Why in the news?

  • The fourth edition of IUCN World Heritage Outlook was published in Abu Dhabi at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025.

IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025

  • What is it?:
    • The IUCN World Heritage Outlook is a global conservation assessment system evaluating the state of all UNESCO natural and mixed World Heritage Sites every 3–5 years.
  • Published by: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) through its World Heritage Programme and World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
  • Objectives:
    • Track Conservation Health: Assess management effectiveness and ecosystem resilience.
    • Recognize Best Practices: Highlight exemplary management for replication.
    • Identify Threats: Provide early warnings on degradation, climate impact, or governance issues.
  • Key Findings:
    • Nearly 65% of sites show stable or improving conservation since 2020. e.g.: Galápagos Islands, Yellowstone National Park
    • More than 80% sites face direct climate impacts like coral bleaching, glacier retreat, wildfires. e.g.: Great Barrier Reef continues to experience mass bleaching events.
    • Nearly 60% of sites face stress from invasive species, overexploitation, or habitat loss. e.g.: Invasive flora in Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park threatens endemic species.
    • Marine sites like Komodo NP (Indonesia) and Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles) improved due to sustainable tourism and scientific monitoring.
    • Use of AI monitoring, satellite mapping, and eDNA are boosting data precision. e.g.: UNESCO–IUCN AI pilot in the Okavango Delta enhances wildlife tracking.
    • Heritage sites support livelihoods, carbon sequestration (~10% terrestrial carbon), and disaster mitigation.
    • Around 15 sites were added to the “World Heritage in Danger” list due to conflict, pollution, or habitat loss.
  • Trends in India:
    • Kaziranga and Manas: Sowed better ecology via anti-poaching, restoration, eco-tourism.
    • Sundarbans: The site is at risk due to issues like salinity, cyclones, sea-level rise.
    • Western Ghats: The site is at risk due to mining & land-use conflicts.
    • Nanda Devi and Great Himalayan NP: Faces concerns of Glacier retreat, invasive species affecting Ganga basin hydrology.
    • Funding issues: Need 30–40% higher funds for marine and transboundary monitoring.