UNESCO launches biodiversity project for 4 heritage sites
New Delhi, July. 25 (PTI): A UN cultural body has identified four world heritage sites -- Kaziranga and Manas in Assam, Keoladeo in Rajasthan and Nanda Devi in Uttaranchal-- in India as role models to demonstrate conservation management practises for other biodiversity hotspots.
A World Heritage Biodiversity Project was launched today by UNESCO for holistic development of these sites being seen as critical to the preservation of globally significant biodiversity.
Explaining the objective of the programme, Kishore Rao, Deputy Director, World Heritage Centre said, "management of these sites will combine law enforcement, community support and participation and engagement with civil society and the private sector".
The purpose is to develop effectively managed clusters of existing and potential World Heritage sites representing critical ecosystems and habitats of India, he said.
"This programme should influence better management of heritage sites as a whole," Rao said.
Ram Boojh, Programme Specialist, UNESCO said addressing issues faced by the local community would be an important part of the programme's implementation to garner their support for the initiative.
"We must overcome the alienation of local communities. We have allocated part of the funds to address their issues. Only then will we get their full support. Water resource management and infrastructure also needs to be improved," Boojh said.
In close collaboration and partnership with the Centre, United Nations Foundation, Ford Foundation and Sehgal Foundation, the project will be implemented in two phases over the next ten years.
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