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LIVING PLANET
FOUNDATION
P. O. Box 842595
Houston, Texas 77284-2595, USA
Phone 713 876 5400
Fax 775 582 3563
Email: livingplanet@sbcglobal.net
www.livingplanetfoundation.org
June 5, 2008
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister's Office
South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi 110 001
India
Email:pmosb@pmo.nic.in,
Dear Dr. Manmohan
Singh:
Petition to designate
the Gulf of Mannar as a UNESCO World Heritage mixed
natural and cultural site.
Living Planet Foundation,
USA, in association with a growing number of international
organizations recognizes that the Gulf of Mannar contains
one of the world's most significant marine and terrestrial
ecosystems, representing a major stage of the earth's
evolutionary history, an outstanding example of significant
on-going geological processes, and considerable habitats
where rare and endangered plant and animal species
still survive. We are, therefore leading the campaign
to have the Gulf of Mannar designated a UNESCO World
Heritage mixed Natural and Cultural site, vital in
the global campaign to preserve biodiversity. The
Gulf of Mannar, which includes Ram Sethu also known
as Adam's Bridge, fulfills the criteria and requirements
set forth in the World Heritage Convention for designation
as a World Heritage Site. This designation would assist
in the protection of this first marine biosphere reserve
in all of South and Southeast Asia located on the
southeastern tip of India in the state of Tamil Nadu,
in the Indo-Pacific region.
What is the
UNESCO World Heritage Site Program?
Heritage is our legacy
from the past, what we live with today, and what we
pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural
heritages are both irreplaceable sources of life and
inspiration. Places as diverse as the Prambanan Temples
of Java, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier
Reef in Australia, and the Great Wall of China make
up our world's heritage.
The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(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.
(From the World Heritage Centre)
THE GULF OF MANNAR
- NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE CRITERIA OF OUTSTANDING
UNIVERSAL VALUE
Cultural Heritage
Criteria
A World Heritage Cultural
Site is considered to be of outstanding universal
value if it bears "a unique or at least exceptional
testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization
which is living or which has disappeared;or is an
outstanding example of a traditional human settlement
or land-use which is representative of a culture (or
cultures), especially when it has become vulnerable
under the impact of irreversible change."
The Gulf of Mannar
which includes Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) has great
cultural and religious significance to the people
of India as well as ancient linkages to Hindu traditions
of millions of Hindus around the world. Immense archaeological
evidence found in the Gulf of Mannar region establishes
a close relationship with the Indian culture as well
as use of the area for religious purposes. Several
sacred sites are known, including temples located
along the Gulf of Mannar on the southeastern tip of
India which are of outstanding universal value from
the historical, aesthetic, ethnological and anthropological
points of view.
Ram Sethu (Adam's
Bridge) is an ancient monument held sacred by millions
of Hindus all around the world. Description of the
significance of Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) can be found
in abundance throughout the literature of Hindu scriptures
such as Ramayana. In Puranas, the importance of Sethu
is explained in great details, especially in Skanda
Purana, Vishnu Purana, Agni Purana, and Brahma Purana.
The role of Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) in providing
a historical setting for the Ramayana is also seen
in the Rajavali complied about the fourth century
AD.
It is important to
note that Ramlila, the traditional Indian performances
of the Ramayana, was proclaimed as a Masterpiece of
the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity in November
2005 under UNESCO's Convention for Safeguarding of
Intangible Cultural Heritage. Ramlila was selected
"for its artistic, historical or anthropological
value and for the importance for the cultural identity
and sense of continuity of the custodian communities
as well as for the cultural diversity of humanity
and to raise awareness among the international community
as to the value of intangible cultural heritage and
the urgent need to act to ensure its transmission".
Natural Heritage
Criteria
The Gulf of Mannar
Marine Biosphere Reserve (GOMMBRE) is the first Marine
Biosphere Reserve not only in India, but also in South
and Southeast Asia. It is an evolutionary textbook
in terms of endemic marine life, fauna and flora and
coral reef species. The 10,500 square kilometers of
a unique set of ecosystems, coral islands, reefs,
banks, and shoals of the Gulf of Mannar is a crown
jewel that contains superlative natural phenomena
and areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic
importance and it is considered to be one of world's
richest marine biological resources and a significant
natural habitat for conservation of biological diversity
and one of the last remnants of an ecosystem that
was once common on this planet.
Around 3,600 species
of fauna and flora have been identified in the Gulf
of Mannar, which comprises of 3 different ecosystems
- Sea grass, Mangrove and Coral Reef. 17 species of
mangrove occur within the reserve and act as an important
nursery of habitats. The shallow waters in the area
have the highest concentration of sea grass species
along India's 7,500 km coastline. 11 species of sea
grass recorded in India are found in the reserve.
The island's is surrounding shallow waters harbors
3 species of seagrass that are found nowhere else
in India. The same shallow waters are also known to
have at least 147 species of marine algae (seaweed).
These meadows support complex ecological communities
and are of global significance as they are among the
largest remaining feeding grounds for the globally
endangered dugong. Additionally five species of marine
turtles, innumerable fish, seahorse, mollusks and
crustaceans also feed here.
Productive fringing
and the patchy coral reef surrounding the Gulf of
Mannar islands are comprised of at least 91 species
of coral reef systems. The islands are used by 168
migratory bird species and the sandy shores of most
islands provide a nesting habitat for 5 species of
marine turtles. This region is also home to over 450
species of fish, 79 species of crustaceans, 108 species
of sponges, 260 species of mollusks and 100 species
of echinoderms. Corals, sea fans, sponges and holothurians
found in the Gulf of Mannar are all protected species
under the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Krusadai Island, in
Mandapam, exemplifies the biological significance
of the Gulf. The fact that close to 3,600 species
of plants and animals are natural inhabitants of the
Gulf of Mannar make it the biologically richest coastal
region in India. It is home to, and provides vital
mating and nesting habitat for the endangered species
such as whales, dolphins, sea horse, sea snakes and
the threatened green sea turtle.
The Gulf of Mannar
is an international priority site for many reasons
- it's biophysical and ecological uniqueness, economic,
social, cultural, scientific importance and national
and global significance. It is famous for several
indigenous industries such as the centuries old pearl
which has been an important part of trade with the
Roman Empire as early as the first Century AD. The
Gulf of Mannar has an ancient maritime history and
continues to be famous for its production of chank
(Indian conch), which is unique to India's coastline
and not found anywhere else in the world.
Gulf of Mannar
as a UNESCO World Heritage mixed natural and cultural
site.
The area is already
under severe stress due to increasing number of industries
on the coast. Some of these like the Tuticorin Thermal
Power Station and the Dhrangadhra Chemical and Tuticorin
Salt Marine Chemicals have been discharging ash and
effluents, thus adversely affecting the seagrasses
and coral ecosystem in the vicinity. Moreover, Biosphere
Reserves are protected areas representative of a unique
environment and are internationally recognized under
UNESCO MAB Programme (Man and Biosphere) for their
value in Conservation and Management of Natural resources
through scientific research and monitoring to support
sustainable development of resources. One of the major
threats to the reserve is the Sethu Samudram Ship
Canal Project (SSCP) on the coast of Tamil Nadu.
To recognize the extreme
danger of extinction currently facing the dugongs
and the turtles, and to act to avoid extinction and
begin the process of recovery, we request you to ensure
that the SSCP is scrapped and the Gulf of Mannar is
recognized as a World Heritage Site under the criteria
laid down by the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Gulf of Mannar
must be nominated for both its cultural and natural
resources. Most Indians view the Gulf of Mannar and
Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) as integral parts of their
culture and as deeply spiritual locations. Physical
remnants of Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge), and oral and
written accounts provide evidence of the cultural
and religious significance of the Gulf of Mannar and
surrounding region as a place of worship by Hindus.
When the Government
of India set aside this unique marine environmental
ecosystem as South Asia's largest marine protected
area in 1989 it was in recognition of the value of
preserving one of the world's few remaining pristine
natural areas. The designation of World Heritage Site
will add to that distinction.
Typically World Heritage
Sites are natural resources or cultural resources,
or a combination. India's application will be as a
combination, because in India the natural resources
are also cultural resources. The protection and preservation
of this invaluable area is vital in the global campaign
to preserve coral reef biodiversity and our environment.
As concerned citizens
of the world we are united in the belief we must preserve
our natural heritage and safeguard the environment
around us for future generations. Setting aside the
Gulf of Mannar as a World Heritage Site would preserve
in perpetuity its unique, fragile and diverse ecosystems,
habitats and communities of flora and fauna, as well
as areas of Indian cultural significance. World Heritage
Site status would provide additional safeguards for
religious and cultural sites and give a protective
buffer around the Gulf of Mannar, safeguarding the
foraging grounds of the marine life it sustains.
While this may be
a real moment of political courage, it will be paying
dividends for generations to come. It's not just for
the country, but frankly, for the whole of humanity.
It is our sincere belief that the Gulf of Mannar embodies
World Heritage and our ideals of stewardship of natural
and cultural heritage in an area of international
significance. Without a doubt, the Gulf of Mannar
is an ideal candidate to become a World Heritage Site.
Dr. Manmohan Singh,
we appreciate your leadership, and urge you to take
action to leave a legacy of reinvigorated hope on
saving our fragile environment. Please don't let the
extinction of sea turtles or the destruction of Ram
Sethu (Adam's Bridge) be a part of your legacy. You
need to do all that is possible to protect these treasures.
A World Heritage designation with such prestigious
international value is a source of great pride for
the entire nation. Please take a leadership role to
ensure the future of our precious resources and our
culture.
Thank you in advance
for your prompt action.
Yours sincerely,
Living Planet Foundation, USA
cc:
H. E. Ms Bhaswati Mukherjee
Ambassador, Permanent Delegate
Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO
Maison de l'UNESCO
Bureaux M1.42/M1.38
1, rue Miollis
75732 PARIS Cedex 15
Email: dl.india@unesco.org
Indian National Commission
for Co-operation with UNESCO
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Department of Secondary and Higher Education
Government of India
Shastri Bhavan
NEW DELHI 110 001
INDIA
Email: shalendra@hub.nic.in
Embassies and Consulates
of Government of India
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