Syllabus:

GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Context: Recently, seven natural heritage sites from across the country have been included in UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, increasing India’s count on the Tentative List from 62 to 69 properties.

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• With this inclusion, India now has a total of 69 sites under consideration by UNESCO, comprising 49 cultural, 17 natural, and 3 mixed heritage properties.
• Inclusion in the tentative list is a prerequisite for nomination to the prestigious World Heritage List.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the nodal agency for the World Heritage Convention on behalf of India.

New Natural Heritage Sites

• Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra: These sites, part of the vast Deccan Traps, host some of the world’s best-preserved and extensively studied lava flows and are located within the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Geological Heritage of St. Mary’s Island Cluster, Karnataka: This island cluster, renowned for its rare columnar basalt formations, dates back to the Late Cretaceous period and provides a geological record from approximately 85 million years ago.
• Meghalayan Age Caves, Meghalaya:The stunning cave systems of Meghalaya, particularly the Mawmluh Cave, serve as the global reference point for the Meghalayan Age in the Holocene Epoch, reflecting significant climate and geological transitions.
• Naga Hill Ophiolite, Nagaland: These hills present a rare exposure of ophiolite rocks—sections of oceanic crust uplifted onto continental plates—providing valuable insights into tectonic processes and mid-ocean ridge dynamics.
• Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Hills), Andhra Pradesh:These striking red sand formations near Visakhapatnam highlight distinctive paleo-climatic and coastal geomorphological features, offering valuable evidence of Earth’s climatic history and dynamic evolution.
• Natural Heritage of Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh:This site is marked by the Eparchaean Unconformity and the iconic Silathoranam (Natural Arch) and carries immense geological significance, encapsulating over 1.5 billion years of Earth’s history.
• Varkala Cliffs, Kerala:The scenic cliffs along Kerala’s coastline expose the Warkalli Formation of the Mio-Pliocene age, along with natural springs and striking erosional landforms, offering both scientific and touristic value.

UNESCO’s Tentative List 

• The inclusion in the tentative list is a prerequisite for nomination to the World Heritage List.
• The Tentative Lists of States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre.
• The World Heritage Centre was established in 1992 as a coordinator within UNESCO for all matters related to World Heritage, it manages the World Heritage Convention and ensures the preservation of sites of “Outstanding Universal Value”. 

Sources:
News On Air
PIB