Bridging Nature and Culture in the Western Ghats: Rethinking Mixed Heritage Management
The Western Ghats in India, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, represent a rare case where natural and cultural values overlap. My dissertation examined how these “mixed heritage” landscapes are managed, highlighting the tensions between international conservation frameworks and local traditions of stewardship.
Through interviews with government officials, conservationists, tourism operators, journalists, and community members, I explored different perceptions of the relationship between nature and culture. The findings revealed a disconnect between top-down policies—often rooted in Western conservation thought—and the lived realities of local communities, who view nature and culture as inseparable.
This gap creates challenges in governance, sustainable tourism, and conservation practice. Yet it also opens opportunities: by integrating local voices and indigenous knowledge systems into management strategies, heritage sites like the Western Ghats can move toward more inclusive and resilient futures.
The study contributes to global debates on sustainable heritage management, while offering practical recommendations for India’s conservation and tourism sectors. By rethinking how we bridge global frameworks with local perspectives, mixed heritage sites can be safeguarded not only as ecological treasures but also as living cultural landscapes.
Read the full dissertation by Sanjana Simha Chennarayapatna Umesha, MSc International Heritage & Cultural Tourism Management