Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area inscribed in World Heritage List

The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA) inscribed in the World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee. It was inscribed at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee held on 23 June 2014 in Doha, Qatar.

The GHNPCA was inscribed on the basis of criterion (X) of UNESCO Guidelines. The Criterion X is to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

GHNP inscription will serve to expedite integration of other Protected Areas into a huge GHNP Conservation Area of ca. 2850 km2.

About Great Himalayan National Park
• The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA) has Greater Himalayan National Park (kullu district of Himachal Pradesh), Sainj and Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• The GHNPCA (905.40 sq km) includes the Upper Mountain glacial and snow melt water source origins of the westerly flowing JiwaNal, Sainj and Tirthan Rivers and the north-westerly flowing Parvati River.
• GHNPCA is home to several Rare and Threatened species including the Western Tragopan, Chir Pheasant, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Musk Deer, Asiatic Black Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Blue Sheep and Serow.
• The boundaries of GHNP are also contiguous with the recently established (2010) Khirganga National Park, the Pin Valley National Park in Trans-Himalaya, Rupi-Bhabha Wildlife Sanctuary in Sutlej watershed and Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary.