UPSC Articles
Living root bridges of Meghalaya
Part of: Prelims and GS-I – Geography
Context: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has underlined some green rules for the living root bridges of Meghalaya to get the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag.
About living roots
- A living root bridge is like a suspension bridge formed by guiding the pliable roots of the rubber fig tree ( Ficus elastica ) across a stream or river and allowing the roots to grow and strengthen over time.
- There are no records to suggest when the Khasi community started the living root bridge tradition.
- Ecologists say it highlights the symbiotic relationship between people and nature.
- Such a bridge is locally called jingkieng jri .
About UNESCO World Heritage Site
- A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by UNESCO for its special cultural or physical significance.
- The list of World Heritage Sites is maintained by the international ‘World Heritage Programme’, administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
- UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
- This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
- India now has 39 world heritage sites
News Source: TH
