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<p>India’s geological framework encompasses more than 3.5&#xa0;billion years of Earth’s evolution, recording processes from Archean crustal stabilization to Quaternary surface dynamics. In 2025, seven natural sites representing diverse lithological, stratigraphic, and geomorphic settings were added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage, marking a milestone in India’s geoheritage conservation. These include the Deccan Traps of Maharashtra, St. Mary’s Island Cluster in Karnataka, the Meghalayan Age Caves in Meghalaya, the Naga Hill Ophiolite in Nagaland, the Erra Matti Dibbalu and Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh, and the Varkala Cliffs in Kerala. Collectively, they exemplify major episodes in the Earth’s geological history, such as continental flood basalt volcanism, oceanic crust obduction, karst evolution, and Holocene climatic transition. Their scientific value lies in their potential to refine models of plate tectonics, paleoclimate reconstruction, and coastal geomorphology. This paper synthesizes the geological attributes, scientific importance, and conservation implications of these sites, underscoring their role in advancing India’s geoheritage framework and sustainable geotourism development.</p>

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Geoheritage and Geoscientific Significance of Seven Indian Natural Sites on UNESCO’s Tentative List (2025)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月27日

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  • Jayant Kumar Sahoo

摘要

India’s geological framework encompasses more than 3.5 billion years of Earth’s evolution, recording processes from Archean crustal stabilization to Quaternary surface dynamics. In 2025, seven natural sites representing diverse lithological, stratigraphic, and geomorphic settings were added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage, marking a milestone in India’s geoheritage conservation. These include the Deccan Traps of Maharashtra, St. Mary’s Island Cluster in Karnataka, the Meghalayan Age Caves in Meghalaya, the Naga Hill Ophiolite in Nagaland, the Erra Matti Dibbalu and Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh, and the Varkala Cliffs in Kerala. Collectively, they exemplify major episodes in the Earth’s geological history, such as continental flood basalt volcanism, oceanic crust obduction, karst evolution, and Holocene climatic transition. Their scientific value lies in their potential to refine models of plate tectonics, paleoclimate reconstruction, and coastal geomorphology. This paper synthesizes the geological attributes, scientific importance, and conservation implications of these sites, underscoring their role in advancing India’s geoheritage framework and sustainable geotourism development.