In October 2025, Khangchendzonga National Park(NP), in Sikkim, has been rated ‘Good’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the 4th edition of its World Heritage Outlook, making it the only Indian natural heritage site to receive such recognition
- IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025 was released at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Exam Hints:
- What? Indian Natural Heritage Site Rated as Good by IUCN
- Name of Site: Khangchendzonga NP (Sikkim)
- Edition: 4th edition of IUCN World Heritage Outlook
- Published At: IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Total Sites Covered: 271 natural & mixed sites globally; 63 in Asia
- Other Indian Sites:
- ‘Good with Some Concerns’: Kaziranga NP (Assam), Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers NP (Uttarakhand), Great Himalayan NP (HP)
- ‘Significant Concern’ – Western Ghats, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam), Sundarbans (WB)
About IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4:
Total Sites Covered: This latest edition of outlook has assessed 271 natural and mixed world heritage sites including 231 natural sites and 40 are mixed sites, across 115 countries.
Total Sites in Asia: The latest edition of the report revealed that Asia has 63 natural and mixed heritage sites across 19 countries, covering an area of over 27 million hectares (mn ha).
Biodiversity Threats: The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 report highlights climate change, tourism, invasive species, and road development as key threats to South Asia’s biodiversity, classifying sites as “Good,” “Good with Some Concerns,” “Significant Concern,” or “Critical” based on conservation status and urgency of action.
Rating: The report further showed that of the total number of natural and mixed sites in the Asia region, only 17% are rated ‘Good’ and the remaining are rated as ‘some concern’ or ‘significant concern’.
Conservation Status of India’s Natural Heritage Sites: Kaziranga NP (Assam), Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers NP (Uttarakhand), and the Great Himalayan NP Conservation Area (Himachal Pradesh, HP) have been rated ‘Good with Some Concerns’ by the IUCN, reflecting effective conservation with minor challenges.
- Western Ghats, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam), and the Sundarbans (West Bengal, WB) have been rated as ‘Significant Concern’, indicating pressing conservation issues that require immediate attention.
About Khangchendzonga NP:
UNESCO Heritage Site: In 2016, Khangchendzonga NP was recognised as India’s 1st ‘mixed’ heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO), both for its natural beauty and cultural significance.
Natural Vegetation: The NP covers an area of 1,784 square kilometers (sq. kms), extends from subtropical forests to the glaciated slopes of Mount Khangchendzonga (at an altitude of 8,586 metres (m)) which is India’s highest as well as World’s highest peak.
Flora and Fauna: It features 280 glaciers and over 70 glacial lakes, and is home for various wildlife species such as: snow leopards, clouded leopards, red pandas, blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, and more than 550 bird species like: impeyan pheasant and satyr tragopan.
Tribal Community: The NP is considered as ‘Mayel Lyang’ (a hidden paradise) for the Lepcha community, while Tibetan Buddhists regard it as a sacred valley or beyul.
- Also, areas monasteries like: Tholung, preserve ancient spiritual traditions that coexist with modern conservation practices.
About International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
Director General (DG) – Grethel Aguilar
Headquarters – Gland, Switzerland
Established – 1948
