Indian plateau may be sanctioned world heritage

October 14, 2010

A team of UNESCO experts will visit Maharashtra's Kaas Plateau in India in order to determine if the plateau should be granted world heritage site status, according to the Deccan Herald.

The Kaas Plateau is home to over 300 species of wildflowers, herbs, orchids and shrubs which bloom during the monsoon season and cover the plateau and surrounding mountains in vibrant colors.

"Though Kaas Plateau has been known locally, in recent years, it has acquired world fame for the awesome transformation during the four-month-long monsoon," Dibhas Amonkar, a Mumbai naturalist, told the news source.

Local government in India recently approved a plan to preserve the plateau's rich bio-diversity, which is considered extremely unique. However, Kaas is still in danger due to pollution and human activity. Amonkar warned that the plateau would "disappear within the next three to five years," if further measures toward its preservation were not met.

The UNESCO team is expected next week, between Oct 21 - 25.

Around 1,300 species of orchid plants are found in India, especially around the Himalayan mountains, according to OrchidAsia.com. The news source also reports that many orchid species are in such high demand that their populations have been over-exploited.

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