, he said.