Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges included in UNESCO world heritage site tentative list

Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges has been included in the UNESCO world heritage site tentative list.

Locally known as “Jingkieng Jri”, there are around 100 known living root bridges found in 72 villages in the East Khasi Hills district and West Jaintia Hills district of the mountainous state.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma tweeted: “Delighted to share that ‘Jingkieng Jri’ : Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes of Meghalaya has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list. I congratulate all community members and stakeholders in this ongoing journey.”

Meghalaya’s Forest and Environment Minister James K. Sangma in a series of tweets said: “I am thrilled to announce that our "Jingkieng Jri : Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes of Meghalaya" has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list.”

“The living root bridges not only stand out for their exemplary human-environment symbiotic relationship but also focus on their pioneering use for connectivity and resilience, and the need to adopt sustainable measures to balance economy and ecology.

I would like to congratulate members of different communities, stakeholders, and all those who are involved in working towards protecting these intricate bio-engineered bridges,” James K. Sangma said.