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Context

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released the World Heritage Outlook 4 report during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in October 2025.  

What is the IUCN World Heritage Outlook Report?

This report is the first global assessment of natural World Heritage sites, evaluating their conservation outlook, threats, management, and potential changes.

Categories:  

• Good: Sites where natural values are largely intact and threats are minimal.
• Good with some concerns: Sites where values are generally intact, but some threats exist.
• Significant concern: Sites facing serious threats that are likely to have a high impact on their natural values.
• Critical: Sites facing extremely serious threats where values are highly threatened with irreversible loss.

The 2025 report assesses 63 Asian sites (excluding Arab countries) and provides a detailed outlook for India's natural treasures.

1. Sites of "Significant Concern" (Most Threatened)

• Manas National Park, Assam
• Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
• Western Ghats

2. Sites of "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

3. Sites with a "Good" Outlook (Best Managed)

Sikkim's Khangchendzonga National Park, India's sole Mixed World Heritage Site, received a "good" outlook for its effective protection, ranking among 11 top Asian sites, seven of which are in China.

Escalating Threats: The Changing Landscape of Conservation

Climate Change (New Top Threat)

Climate change has replaced hunting as the most prevalent threat, leading to habitat alteration, extreme weather events, and species vulnerability.

Tourism Activities (Persistent Threat)

Unregulated and unsustainable tourism remains the second-greatest threat, causing habitat degradation, waste disposal issues, and disturbance to wildlife.

Invasive Alien Species (Rising Threat)

This has emerged as the third-highest threat, having not been among the top three in 2020. Invasive species outcompete native flora and fauna, disrupting ecological balance.

Infrastructure Development (Emerging Threat)

Roads and railways are now among the top five greatest threats. Road development, in particular, opens up previously inaccessible forest areas to settlement, resource extraction, and increased tourism pressure.

Other Anthropogenic Pressures

South Asian protected areas, like India's, suffer from habitat loss due to land demand, illegal logging, fires, hunting, and encroachment. Roads in tropical forests exacerbate these issues, causing settlement, resource extraction, habitat alteration, and biodiversity decline.

Site Management Effectiveness 

Overall Decline

In Asia, 49% of sites show protection concern, with 3% "highly effective" and 46% "mostly effective," a slight decrease from 2020.

Good Practices

Mount Wuyi (China) and Sinharaja Forest Reserve (Sri Lanka) are recognized for successfully engaging younger generations, visitors, and local communities in conservation through educational programs. 

Conclusion

The IUCN's 2025 World Heritage Outlook highlights threats to India's natural heritage. Khangchendzonga National Park is a success, but the Western Ghats and other parks need urgent attention. India must address climate change, tourism, infrastructure, and enforcement to protect its biodiversity.

Source: THEHINDU