1. Context and Background

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its World Heritage Outlook 4 Report (2025) — an assessment of the conservation status of natural and mixed World Heritage Sites globally.

• The report assesses 228 sites (since 2014) across four assessment cycles: 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2025.

• It categorises sites into four conservation outlooks:

  1. Good

  2. Good with some concerns

  3. Significant concern

  4. Critical

2. India’s Performance in the 2025 Outlook

Sites with “Significant Concern”

• Western Ghats

• Manas National Park (Assam)

• Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal)

Sites with “Good with Some Concerns”

• Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (Himachal Pradesh)

• Kaziranga National Park (Assam)

• Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)

• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (Uttarakhand)

Sites Rated “Good”

• Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim)

  • Recognised for well-maintained conservation measures and stable ecological conditions.

3. Why the Survey Was Conducted

• The report aims to:

  • Assess the ability of World Heritage sites to preserve their natural and cultural values.

  • Identify key threats and management gaps.

  • Provide a “litmus test” for global conservation efforts.

• It offers an in-depth global analysis of threats, protection status, and management effectiveness.

4. Major Findings of the IUCN Outlook 4 (2025)

Global Overview

• Nearly 40% of sites face conservation concerns.

• The proportion of sites with a positive outlook has dropped from 63% (2014–2020) to 57% (2025).

• Climate change remains the most dominant threat to natural heritage globally.

5. Key Threats in South Asia (as per the Report)

Top Four Threats (2025)

1. Climate Change

   • Alters ecosystems, rainfall patterns, and species distribution.

2. Tourism Activities

   • Leads to over-visitation, waste generation, and habitat degradation.

3. Invasive Alien Species

   • Threaten native flora and fauna by competing for space and nutrients.

4. Roads and Infrastructure

   • Fragment habitats, increase wildlife-vehicle collisions, and promote encroachment.

Other Threats Identified

• Forest fires

• Hunting and poaching

• Illegal logging

• Road construction

• Waste disposal

• Encroachment and urban expansion

• Roadkill and habitat fragmentation

6. Site-wise Analysis (India)

(a) Western Ghats – “Significant Concern”

• Ecological Importance:

  • Older than the Himalayas; rich mosaic of forests and grasslands.

  • Home to ~325 globally threatened species (Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, etc.).

  • A biodiversity hotspot recognised by UNESCO.

• Key Threats:

  • Hydropower projects (e.g., ₹5,843 crore Sillahalla Pumped Storage Project in Nilgiris).

  • Tourism pressure — garbage ingestion by wildlife; man–animal conflicts.

  • Plantations replacing natural habitats.

  • Climate change-induced altitudinal migration (e.g., Nilgiri flycatcher moving upward).

  • Invasive exotic species — eucalyptus, acacia, etc.

(b) Manas National Park (Assam) – “Significant Concern”

• UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the Manas Tiger Reserve.

• Threatened by:

  • Illegal encroachments and grazing.

  • Poaching of rhinos and elephants.

  • Floods and siltation from Brahmaputra tributaries.

  • Border disturbances near Bhutan.

  • Weak enforcement of protection measures.

(c) Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal) – “Significant Concern”

• World’s largest mangrove forest and home to Royal Bengal Tigers.

• Major Threats:

  • Rising salinity and heavy metal contamination.

  • Sea-level rise and storm surges due to climate change.

  • Unsustainable fishing and forest product extraction.

  • Mangrove degradation, reducing biodiversity and carbon sequestration potential.

7. Comparative Global Insights

• China: Seven sites rated among the “best protected and managed”, including:

  • Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and Lake

  • Chengjiang Fossil Site

  • Mount Huangshan

• Indicates effective national policy, community participation, and sustainable tourism models.

8. Ecological Importance of World Heritage Sites

• Natural World Heritage Sites cover <1% of Earth’s surface, but support:

  • >20% of global species richness.

  • Over 75,000 plant species.

  • Over 30,000 animal species (mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, amphibians).

9. Global Policy Linkages

• The findings align with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), which aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030.

• The UNESCO World Heritage Convention plays a key role in:

  • Bridging nature and culture.

  • Protecting high biodiversity and functional habitats.

10. Hope and Good Practices

• Positive Examples in Asia:

  • Mount Wuyi (China) – local youth involvement.

  • Sinharaja Forest Reserve (Sri Lanka) – community-based conservation.

• These demonstrate that inclusive, participatory management can reverse negative trends.

11. Key Takeaways for UPSC

Conceptual Understanding

• The IUCN World Heritage Outlook serves as a “health check” and action guide for natural heritage conservation.

• India’s challenge: Strengthen site management, tackle invasive species, regulate tourism, and mitigate climate impacts.

Policy and Governance Relevance

• Relates to:

  • GS Paper III: Environment, Conservation, Biodiversity.

  • GS Paper II: International Reports & Conventions.

• Supports initiatives like:

  • National Mission for Biodiversity and Human Well-Being

  • Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)

  • Project Tiger / Elephant / Crocodile

12. Conclusion

• The IUCN Outlook 4 (2025) reveals growing stress on India’s and South Asia’s natural heritage due to climate change, development, and poor management.

• However, with community participation, stricter regulation, and sustainable eco-tourism, India can turn its “significant concern” sites into “good” conservation models.

• The report serves as both a warning and an opportunity to strengthen the ecological integrity of India’s priceless natural treasures.