New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board is presenting a convincing case for the inclusion of the 1400-million-year-old Salkhan Fossil Park in Sonbhadra district on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This proposal was made at the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting, which is staged by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) from July 21 to 31 at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.
The 46th World Heritage Committee session highlights the importance of increased representation and focus on nature protection, considering potential inclusion and voting on conservation and management actions.
The Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Board collaborated with IUCN officials and panelists to expedite the listing process for protected areas.
The Forest Department, Banaras Hindu University, and DRONAH have conducted international standards-based assessments of the park’s geological value and legacy.
U P Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh is working to register Salkhan Fossil Park in Sonbhadra on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with a brainstorming meeting with IUCN Director Tim Badman.
Salkhan Fossils Park, located in Uttar Pradesh, India, is home to fossils estimated to be 1.4 billion years old. The park, spread over 25 hectares in the Kaimoor Wildlife range, features rings on boulders.
Fossils in the park area have been studied by geologists since the 1930s. It was officially inaugurated as a fossil park in 2002.