Western Ghats on Unesco shortlist

PUNE: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( Unesco) recently shortlisted the Western Ghats for inclusion in the World Heritage list, taking this biodiversity rich area a step closer to protection from landuse change and other developmental activities.

The 39 serial sites in the Unesco shortlist include four sites in Maharashtra (Sahyadri)—Kas Plateau, Koyna wildlife sanctuary, Chandoli national park and Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary. All the sites are rich in biodiversity and need conservation. The 39 serial sites are spread across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and TN. Jagdish Krishnaswamy, senior fellow, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, and member of the Western Ghats natural heritage management committee constituted by the ministry of environment, told TOI the shortlisting takes these 39 sites a step closer to their inscription in the World Heritage list.