World Hertiage Sites and Sustainable Development: Case of the Western Ghats

Abstract

Is the environmental management regime premised upon the concept of sustainable development appropriate for a world heritage site? This is a pressing question in India given the inscription of the Western Ghats in the World Heritage List. This paper considers the question posed from the perspective of jurisprudence developed under the World Heritage Convention and legal theory. It also includes a case study from overseas – New Zealand – to demonstrate the practical ramifications of a management regime premised upon sustainable development. The paper concludes that a management approach which seeks to “balance” the tri-partite values inherent in sustainable development – environmental, economic and socio-cultural values – is inappropriate in the context of a world heritage site, and that only a method premised upon “strong sustainability” is legitimate.