The Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim has earned global acclaim after the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognised it as one of the Best Managed Protected Areas in the World. The state forest and environment department confirmed that the park received a ‘Good’ rating in the IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025, making it the only site in India to achieve this grade.
Spread across 1,784 sq km in the Mangan and Gyalsing districts, the park is known for its rich biodiversity, high-altitude landscapes and cultural significance. It also includes Mt Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), the world’s third-highest peak, and sits at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. The region is home to rare wildlife such as the snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, red panda, barking deer and Dhole, along with nearly 550 bird species.
The IUCN’s assessment is part of its global review of natural and mixed heritage sites, evaluating their conservation status, threats and management effectiveness. These evaluations, based on independent expert reviews, help determine how well sites are protected for future generations.
Sikkim’s Forest and Environment Minister Pintso Namgyal Lepcha called the recognition a “moment of pride,” highlighting the state’s long-standing commitment to conservation and community-led ecological protection. Officials said the park’s strong management practices, eco-friendly tourism initiatives and local participation played a key role in securing the honour.
Khangchendzonga National Park earlier received the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag in 2016 under the mixed heritage category — the first such site in India to be recognised for both natural and cultural importance.
The IUCN, headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, is the world’s largest environmental network and also publishes the widely referenced IUCN Red List of threatened species.
