Conservation body wants international monitoring of Western Ghats

NEW DELHI: Amid debate over conservation of Western Ghats, recently added to Unesco’s list of iconic places, a world heritage advisory body has recommended international monitoring to ensure that the 39 biodiversity hotspots in the region are properly preserved.

The demand from International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) came after India refused to accept demands from the World Heritage Committee that recommendations of the Madhav Gadgil-led Western Ghats ecology experts panel should be implemented as a precondition to get the heritage tag for the mountains which are home to precious biosphere reserves.

“We welcome these sites to the world heritage list, but note that the conservation challenges they face will need additional monitoring by the World Heritage Committee to ensure that these sites meet the requirements that accompany listing as flagships for global conservation,” Tim Badman, head of IUCN’s world heritage programme, said.

Badman also said IUCN had reservations in giving the heritage tag to Western Ghats though it holds “spectacular natural values”, as its “evaluation considered that more work was needed to meet the standards the convention has set in its operational guidelines.”

IUCN also noted it is ready to assist the states in protecting the biodiversity hotspots in Western Ghats that is home to rain forests, rivers, waterfalls and a number of mammals.