UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

Out of the 227 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 83 of the locations are also considered national parks. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 in the Himalayan mountain range across north western India. Consisting of one of the tallest mountains in India and a lush meadow of alpine flowers, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers was named after a Hindu goddess and holds cultural significance with the Nanda Devi Raj Jat pilgrimage held on foot every twelve years. With UNESCO World Heritage Sites aimed “to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity,” Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers is a controlled site of untouched, natural land that holds a long term significance for ecological monitoring.

Outstanding Universal Value

To be considered a National Park, a site must be deemed by the country to have national significance and in need of resource protection. Similarly, UNESCO has ten Outstanding Universal Value parameters (OUV) that determines whether a site is worthy of making the World Heritage List. Six of the ten parameters are culturally significant and the remaining four are natural criteria. To be considered, a site must meet at least one of the criteria; Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers fulfil two of the natural parameters.

Criterion (vii): To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological process in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.

The Nanda Devi National Park consists of significant on-going geological landforms such as glaciers, moraines, and alpine meadows. Located in the Kumaon Himalayas, the Nanda Devi peak is 7,817 m tall making it India’s second highest mountain.

In contrast to this towering mountain, the Valley of Flowers is a high altitude valley consisting of over 600 species of exotic flora. This valley sits between the Nanda Devi Himalaya and Zanskar, making it a unique pocket of beauty.

Criterion (x): To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

Combined, the two sites consist of a wide range of climates, landscape typologies, and flora and fauna species. The Nanda Devi Mountain is considered habitat to multiple endangered species, such as the snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer, and blue sheep. Unlike other habitats for these creatures, the mountain also hosts a large number of ungulates, galliformes and carnivores. By keeping this location protected, the dense population of these animals can continue to prosper.

Parallel, the Valley of Flowers contains a multitude of exotic flora native to the West Himalaya biogeographic zone such as anemones, daisies, marigolds, orchids, poppies, and primulars. A large number of these plants are utilised as medicinal plants and are being threatened outside of the national parks borders. In connection with the flora, the valley hosts seven restricted-range bird species, meaning these species of birds only locate themselves within this range of land.

Buffer Zone: To surround or adjoin the core area, and are used for activities compatible with sound ecological practices that can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training and education….Sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.

Encapsulating both parks is the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve aimed to act as a buffer zone between each protected site and the surrounding civilization, while also acting as a learning place for sustainable development. The Biosphere reserve takes up 514,246 ha of land surrounding the 63,033 ha of Nanda Devi and 8,750 ha of Valley of Flowers.

Protection of the Site

The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve was petitioned to be extended by UNESCO in 2005 to resist external pressures on the two World Heritage Sites. 

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers were previously unexplored until 1930 when a few farmers migrated onto the land for cattle and crops. However, the land was rid of societal pressures in 1983 when the land was determined off-limits to all locals and adventure climbers. Five years later in 1988, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now, only a handful of small ecotourist groups are allowed on site throughout the year.

With the land having only been partially occupied for less than 60 years, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers is one of the most untouched pieces of land left in the world. Without anthropogenic pressure, this land is being studied to understand the impact humankind has on the earth that has not directly been affected. The prevention of human interference also allows for natural processes to flourish and flora and fauna populations to grow.

After the 2005 expansion, there have only been a handful of complaints leading up until 2011 where UNESCO has been concerned about detrimental effects on the land. These concerns have stayed consistent throughout the years with tourism, local pilgrimage, hydro power projects, and infrastructure expansions. These all remain potential threats to the area and are continuously being evaluated to further prevent anything from impacting Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers are unique opportunities to open the eyes of the world to the impact human beings currently have on the earth and what a landscape can look like that is protected from the overbearing hands of man.

Citations:

Centre, U.W.H. (no date) Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National parks, UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/335 (Accessed: 27 May 2024). 

Centre, U.W.H. (no date b) The criteria for selection, UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria (Accessed: 27 May 2024). 

Unep-Wcmc (2017) Nanda Devi & Valley of flowers national parks, World Heritage Datasheet. Available at: http://world-heritage-datasheets.unep-wcmc.org/datasheet/output/site/nanda-devi-valley-of-flowers-national-parks/ (Accessed: 27 May 2024). 

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Harvard Citation Style Guidelines

To generate citations, please use: https://www.citethisforme.com/cite/website/autocite. 

Harvard citation style is a parenthetical referencing system consisting two main components:

• In-text citations are an author-date system that includes the author’s surname and the year of publication—both should be shown in brackets wherever another source has contributed to your work/ idea. And, if necessary, the page numbers are included in the parenthetical citations. 

For example: (Joyce, 2008).

• A reference list outlining all of the sources directly cited in your work. 

For adding the references in Harvard Style at the end of your article, paste the URL in any of the following sites: 

https://www.citethisforme.com/citation-generator/harvard; 

https://www.mybib.com/tools/harvard-referencing-generator;

And then you can copy-paste the citation generated here in your REFERENCES LIST at the end of your article.

For better understanding, follow through with the points mentioned below:

1. Books

Citations for books with one author:

Last name, first initial. (Year). Title. Edition (if not the first edition of the book). City of publication: Publisher.

For example:

Davis, B. (2013). A History of Chocolate. Nottingham: Delectable Publications.

Davis, B. (2013). A History of Chocolate. 3rd ed. Nottingham: Delectable Publications.

Citations for books with two or three authors:

Last name, first initial., Last name, first initial., and Last name, first initial. (Year). Title. City of publication: Publisher.

For example:

Jones, F. and Hughes, S. (2006). Eating Out: A Definitive Restaurant Handbook. Nottingham: Delectable Publications.

Citations for books with four or more authors:

Last name, first initial., Last name, first initial., Last name, first initial., and Last name, first initial. (Year). Title. City of publication: Publisher.

For example:

James, P., Croft, D., Levin, S. and Doe, A. (1998). How to Succeed in the Restaurant Industry. Nottingham: Delectable Publications.

2. Articles

Citations for Print Journals:

Last name, First initial. (Year). Article Title. Journal name, Volume (Issue), Page/s.

For example:

Jenkins, O. (1996). Unusual Recipes and Cantonese Cuisine. Culinary Research, Volume 5 (8), pp. 47-59.

Citations for Journal Articles accessed on a website or database:

Last name, First initial. (Year). Article Title. Journal name, Volume (Issue), Page/s. Available from: URL. [Accessed: date].

For example:

Jenkins, O. (1996). Unusual Recipes and Cantonese Cuisine. Culinary Research, Volume 5 (8), pp. 47-59. Available at: www.culinaryresearchjournal.com/jenkinsocanteonese [Accessed: 5 June 2016].

Citations for Newspaper Articles – Print or Online: 

Last name, First initial. (Year). Article title. Newspaper name, Page/s.

Last name, First initial. (Year). Article Title. Newspaper name, Page/s. Retrieved from: Journal name/ URL if freely available.

For example:

Bell, Y. (2016). Man with unusual tastes eats chalk for breakfast. The Weekly Herald, p. 4.

Lees, P. (2015). Freaky eaters. The Weekly Herald, p.21. Available at: www.theweeklyheraldonline.com/freakyeaters2015 [Accessed 21 June 2016].

Citations for Magazine Articles – Print or Online:

Last name, First initial. (Year). Article title. Magazine name, volume number, Page/s.

Last name, First initial. (Year, Month, Day). Article Title. Magazine name, [online] Page/s. Retrieved from: URL

For example:

Ilkes, J. (2006). Five Ways to Eat More Fruit and Vegetables. Healthy Lifestyles, (12), pp. 34-36.

Ilkes, J. (2009, September 20). Why Dried Fruit is a Diet Staple. Healthy Lifestyles. Retrieved from: www.healthylifestylesmag.com/driedfruitilkes2009

3. Online sources

Citations for websites:

Author/Source if no specific author (Year). Title of web document/page. [online]. (Last updated: if this information is available). Available at: URL [Accessed date: Day/Month/Year].

For example:

HealthTips (2015). Superfoods and where to find them. [online]. (Last updated 20 May 2015). Available at: www.healthtipsarticles.com/superfoodsandwheretofindthem [Accessed 20 June 2016].

Citations for emails:

Sender’s last name, First initial. (Year). Subject Line of Email. [email].

For example:

James, D. (2016). New business plan for McDowells. [email].

Citations for Social Media:

Last name of author, First initial. (Year). Title of page [Social media format]. Day/month/year written. Available from: URL. [Accessed: Day/Month/Year].

For example:

Proud, F. (2014). Food lovers group [Facebook]. Written 5 June 2014. Available from: www.facebook.com/foodloversgroupproudf2014 [Accessed 25 September 2016].

4. Images/visual mediums

Citations for films/videos/DVDs:

Full Title of Film/Video/DVD. Year of release. [Type of medium]. Director. Country of Origin: Film studio or maker. (Any other relevant details).

For example:

The World’s Best Curries. (2011). [Film]. Directed by J. Hertz. U.K: Foodie Studios.

Citations for YouTube videos:

Username of contributor. (Year). Video Title, Series Title (if relevant). [type of medium]. Available at: URL. [Accessed: Day/ Month/ Year].

For example:

Yummy Dishes. (2012). Egg custard – simple recipe!, Baking 101. [YouTube video]. Available at: www.youtube.com/yummydisheseggcustard [Accessed 13 June 2016].

Citations for broadcasts:

Series title and episode name/number. (Year). [Year of broadcast]. Broadcasting organisation and channel, date and time of transmission.

For example:

World Kitchen: Nigeria, episode 5. (2011). [Broadcast 2011]. BBC 1, first transmitted 30 July 2011, 20:00.

Citations for images/photographs – Print or Online:

Last name of artist/photographer, first initial (if known). (Year of production). Title of image. [type of medium] (Collection Details if available – Document number, Geographical place: Name of library/archive/repository).

For example:

Hewer, D. (1995). Women enjoying a cup of tea. [Photograph]. (Document number 345, London: Food Photography Library).

Citations for maps:

Map maker’s name. (Year of issue). Title of map. Map series, sheet number, scale. Place of publication: publisher.

For example:

SpeedyQuest maps. (2003). Map of Biddiford. Local Maps, sheet 5, scale 1:50000. Nottingham: Local Publications.

Citations for podcasts:

Broadcaster/author’s name. (Year). Programme title, series title (if relevant). [type of medium] date of transmission. Available at: URL [Accessed date: Day/Month/Year].

For example:

Yummy Dishes. (2015). Innovative Baking, Innovative Food. [Podcast]. Transmitted 16 October 2015. Available at: www.foodiepodcasts.com/yummydishesinnovativebaking [Accessed: 17 April 2016].

5. Other source types

Citations for reports:

Organisation/author. (Year). Full title of report. Place of publication: Publisher.

For example:

Marks and Spencers. (2014). A report on the sales of ‘2 Dine for £10’. London: M&S Publications.

Citations for dissertations:

Last name of author, first initial. (Year). Title of dissertation. Level. Official name of university.

For example:

Neath, G. (1998). An examination of Mexican food in popular culture. Masters level. Oxford Brookes University.

Citations for interviews:

Last name of interviewer, first initial, and last name of interviewee, first initial. (Year). Title/description of interview.

For example:

Ferman, H. and Bill, O. (2004). Discussing cooking.

Citations for presentations/lectures:

Last name of author, first initial. (Year). Presentation/lecture title.

For example:

Yates, R. (2008). The benefits of herbs.

Citations for music:

Performer/writer’s last name, first initial. (Year). Recording title. [Medium]. City published: music label.

For example:

Luce, F. (1996). Delicious. [CD Recording]. Nottingham: Delectable Music.

Citations for computer programs/software:

Name of software/program. (Year). Place/city where software was written: Company/publisher.

For example:

RecipeGen. (2008). Nottingham: Delectable Software.