Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges and UNESCO Nomination

India’s UNESCO Nomination Move

Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges and UNESCO Nomination: India has officially nominated Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List 2026–27 cycle. The nomination highlights a rare living heritage system that combines traditional knowledge, ecological engineering, and cultural continuity.

The bridges represent a unique human–nature partnership. They are not constructed structures but biological formations shaped over decades through community wisdom.

What Are Living Root Bridges

Living root bridges are formed by training the aerial roots of the Rubber fig tree (Ficus elastica) across streams and rivers. Over time, the roots fuse and strengthen, forming durable natural bridges.

Unlike man-made bridges, these structures are alive. They grow stronger every year, adapt naturally to floods, and regenerate without artificial materials.

Static GK fact: The Rubber fig tree belongs to the Moraceae family and is native to tropical climates with high rainfall.

Indigenous Bioengineering System

These bridges are created through traditional bioengineering techniques developed by indigenous communities. The roots are guided using bamboo scaffolds and wooden frames until they anchor naturally.

The process takes 15–30 years to form a fully functional bridge. Some bridges are more than 100 years old, proving their long-term structural resilience.

This system reflects sustainable architecture without carbon footprint, making it globally unique.

Role of Khasi and Jaintia Communities

The bridges are developed by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya. Knowledge transfer occurs through oral traditions and community practice.

Elders guide younger generations in shaping roots, maintaining growth direction, and protecting tree health. The system depends on collective responsibility, not individual ownership.

Static GK Tip: The Khasi community traditionally follows a matrilineal social system, where lineage is traced through the mother.

Geographical Significance of Meghalaya

The bridges are mainly located in the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills of southern Meghalaya. The region receives extremely high rainfall, making river crossings essential for daily life.

Villages like Nongriat have globally known examples such as the double-decker living root bridge, which demonstrates advanced root-layering techniques.

Static GK fact: Meghalaya is one of the wettest regions on Earth, influenced by the southwest monsoon winds from the Bay of Bengal.

UNESCO Evaluation Process

India submitted the nomination dossier in January 2026 for evaluation under the 2026–27 UNESCO cycle. The assessment will be conducted through UNESCO’s heritage evaluation mechanisms.

The nomination recognizes the bridges as a cultural landscape, not just a physical structure. It combines nature, culture, and living traditions into a single heritage model.

Global Significance of the Nomination

The bridges represent climate-resilient infrastructure rooted in indigenous knowledge systems. They showcase how communities can create long-term solutions without environmental destruction.

If inscribed, the bridges will gain global recognition as a model of sustainable development, community conservation, and ecological balance.

This strengthens India’s position in showcasing living heritage systems, not just monuments and archaeological sites.

Socio-Economic Impact

UNESCO recognition can promote eco-tourism while ensuring regulated conservation. It can generate local livelihoods without disturbing traditional practices.

The focus remains on community-led preservation, preventing commercialization that harms ecological balance.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges and UNESCO Nomination: