A major advantage of being included in the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites is increased funding for research and documentation of these areas. Of the 39 sites in the Western Ghats added to the list recently, 10 are in Karnataka. According to the operational guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the convention provides international assistance to State Parties for the protection of the cultural and natural heritage sites located on their territories.
The finance comes from the World Heritage Fund established under the World Heritage Convention. A committee determines the budget for international assistance on a biennial basis. The new sites in India that have been recognised by Unesco will start receiving funds after proposals are received. Research is already going on in the locations that have been previously listed. Besides research, the UN will also provide funds for emergency assistance, preparatory assistance and conservation and management assistance, which includes assistance for training and research, technical co-operation and promotion and education, said a member of the Western Ghats Natural Heritage Management Committee.
Such assistance should be seen as supplementary to national efforts for the conservation and management of these heritage sites. “The sites covered under the Heritage Tag by Unesco are already protected under various governments and enjoy special grants from the central and state governments. But tagging will bring more money for researchers who wish to take up studies in the areas. It will take time to streamline the process, though,” said the member.