Aire de conservation du Parc national du Grand Himalaya

Before the establishment of the GHNP, the neighbouring village communities relied heavily on its resources for grazing sheep and goats and collecting NTFP. Approximately, 2,500 people gathered medicinal herbs and mushrooms annually, while an estimated 3,500 sheep and goats grazed in the park during the summer months. However, the formal designation of the national park boundaries and the resulting restriction of access significantly impacted the economic well-being of these communities, leading to increased pressure on resources within the surrounding sanctuary area and the buffer zone (State Party of India, 2010). To address these challenges, a key objective of GHNPCA management has been to engage with local communities, empower them to develop alternative livelihoods, promote positive perceptions of nature conservation, and involve them in managing and conserving the GHNPCA.

The most direct way for the local villagers to provide inputs in making decisions regarding GHNPCA management is through the GHNP’s Management Council. Following GHNP's nomination, a Management Council was established to strengthen community involvement in biodiversity management. The council includes leaders from 12 village councils in the ecozone and representatives from the BTCA NGO. It is chaired by the GHNP Director, with the Divisional Forest Officer serving as the member secretary (State Party of India, 2013). The GHNPCA management invites the village council leaders annually to discuss the preparation of Annual Plans of Operations (APOs) and strategies for GHNPCA management. Key focus areas include promoting employment generation programs and raising awareness about wildlife protection through local initiatives like street theatre in native dialects (State Party of India, 2018). Despite its potential, the council’s effectiveness in providing a direct role for local communities in decision-making remains unclear, as details on its meetings and outcomes since formation are unavailable.

The Women Saving and Credit Groups (WSCGs) serve as a primary interface between GHNPCA management and local communities. Established in 1999, these groups consist of economically disadvantaged women from the park’s ecozone. Prior to the park's creation, many of these women depended on medicinal plant collection for their livelihoods. Through the WSCGs, members save money and earn credit to invest in natural resource-based enterprises such as vermicomposting, handicraft production, NTFP cultivation, and apricot oil production. These initiatives are supported by GHNP-sponsored Income Generation Activities. The WSCGs have also federated their own NGO called the Biodiversity Tourism and Community Advancement (BTCA), which collaborates with GHNPCA management to market their products (State Party of India, 2018; Pandey, 2019). By 2013, 95 WSCGs with over 900 members had collectively saved more than Rs. 7,00,000 with a potential to generate livelihoods exceeding more than Rs, 25,00,000 (IUCN, 2013). The groups have also formed Village Forest Development Societies (VFDS) under the Himachal Pradesh Participatory Forest Management Rules, 2001. These societies enable rural women to participate in preparing and implementing micro-level forest management plans. As of 2013, 57 micro-plans covering all village wards were developed, reflecting efforts to enhance gender-sensitive forest management (State Party of India, 2013; Pandey, 2019).The current status and functioning of VFDS’ is unknown.

Senior villagers from the ecozone have organized themselves into an informal community-based group called Jujurana Jeeve, focused on conserving the Western Tragopan (Jujurana). This group collaborates with GHNP officials by reporting poaching incidents, and assisting in monitoring operations. The physically fitter villagers are engaged as daily wage wildlife watchers who assist forest guards in patrols to the GHNP forests at least three times a month (State Party of India, 2010).

The Biodiversity Conservation Society (BiodCS), established in 1999, aims to involve ecozone communities in GHNPCA management decisions. The society generates revenue from park entry fees, camping facilities, forest rest house rentals, and sales of souvenirs. It also receives external grants and donations to fund conservation projects. The society works closely with local residents, particularly through the BTCA, to gather input on budget priorities, park management strategies, and the use of generated revenues. However, the BTCA’s role remains advisory, without formal decision-making authority (Pandey, 2008; State Party of India, 2013).

The latest MEE (2018-2019) recommends strengthening community involvement in eco-development and ecotourism programs. This approach aims to provide marginalized communities with sustainable livelihood opportunities, reducing their reliance on NTFPs and livestock grazing while minimizing environmental impacts (Mohan, et al., 2020).

The GHNPCA management actively engages with other stakeholders, including local tour operators, to promote responsible tourism practices such as waste management and maintaining visitor numbers within the park's carrying capacity. The management also collaborates with technical experts and reputed organizations such as the UNESCO C2C-WII to develop monitoring protocols and strategies for managing biotic pressures, such as grazing, in sanctuary areas (State Party of India, 2018).

The GHNPCA comprises three components: one national park and two wildlife sanctuaries, all of which are notified under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Under this law, a national park is intended to provide inviolate area for biodiversity conservation and to sustain the ecological and evolutionary processes of the area. Consequently, all traditional rights of local communities within the national park boundaries are extinguished through a process of rights settlement.

When the final boundaries of the GHNP were delineated, there were no human settlements within the park. However, surrounding villages had traditional rights for grazing livestock and collecting medicinal plants. These rights were settled by compensating the rights holders for the collection of medicinal herbs and providing alternate pastures to those with grazing rights.

The Sainj and Tirthan wildlife sanctuaries were notified in 1994 and 1999, respectively. Unlike national parks, traditional rights may continue within wildlife sanctuaries depending on the right settlement process. The final notifications for Sainj and Tirthan were issued without extinguishing these traditional rights. Presently, 120 village residents in Sainj continue to graze their livestock and collect medicinal herbs within the sanctuary. Although there are no human settlements in Tirthan, its pastures are seasonally utilized by surrounding grazing communities.

In 2010, the Himachal Pradesh government issued a notification which extended GHNP area by incorporating Sainj and Tirthan wildlife sanctuaries into its area while maintaining their legal status as wildlife sanctuaries (State Party of India, 2013). Concerned about the impacts of human settlements in Sainj and high grazing pressure in Tirthan, the World Heritage Committee recommended in its 38th and 40th sessions that the State Party upgrade the legal status of these sanctuaries by designating them as national parks (World Heritage Committee, 2014; World Heritage Committee, 2016). Proposals to upgrade their status were submitted to the SBWL during meetings in May 2015 and April 2017. However, the SBWL, chaired by the Chief Minister decided against the designation of these sanctuaries as national parks to avoid relocation of villagers. Efforts were also directed towards engaging Sainj villagers and phasing out grazing activities from Tirthan (State Party of India, 2020).

In March 2022, the SCNBWL recommended diverting forest land within GHNP and Sainj sanctuaries to install power lines to electrify villages within Sainj. While this proposal may support community development, it raises concerns about potential demands for additional infrastructure, such as roads, which could fragment forested habitats and threaten wildlife.

The management of the GHNPCA is guided by a comprehensive Management Plan implemented by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, which serves as the primary executing agency. The Director of GHNPCA holds overall responsibility for the management of the property. The Management Plan spans a period of 10 years, with a provision for a mid-term review in the fifth year. This review is conducted by a committee comprising the State Chief Wildlife Warden, Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Conservator, and the Divisional Forest Officer of GHNP.
Efforts have been made for involving the villagers from the ecozone in management planning. Through the BiodCS, they provide advice on priorities such as annual budget expenditures, park entry fee management, and the distribution of revenue. These inputs are facilitated through their local NGO, the BTCA. To further strengthen community involvement, the GHNPCA management established a Management Council in 2013. This council consists of leaders from all 12 village councils within the ecozone and convenes annually to discuss the preparation of the APOs and to strategize conservation efforts for GHNPCA. Additionally, the council contributes to initiatives aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of communities historically dependent on GHNP’s resources.

The latest MEE highlights that more needs to be done to ensure meaningful community involvement in management decision-making. While the BiodCS provides a platform for communities to share their perspectives on budget planning, its role remains largely advisory, with no formal decision-making authority. Furthermore, greater transparency, such as detailed documentation of the Management Council’s meetings and discussions, is necessary to fully understand and evaluate the extent and effectiveness of participatory management.

The GHNPCA lies in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, which, from an ecological perspective, contains not only the highest vertical gradients anywhere on the land but also unparalleled diversity of ecosystems and habitats along the enormous east-west and north-south gradients (Jagear, 2021). Following the inscription of GHNPCA on the World Heritage List, the World Heritage Committee requested the State Parties of India, China, Nepal and Bhutan to undertake to undertake a regional study to fully assess the scope of ecosystems within the Hindu Kush Himalayas with a view to identify potential World Heritage sites, including potential extensions of sites already inscribed (World Heritage Committee, 2014). The study ‘Leveraging the World Heritage Convention for conservation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya’ was undertaken with technical support from IUCN and ICIMOD, and published in 2021. The assessment has regarded the inscription of GHNPCA as a rare and promising example in the Hindu Kush region of a conservation complex of various protected areas. Its configuration beyond a single protected serves as a model elsewhere in the Hindu Kush region, which has numerous vast conservation complexes, or potential for such complexes. Several existing properties are contiguous with, or near, additional, often similarly valuable protected areas within the same landscape. In such cases, contiguous or serial extensions could consolidate World Heritage efforts (Jagear, 2021). The GHNPCA management is in contact with the UNESCO C2C-WII for this process (State Party of India, 2023).

The GHNPCA management has also contributed towards regional planning. The WSCGs created by them have been federated into VFDS’ at village ward level. This has led to participation of women in village level planning to manage ecozone forests. By preparing micro plans for their relevant wards, rural women have been encouraged to take decisions for their own welfare and voice their concerns for better village micro plan planning and implementation (State Party of India, 2013; Pandey, 2019).
The adoption of participatory management frameworks, such as community-led anti-poaching units and eco-development committees, have strengthened local engagement but lack formal linkages to state-level climate resilience strategies (Negi et al., 2022). Transboundary connectivity initiatives, like the proposed Himalayan Bear Corridor linking GHNPCA to neighboring protected areas, remain hindered by fragmented land-use policies and competing infrastructure agendas (Joshi & Thakur, 2023). Persistent challenges include inadequate funding for cross-jurisdictional coordination, limited integration of traditional ecological knowledge into formal planning, and climate-driven habitat shifts outpacing adaptive policies (Pandey & Bhattacharya, 2023).

The boundaries of the GHNPCA provide both geographic and legal protection. The high mountains, ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 meters that lie to the north, east, and south create natural barriers and ensure geographic protection due to inaccessibility. Additionally, the property is surrounded by a network of protected areas, viz., Khirganga National Park, Pin Valley National Park, Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary and Kanawar Sanctuary, which offer legal protection (IUCN, 2013).

The combination of property’s rugged topography and its integration with a broader ecological complex of protected areas ensures overall integrity of the GHNPCA. A designated 26,560 ha buffer zone, known as the Ecozone, lies along the south-western boundary of the property. This buffer zone coincides with the areas of greatest human pressure with around 18,000 people in 160 villages residing within it (World Heritage Committee, 2014; State Party of India, 2020). The Ecozone is managed by the GHNPCA administration under the provisions of the Management Plan, balancing conservation objectives with the needs of the local community.

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The World Heritage Committee in its 38th meeting in 2014, requested the State Party to implement GHNPCA management’s plan to increase the size of the property by integrating surrounding protected areas, namely, Rupi Bhabha Sanctuary, Pin Valley National Park, Khirganga National Park and Kanawar Sanctuary. The extension will enhance the ecological connectivity of GHNPCA and better support conservation of wide-ranging species (World Heritage Committee, 2014). In response, the State Party in its various State of Conservation (SoC) Report’s submitted between 2018 and 2023 reiterated its commitment for expanding the GHNPCA. It informed the Committee that the SBWL had recommend the plan to merge the Khirganga NP. The final notification of Khirganga area is pending contingent upon the resolution of local community rights. The State Party noted that the merger with GHNPCA would only be completed after Khirganga achieves full status as a national park (State Party of India, 2018, 2020 & 2023). There has been no reported progress on incorporating other protected areas with GHNPCA. Given the limited information on the progress of extension, the Committee requested further updates, particularly regarding rights settlement process in Khirganga (World Heritage Committee, 2024).

The World Heritage Committee in its 38th meeting expressed concerns about the biotic pressure arising from small human settlements within the Sainj area and pasture grazing in the Tirthan sanctuaries. To address these issues and enhance the protection of these areas, the Committee recommended that the State Party upgrade the legal status of Sainj and Tirthan Sanctuaries to national parks. This recommendation was contingent upon the settlement of traditional rights of local communities in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (World Heritage Committee, 2014). In response, it was decided that Tirthan and Sainj will be retained as wildlife sanctuaries to allow local communities, who have traditionally depended on these areas, to avoid their relocation, and engage them in national park management activities and convince locals to phase out grazing from Tirthan (State Party of India, 2018). The Committee acknowledged this decision in its 43rd meeting. In its 44th meeting, the World Heritage Committee requested the State Party to provide updates on the livestock grazing in Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary and outline plans to phase it out, given the decision not to upgrade Tirthan to a national park (World Heritage Committee, 2021). In response, the 2023 SoC Report mentioned that the GHNPCA administration had engaged the WII to conduct a study assessing the impact of grazing in and around Tirthan and Sainj sanctuaries. The study, conducted between 2023 and 2024, was submitted to the GHNPCA administration in October 2024. The study noted that the pastures in both sanctuaries are visited by six Gaddi and two Gujjar groups, involving total livestock of 3,508 sheep and goats, and 160 buffalos and 82 oxen. The forage yield of meadows in the sanctuaries ranges between 1.5 and 3.8 tonnes per hectare, with a carrying capacity between 3.4–498 Animal Carrying Units. This reflects a very high grazing pressure on meadows of both sanctuaries. The study identified ecological impacts, including soil compaction, erosion, and altered species diversity. Grazed areas showed lower species richness compared to un-grazed zones. To address these impact, study recommended rotational grazing, restoring degraded pastures to enhance their quality, and promoting alternative livelihoods such as medicinal plant cultivation and handicrafts (WII, 2024). It is unclear whether the State Party has submitted the WII study report to the World Heritage Committee, and if the GHNPCA management has integrated the recommendations into its conservation decisions.

The GHNPCA has undertaken multiple initiatives to engage with the local communities, especially those whose livelihoods were historically tied to the park’s resources before its notification in 1999. One ley initiative is the establishment of WSCGs which serve as small production centers aimed at enhancing livelihood options for their members who belong to poor households of the ecozone. The groups have federated their own NGO called the BTCA. BTCA facilitates a variety of income generating activities, including vermicomposting, apricot oil production agricultural product marketing, and ecotourism activities which are geared towards male members of the groups. The GHNPCA management prioritizes the BTCA for income generating activities related ecotourism to benefit those who previously relied on park’s resources for their livelihoods. In addition to supporting these income-generating ventures, the administration involves the local community in planning and decision-making process. The GHNPCA Management Council which consists of local community leaders are invited to provide input on the preparation of APOs, and to collaborate on strategies for improving livelihoods of the national park dependent communities. Furthermore, the GHNPCA management conducts environmental education and awareness programs for local school children through its GHNPCA’s Nature Learning Centre (State Party of India, 2018) (State Party of India, 2020) (State Party of India, 2023). While the World Heritage Committee has acknowledged and welcomed the efforts to involve local stakeholders in planning, monitoring, protection and conservation of the property, it has recommended further strengthening community involvement, particularly in the context of enlarging the property by merging the surrounding protected areas (World Heritage Committee, 2021, 2024). The State Party is yet to provide updates regarding specifics of community consultation on the planned extension of GHNPCA.

Addressing weaknesses reported in MEE 2018-2019: The MEE conducted by WII between 2018 and 2019 identified several management weaknesses for GHNPCA. The World Heritage Committee in its 44th meeting had requested the State Party to address these weaknesses (World Heritage Committee, 2021). In response, the State Party clarified its actions to mitigate these issues. For biotic pressures, the GHNPCA management has enforced the regulations under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to control grazing within sanctuaries and restrict most livestock grazing to the buffer zone. Tourism is regulated through a permit systems with visitor numbers being recorded annually. Tourism within the GHNP remains limited due to challenging terrain of the area, with trekking routes mainly attracting adventure tourists that more general public. Regarding wildlife monitoring, the State Partly clarified that GHNPCA is managed under one management plan that also covers the buffer zone. An annual monitoring protocol has been established to monitor the OUV of the property. This protocol includes the monitoring of various faunal species, specifying the time schedules, methods, and locations for population estimations. The protocol was developed with technical support from the UNESCO C2C-WII, and staff from GHNPCA received training in wildlife monitoring surveys between 2021 and 2023. (State Party of India, 2023). The World Heritage Committee reviewed these actions and commended the State Party for addressing the identified weaknesses. The Committee recognized the positive steps taken to improve the management effectiveness of the property and recommended that the State Party continue its adaptive approach to enhance the conservation and monitoring practices within GHNPCA (World Heritage Committee, 2024).

Assessment of the impact of existing resource use on the OUV of the property: The World Heritage Committee in its 43rd and 44th meetings, expressed concern about the potential impact of resource use, particularly grazing and the collection of medicinal plants, on the OUVs of the GHNPCA (World Heritage Committee, 2019 & 2021). In response, the State Party clarified that the existing resource in GHNPCA is minimal, and most of the local community's needs for fuelwood, fodder, timber, and other natural resources are met by the buffer zone surrounding the park. The GHNPCA is sufficiently large to accommodate a diverse ecosystem structure, and most of its area is extremely rugged and inaccessible, which helps maintain its integrity. The diverse habitats and wide altitudinal range further provide an adequate buffer against any potential negative impacts on the OUV of the property. The State Party emphasized that due to the area's inaccessibility, the OUV remains intact, with no significant changes, even in the upward movement of temperature-sensitive species of flora and fauna. Additionally, the GHNPCA management, in partnership with the UNESCO C2C-WII, developed systematic monitoring protocols between 2020 and 2023. These protocols are designed for the long-term monitoring of the OUV, specifically focusing on key species of flora and fauna. To further address the concerns about grazing, the State Party mentioned that the WII conducted a study on the impact of grazing within the sanctuaries and explored strategies for phasing it out. (State Party of India, 2023). While the Committee welcomed the development of the monitoring protocols for the OUVs, it requested more detailed information on the monitoring system. Further, given the traditional dependency of local communities within GHNPCA and that current resource use is strictly regulated within the property, the Committee requested details on the consultation held with local communities and right holders (World Heritage Committee, 2024).

In its 38th meeting, the World Heritage Committee requested the relevant State Parties in the Himalayan region—India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan—to undertake a regional comparative study, with the support of IUCN and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The purpose of the study was to assess the scope of ecosystems in the Himalayan region and identify potential sites for future World Heritage nominations. This study, titled Leveraging the World Heritage Convention for Conservation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, was published in 2021 (World Heritage Committee, 2014). In its 2023 SoC Report, the State Party of India informed the Committee that it is in active communication with the C2C-WII to identify potential sites for nomination to the World Heritage List, based on the findings of the regional study. (State Party of India, 2023). The Committee recommended the State Party to continue its engagement with other State Parties in the context of the Hindu Khush Himalaya study for identifying potential heritage sites (World Heritage Committee, 2024).

There is limited discussion on the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity values of the GHNPCA. The management plan emphasizes the critical role played forest in carbon sequestration, and highlights afforestation and reforestation as important management measures but it is unclear to what extent these are being implemented. The plan recommends implementing such projects in the forested area of the ecozone, leveraging the Clean Development Mechanism. Additionally, it advocates the need for research on the effects of climatic change and global warming on the snowfields and glaciers within the GHNPCA (State Party of India, 2010).

Increased climatic variability is already posing threats to the Himalayan ecosystems, including the Western Himalaya. Extreme weather events such as flooding, droughts, and hail storms are becoming more intense, accompanied with irregular patterns of rainfall and snowfall. These changes are causing physically damage and imposing huge costs on local communities. To better understand these challenges and develop effective mitigation strategies, it is important to conduct rigorous scientific research and surveys (State Party of India, 2013). The annual wildlife monitoring protocol and potential expansion of the site could both be important developments in enhancing the resilience of the site to buffer potential climatic changes.

The management of the GHNPCA is guided by a comprehensive Management Plan that balances biodiversity conservation with the socio-economic development of local communities. The latest plan available in the public domain is for the period 2010 to 2020. The management plan designates the national park as the core zone, ensuring an inviolate space for ecological processes and wildlife conservation, while the sanctuaries (Sainj and Tirthan) mitigate impacts from grazing and resident villages. The focus of the buffer zones lies in reducing resource dependency by creating alternative livelihoods for local communities.

The protective measures within the GHNP is fundamentally based on a permit system which stipulates that no visitor or ecozone resident can enter the area without obtaining a permit. The science-based management plan identifies the threats impacting the biodiversity of the GHNPCA, highlights the biotic pressure arising from livestock grazing and unsustainable collection of medicinal herbs, and addresses the threats posed by the hydropower development near the national park, emphasizing the ecological values at stake.

The management emphasizes habitat restoration through activities such as reviving waterholes and pastures; controlling erosion and weeds; soil conservation works to restore the catchment capability; monitoring changes in watersheds; protection of riparian forests and old growth forests; protection of sensitive habitats such as overhangs and caves which may be useful for bearded vulture, Griffons, and other birds of prey; and vaccination of all livestock entering the Sainj sanctuary to prevent disease transmission (State Party of India, 2010). Habitat restoration plans are regularly monitored during field visit and monthly staff meetings. Habitat management programs have been evaluated as satisfactory by the latest MEE (State Party of India, 2020; Mohan, et al., 2020).

The plan also focuses on engaging local communities, recognizing their historical reliance on park resources. WSCGs were established in 1999 to empower ecozone women through natural-resource-based enterprises. Federated into the BTCA NGO, these groups engage in activities such as organic farming, handicraft production, and medicinal plant propagation. Local men are employed as guides, porters, and cooks in ecotourism initiatives, while street theater groups from WSCG families raise awareness about wildlife conservation in remote villages (State Party of India, 2010).

The BiodCS invites local villagers to provide their advice on priorities such as annual budget expenditures, park entry fee management, and the distribution of revenue. These inputs are facilitated through the BTCA (IUCN, 2013). The GHNP Management Council consists of leaders from all 12 village councils within the ecozone and convenes annually to discuss the preparation of the APOs and to strategize conservation efforts for GHNPCA (State Party of India, 2018).

Efforts to integrate the GHNPCA into a broader landscape conservation framework are underway. The plan envisions linking it with nearby protected areas i.e., Pin Valley National Park, Khirganga National Park, Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary and Kanawar Sanctuary to create a large eco-regional conservation unit (State Party of India, 2010). Progress has been made toward merging Khirganga National Park into GHNPCA, but updates on integrating other areas remain pending.

GHNPCA’s management demonstrates a forward-looking approach, combining wildlife protection, habitat management with inclusive community engagement. However, continuous updates to wildlife maps, and effective implementation of landscape integration are essential for achieving long-term conservation goals. Enhanced transparency and regular reporting on community initiatives and management activities will further strengthen conservation outcomes while ensuring that local communities benefit economically and socially.

The association of the GHNP-a strictly protected area, with an inhabited buffer zone where residents historically exploited the national park’s resources for centuries presents unique challenges to the effective protection of the national park. Protective measures currently implemented are laid out in the management plan, and are based upon the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The approach relies on enforcing a permit systems that prohibits entry into the park-whereby visitors or ecozone resident-without prior authorization.

The permit system is enforced through regular visits by GHNP’s frontline staff who area trained in various field skills, including jungle craft, weapons training, legal procedures for addressing offenses like poaching or unlawful resource use, and rock climbing and mountaineering (State Party of India, 2013).

To enhance patrolling efficiency, a group patrolling system has been established. Unlike traditional patrols, which involved a single Forest Guard covering a designated beat, group patrol consists of two Forest Guards, two forest workers and two or three wildlife watchers. A forest police station located just outside the GHNP in Sainj Valley supports this system. Each patrolling group is assigned specific interior areas of the park to monitor. Daily patrol reports are submitted, enabling GHNP management to assess the performance of the frontline forest staff, identify weaknesses in the patrolling system, and ensure robust enforcement. Patrol reports also include biological data collection, which is used to monitor species and their habitats (State Party of India, 2010).
The GHNPCA management follows a coordinated system for registering and handling public complaints, ensuring timely responses with minimal recurrence of issues (State Party of India, 2020).

However, past protective measures have occasionally led to community agitation against the park’s establishment. This has included incidents of deliberate forest fires in the forest areas and unregulated grazing of sheep and goats in areas where such practices are not customary (Jacob, et al., 2019). These events underscore the critical need for greater involvement of local communities in the management activities. Additionally, implementing alternative livelihood programs within the GHNP landscape can help mitigate the environmental and wildlife impacts while ensuring that marginal fringe communities benefit from eco-development initiatives.

The GHNPCA management receives annual funding from a centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India along with funding from the Himachal Pradesh government. These funds are primarily allocated for staff salaries, habitat management, park protection, and construction activities (State Party of India, 2013). In 2012, the annual salary budget amounted to USD 347,966, with an additional USD 126,366 earmarked for flora and fauna conservation efforts (IUCN, 2013).

The financial position of the GHNPCA has significantly improved since its designation as a World Heritage Site. The total budgeted outlay increased from USD 625,284 in 2015–16 to USD 1.118 million in 2016–17. While updated budget figures are unavailable, the MEE for 2018–2019 indicates that funding levels are adequate for managing the protected area zone. Funds from state government plans are disbursed on time, though delays are occasionally observed in the release of central funding (Mohan, et al., 2020; State Party of India, 2020).

In addition to government funding, the GHNPCA management raises supplementary resources through the BiodCS. Revenues generated from park entry fees and community-based ecotourism activities are reinvested into protected area management. The society also secures funds from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Medicinal Plants Board of India, and external agencies and foundations. These resources are utilized for projects in the ecozone, including the development of ecotourism, the cultivation of medicinal plants, the establishment of botanical gardens, and community-driven conservation of flagship species such as the Western Tragopan (State Party of India, 2013).

As of 2013, the management of the GHNP was supported by 71 permanent staff members, including 40 personnel responsible for patrolling and nursery duties, alongside a number of temporary staff positions. The Divisional Forest Officer oversees the park's management, with three uniformed Range Officers and Deputy Rangers supervising the Forest Guards. These rangers and guards maintain checkpoints at key park entrances and patrol regularly throughout the park (IUCN, 2013). While updated figures on the staff strength are not available, the most recent MEE indicates that the staffing levels are satisfactory. Additional seasonal labour is brought in during critical periods, such as forest fire seasons and winter patrols (Mohan, et al., 2020; State Party of India, 2020).

Frontline staff working in areas with high wildlife activity and unique habitats receive specialized training in various fields, including field craft (recognizing wildlife signs and responding to wildlife encounters), weapons training, legal procedures for wildlife offenses, and technical skills such as rock climbing and mountaineering (State Party of India, 2013).

Academic training institutions have also provided key trainings to the staff. For example, in 2015, 20 forest guards were trained at the WII on advanced census techniques, while four guards were trained in bird ringing and related record-keeping. Additionally, a workshop in 2017 focused on the prosecution of wildlife offenses, and the Forest Survey of India trained staff in GIS methodologies. In 2021, capacity-building sessions were conducted by UNESCO C2C-WII, where staff received training on ecological surveys, habitat assessment, and wildlife monitoring to enhance their ability to monitor the OUV of the GHNPCA (State Party of India, 2023).

To ensure effective communication and safety, the frontline forest staff working in remote areas are equipped with walkie-talkies and receive mobile allowances so that staff can use their personal mobiles for wildlife management and protection purposes. Patrolling staff are also equipped with good quality equipment-sleeping bags, tents, jackets, boots, and solar potable lanterns. (Mohan, et al., 2020; State Party of India, 2020).

The GHNPCA management has implemented initiatives to promote awareness among the local community about the biodiversity values of the park the importance of its conservation:

Educational and Information centers in the ecozone:
The Sai Ropa Community Training and Tourist Centre, located near the park serves as a key facility for education and outreach. It includes a Forest Rest House, a photo exhibition, a conference/training room with projection facilities, and a hall with photo exhibitions about the Park. Outdoors, the center features a 520-meter "Biodiversity Trail" with trees and medicinal plant species transplanted from the park, a pergola offering views of the Tirthan River, a vermicomposting demonstration site, a butterfly enclosure, and a solar energy demonstration site. The Larji Information Centre, situated at the confluence of the Sainj and Tirthan rivers, serves a similar role, providing a hall with training and projection facilities for tourists, school children, and local community members.

Street Theatres:
The ecozone has a village-level Street Theatre group as a part of the BTCA NGO. The group is made up of eight boys and four girls from the identified Women Saving and Credit Group families. The group delivers village-level performances delivering messages about nature and biodiversity conservation in the form of dance and drama in local languages.

Women Folk Festivals (Mahila Mela):
This cultural festival largely involves female members (starting from school going children to elderly women) belonging to villages of Tirthan, Sainj and Jiwa Nal valleys. They gather at Sai Ropa Centre on 2nd October every year and showcase their folk dances, skills, dramas, etc. on the wildlife conservation themes. The GHNPCA management promotes this activity to ensure adequate participation of women in conservation of the park and create awareness about the world heritage site.

Exposure visits:
The GHNPCA also organizes exposure visits, such as nature walks and birdwatching trips, to engage local school children and youth from surrounding villages in learning about the park’s biodiversity and conservation efforts.

Natural Heritage Fest:
A festival celebrating the region’s literature, arts, and culture was organized by UNESCO C2C-WII in partnership with the GHNPCA management. This festival aimed to reinforce the appreciation of environmental heritage and foster a deeper connection with nature. A key focus of the event was to highlight the role of indigenous people in preserving their traditional knowledge and in conserving their natural heritage.
The primary motivation behind the aforementioned initiatives is to keep local community engaged in GHNPCA’ conservation so as to remove their negative opinion regarding creation of the national park. Another objective behind these programs is to promote their interest in the alternative livelihood generating activities to reduce their dependence on protected area resources. To what extent these programs informs/reinforce the legal regulations regarding resource use is not clear.

Due to its challenging treks and remote location, visitation to the GHNP is limited to around 1,000 tourists annually, and visitors are required to obtain permits for park entry and trekking routes (State Party of India, 2013).

Tourism is instead promoted in the buffer zone, which offers easier to moderate treks that pass through villages. Annually, around 6,000 to 8,000 people visit the ecozone area. As part of the ecotourism strategy, the GHNPCA focuses on conservation education for visitors. Several informative materials, including picture books, brochures, posters, and postcards, have been published, featuring details about the park's birds, mammals, plants, ecosystems, and trekking routes. The Sai Ropa Community Training and Tourist Centre in Tirthan Valley offers a variety of facilities, including a Forest Rest House, photo exhibitions, butterfly enclosures, and a 520-meter-long Biodiversity Trail with medicinal plant species transplanted from the park. Similarly, the Larji Information Centre, located outside the park, provides projection facilities to help visitors appreciate and understand GHNP’s endangered species and ecosystems. The BTCA NGO also contributes to education through a Street Theatre group that performs local dances and dramas in Hindi and the local language, delivering messages about biodiversity and nature conservation (State Party of India, 2013).

Local villagers and other stakeholders play a crucial role in promoting ecotourism in the GHNPCA. The BTCA NGO provides local men with opportunities for employment as porters, cooks, and trek guides, while the GHNPCA administration prioritizes the NGO to generate income from ecotourism. Additionally, the authorities engage with local tour operators to manage visitor numbers, ensuring that they stay within the carrying capacity, and promote better waste management practices (State Party of India, 2018).

One of the key objectives of the park’s ecotourism strategy is to control tourism within the strictly protected areas of the GHNPCA. To mitigate the impact of trekking on the park’s biodiversity, the management has implemented measures such as closing visitor access to certain species’ breeding sites in response to population declines. For example, trekking routes in Tirthan Valley were closed to protect the declining Western Tragopan numbers (IUCN, 2013). Furthermore, park trails affected by floods and landslides are either closed or rerouted to allow for necessary maintenance (State Party of India, 2013).

Despite these measures, promoting sustainable tourism in the long term faces challenges. While there are no roads within the national park, the development of link roads within the ecozone may make it easier for more visitors to access the park. Visitor numbers have steadily increased and the latest MEE for GHNPCA points towards increasing pressure on the existing ecotourism zone in the core zone of the GHNP, and the need to explore more areas in the buffer zone to promote trekking and ecotourism activities (Mohan, et al., 2020).

Another key challenge is the lack of a comprehensive tourism carrying capacity assessment for the trekking routes. Such assessments are essential to identify trails and camping areas that can sustain increased visitor numbers, and those that may be too delicate to withstand additional foot traffic (Stevens, 2019). Although the Management Plan mentions the need to conduct these assessments, no details have been provided. Moreover, following the recognition of GHNPCA as a World Heritage Site, commercial tourism infrastructure has increased in the ecozone, especially in the Tirthan Valley area. The development of hotels, restaurants, and homestays has encroached on agricultural land and areas near the Tirthan River floodplain. This expansion has led to negative environmental impacts, including a decrease in forest cover around villages, encroachment on forest land and floodplains, reduced pastureland, and increased fire incidents (Irfan, et al., 2023). There is a pressing need to assess the impact of growing commercial tourism infrastructure on the forest ecosystems in the ecozone and implement measures to regulate it effectively.

The declaration of GHNP as a national park in 1999 resulted in the cessation of traditional community resource rights within the park boundaries. Management plans enforce these protective measures as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. However, the creation of the national park has shifted the burden of resource use to the Sainj and Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuaries, where the rights of the local communities were not extinguished during their notification. Approximately 120 villagers reside within the Sainj Sanctuary, utilizing the area for livestock grazing and medicinal herb collection. Tirthan Sanctuary, while has no settlements, is subject to seasonal grazing by neighboring village communities (State Party of India, 2010).

Biotic pressure from livestock grazing and NTFP collection is a key management challenge for the GHNPCA. A recent study by the WII highlights significant livestock grazing pressure in Tirthan and Sainj Sanctuaries resulting in adverse ecological effects such as soil compaction, erosion, reduced species richness, and restricted wildlife habitat use (WII, 2024). Restrictions on park access have also intensified grazing pressure on village pastures in the ecozone, creating conflicts among locals and stressing high-altitude grazing grounds (Irfan, et al., 2023). Mitigating these impacts requires implementing measures like rotational grazing, restoring degraded pastures, and promoting alternative livelihoods to reduce reliance on grazing (WII, 2024).

Wild collection of medicinal trees and herbs in and around GHNPCA for their barks, roots, tubers, seeds, fruits, flowers, and leaves have led to a significant decline in the occurrence of various species. Highly important medicinal species, including Fritillaria cirrhosa, Trillium govanianum Wall, Nardostachys jatamansi, Arnebia benthamii, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, and Dioscorea deltoidea have vanished from the area (Kumar, et al., 2021). To regulate harvest of medicinal herbs, the Management Plan suggests reviving traditional practices such as herb collection only after seed maturation (Bees Bhadon). Additional strategies include regular training for sustainable harvesting techniques; developing Medicinal Plant Development Areas (MPDA) in ecozone; creating marketing channels or small-scale industries focused on cultivated medicinal plants; and setting up in-situ Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCA) within park to preserve viable populations (State Party of India, 2010).

Although hunting is banned under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, opportunistic poaching and retaliatory killings of wild animals occurs in remote villages of Sainj sanctuary and surrounding areas. Strengthening patrolling, conducting anti-poaching operations, and enforcing statutory wildlife protections are essential to curb these activities. Additionally, raising public awareness through community training on man-animal conflict and provisions of wildlife compensation can foster support for conservation and reduce retaliatory killings (State Party of India, 2013).

Tourism in the GHNPCA’s core area is limited to approximately 1,000 trekkers annually, but the numbers have grown steadily. Escalating tourism pressures on the ecotourism zone in the core area highlight the need for a comprehensive assessment of trekking capacity to identify sustainable routes and protect sensitive terrains (Stevens, 2019). In contrast, the ecozone sees higher visitation, attracting 6,000–8,000 tourists annually. Since the site's World Heritage designation in 2014, a surge in hotels, restaurants, and homestays has adversely impacted the ecozone's land use, leading to loss of forest cover (Irfan, et al., 2023). It is important to study the ecological effects of this infrastructure growth and implement regulations to minimize its impact on forest ecosystems and biodiversity.

The LTEM Strategy, developed by the WII in 1999-2000 forms a very important aspect of biodiversity conservation at the GHNP. Covering 35 sites across the Tirthan, Sainj, and Jiwa sub-watersheds, the LTEM monitors 57 species of flora and fauna, tracking population fluctuations and species statuses to evaluate conservation effectiveness. Results indicate that restrictions on NTFP collection, livestock grazing, and other biotic pressures following the final notification of the park have significantly improved the area's general ecology. GHNPCA staff also monitors wildlife tourism, pilgrimages, and research visits while conducting socio-economic monitoring in ecozone villages to gauge the impacts of eco-development schemes on local demographics and resource dependency (State Party of India, 2010 & 2013).

In March 2020, the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department partnered with UNESCO C2C-WII to implement a project ‘Long-term Monitoring of Outstanding Universal Values of GHNPCA’. The project developed systematic population monitoring protocols for 13 key species, including Western Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Snow Leopard, and Himalayan Musk Deer. The protocols provided detailed descriptions, habitat preferences, distribution maps, and survey methodologies for these species. Between 2021 and 2023, frontline forest staff received training in ecological survey techniques, habitat assessments, and monitoring protocols. Consultations with forest staff indicated stable or improving populations of Snow Leopard, Himalayan Musk Deer, Goral, and Himalayan Black Bear with a minor increase in Common Leopard conflict in the Ecozone area. Status of threatened avifauna viz., Western Tragopan, Cheer Pheasant, and Himalayan Monal was also reported as stable due to their intact habitat and low disturbance in the protected area zone of GHNPCA. However, a lack of data on the population of Snow Partridge was noted, with recommendations for focused studies on its status and habitat to assess the impacts of climate change in upper Himalayan ecosystems. On the floral front, populations of Rhododendron campanulatum, Rhododendron arboreum, and oak species were reported as stable, with notable increases in oak cover in eco-sensitive zones due to plantation programs. The invasion of Parthenium hysterophorus in ecozone areas, however, emerged as a significant concern. Knowledge from frontline staff was crucial for mapping species distributions, although gaps persist in understanding species occurrences in the eastern part of the region. There was a high degree of consensus that OUVs of key faunal species (in terms of population, habitat and protection) area essentially intact and their overall condition is stable or improving (WII, 2023) (Nath, et al., 2022).

Efforts were made to engage local communities in conservation. In 2023, capacity-building programs educated community members about the global significance of GHNPCA's World Heritage status, emphasizing its potential benefits for livelihoods and the regional economy (WII, 2023).

The recent protocols developed by the UNESCO C2C-WII for monitoring the OUV of the GHNPCA staff should become a part of its official management plan. The current LTEM strategy may be updated or fine-tuned accordingly.

UNESCO’s C2C-WII has submitted two important research reports to the GHNPCA management. The first report, submitted in 2023, provided detailed guidelines and protocols for conducting long-term monitoring of the park's OUV (WII, 2023). The second, submitted in October 2024, examined livestock grazing practices in the Sainj and Tirthan sanctuaries. It highlighted the ecological threats posed to pastures and proposed recommendations for more sustainable grazing practices (WII, 2024).

The management plan has identified further areas for research that could significantly enhance conservation decision-making. These include assessing impact of climate change/global warming on snow areas, glaciers; evaluating ecosystem services provided by park’s biodiversity; investigating links between natural and domesticated ecosystems and taxa; documenting community traditions, knowledge with reference to biodiversity at GHNPCA; monitoring changes in populations of vulture, birds of prey and pheasants (State Party of India, 2010).

The management system of GHNPCA faces some challenges in addressing threats outside its boundaries which may affect its ecological integrity. A significant potential threat is the construction of hydropower projects in the Parvati valley and Sainj valley, which will disturb the dense canopies of primary upper temperate forest habitats characterized by coniferous, mixed broad-leaf coniferous, and broad-leaf trees and associated understory vegetation. These habitats are critical for many endangered species, such as Himalayan Musk Deer, Serow, Goral, Black Bear, Common Leopard, and avain species such as Western Tragopan, Cheer Pheasant, Koklass and Monal Pheasant (CISMHE, 2000; Uniyal, 2009). Although the GHNPCA management plan acknowledges the risks posed by dam building near the park, it lacks a site-specific assessment to inform targeted mitigation measures to safeguard the primary Upper Temperate Western Himalayan Forests.
Another pressing issue is the expansion of commercial tourism infrastructure since GHNPCA's recognition as a World Heritage Site in 2014. This growth has resulted in development of hotels, restaurants, and homestays, often encroaching on agricultural land and river floodplains. This unchecked expansion has led to reduction in forest cover around villages, and decline in pasturelands. The management must assess the impacts of tourism growth on the forest ecosystems of the ecozone, analyse carrying capacity and design strategies regulate such developments (Irfan, et al., 2023). However, the current management plan neither acknowledges the impacts of these developments not offers measures to address them.

Additionally, biotic pressures such as grazing and the collection of medicinal herbs continue to affect ecosystems near GHNPCA. The high-altitude thaches and ghasnies (grasslands) within the Ecozone serve as crucial fodder sources during winter. Restrictions on accessing the park’s Core Zone have increased pressure on these areas. Locals often resort to practices like annual grassland burning, which they believe enhances yield. However, these fires frequently lead to forest fires, causing extensive damage to forest patches and altering land use and cover. The heavily grazed grasslands at higher elevations are critical for livestock populations but are now among the most intensively used land types, often triggering conflicts among locals over access and use (Irfan, et al., 2023).

While alternative livelihoods have been developed to reduce grazing pressures, these efforts require significant strengthening, as dependency on pastures persists. Similarly, the decline in medicinal plant species poses a concern. Although the management plan proposes measures like developing medicinal plant propagation areas and reviving traditional sustainable harvesting practices, such as Beed Bhadon, the effectiveness of these initiatives remains unstudied and unrealized.

To effectively address these threats, the GHNPCA management system must prioritize more robust, site-specific assessments, regulate developmental activities, and strengthen livelihood alternatives. Such measures are vital for reducing dependence on natural resources, protecting critical habitats, and ensuring the long-term ecological and social sustainability of the region.

A major threat currently affecting GHNPCA is biotic pressure, particularly from livestock grazing and the collection of medicinal herbs. With the closure of the national park boundaries, pressure on natural resources in the surrounding sanctuaries has increased significantly. Unlike GHNP, where all traditional rights of neighbouring communities were ceased, the sanctuaries still allow these communities to exercise their traditional rights. Currently, 120 villagers from three settlements reside within the Sainj Sanctuary and depend on its resources. In contrast, Tirthan Sanctuary has no human settlements but is subject to traditional seasonal grazing from nearby villages. A proposal to upgrade the sanctuaries to national park status was considered but ultimately not recommended by SBWL. The reasoning was based on to avoid relocating villagers and support ongoing efforts by the park administration to engage communities in the Sainj Sanctuary and encourage phasing out grazing from Tirthan Sanctuary (State Party of India, 2018). A research study by the WII highlighted the high grazing pressure on the meadows of both sanctuaries. The study identified significant ecological impacts, including soil compaction, erosion, and altered species diversity. Grazed areas exhibited lower species richness compared to ungrazed zones. Key recommendations from the study emphasized promoting alternative livelihoods and restoring pasture quality (WII, 2024). The GHNPCA management has made efforts to foster alternative livelihoods through WSCGs and the local NGO BTCA. However, these initiatives require further strengthening to effectively reduce dependency on pasture grazing. The management plan also includes habitat development programs, such as the revival and improvement of pastures. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be studied and realized, necessitating a more focused and evidence-based approach to address the challenges of biotic pressure.

Additionally, the high commercial value of various medicinal plants within GHNPCA has led to overexploitation of their roots, tubers, seeds, fruits, flowers, and leaves, causing significant declines in many species (Kumar, et al., 2021). The management plan outlines actions such as the development of medicinal plant propagation areas and the establishment of in-situ conservation reserves for threatened herbs (State Party of India, 2010). However, given the ongoing overexploitation, these efforts need to be significantly strengthened, and their effectiveness rigorously evaluated.

Furthermore, as highlighted in the latest MEE, mounting tourism pressure on the ecotourism zone within the park's core area presents another challenge (Mohan, et al., 2020). To mitigate these pressures, the management plan calls for assessing the tourism carrying capacity of trekking routes (State Party of India, 2010). More detailed assessments are needed, including identification of trails and camping areas that can sustainably handle visitor pressure and those requiring stricter protection due to ecological sensitivity.

In conclusion, while GHNPCA’s management has made efforts to address internal threats, these initiatives need to be strengthened, and their effectiveness must be systematically studied and assessed to ensure the park’s long-term ecological and social sustainability.