Himalayan park on world heritage site shortlist

The Great Himalayan National Park may get global recognition, with Unesco's world heritage committee placing it in the latest shortlist of world heritage sites.

With magnificent glaciers, lofty mountains and gurgling streams, the national park in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu valley is one of the richest biodiversity sites in the western Himalayas.

"It is a matter of great pride for Himachal Pradesh that Unesco (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has placed the Great Himalayan National Park in its tentative list of world heritage sites," park director Ajay Srivastav told IANS.

"We hope that this will get global recognition, which will help conserve the endangered flora and fauna species in a more effective way."

Three other parks -- the Bhitarkanika Conservation Area in Orissa, the Neora Valley National Park in West Bengal and the Desert National Park in Rajasthan -- are on Unesco's tentative list too, he added.

The Kaziranga National Park and the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, , the Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, the Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks in Uttarakhand and the Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal are other areas in India that are already on Unesco's World Heritage list.

Spread over 754 sq km, the Great Himalayan National Park is home to many rare and endangered plants and animals.

Starting at an altitude of 1,700 metres, the highest peak within the national park approaches 5,800 metres.

According to Srivastav, most of the mammals found in the park, from subtropical to alpine, are endemic to the area and protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.

The park, notified in the year 1999, is home to 203 bird species, including the endangered western tragopan, the Himalayan monal, the koklas, the white-crested kalij and the cheer pheasant.

Then there are 31 endemic mammal species, three reptiles, nine amphibians and 127 insect species, besides 425 species of plants.

Courtesy:hindu.com

Complete artical HERE