Context:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in its World Heritage Outlook 4 reveiw, has rated Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) as “Good.” It is the only Indian site to receive a positive conservation outlook.

Background:

The park has successfully combined conservation efforts with traditional practices, maintained biodiversity, and managed natural hazards efficiently, such as responding to the glacial lake outburst flood through preventive measures.

About Khangchendzonga National Park:

Khangchendzonga National Park is a national park and part of the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim, India.

·        It was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in July 2016, becoming the first "Mixed Heritage" site of India.

·        It was included in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. The park is named after the mountain Kangchenjunga, which is the third-highest peak in the world at 8,586 m (28,169 ft) tall.

·        The total area of the park is 1,784 km2 (689 sq mi).

Flora:

The vegetation of the park include temperate broadleaf and mixed forests consisting of oaks, fir, birch, maple and willow. Alpine grasses and shrubs occur at higher elevations along with many medicinal plants and herbs.

Fauna:

About 550 species of birds occur in the park including blood pheasant, satyr tragopan, osprey, Himalayan griffon, lammergeier, several species of green pigeon, Tibetan snowcock, snow pigeon, impeyan pheasant, Asian emerald cuckoo, sunbirds and eagles.

About World Heritage Outlook 4:

World Heritage Outlook is a global assessment of the conservation status of over 200 natural and mixed UNESCO World Heritage sites, published every 3-5 years.

Key findings:

·        Climate change is the single greatest threat, with 43% of sites facing a high or very high risk.

·        The number of sites with a positive conservation outlook has decreased from 62% in 2020 to 57% in 2025.

·        There has been a sharp increase in sites affected by diseases, from 2% in 2020 to 9% in 2025.

·        Over 40% of sites face conservation concerns, a figure based on assessments since 2014.

Conclusion:

The IUCN’s “Good” rating for Khangchendzonga National Park highlights a model of coexistence between nature, culture, and community stewardship. It demonstrates that when traditional values align with scientific conservation and participatory management, ecosystems not only survive—but thrive.