UNESCO tag for root bridges

In News 

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has underlined some green rules for the living root bridges of Meghalaya to get the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag.
• faunal diversity and the preparation of health cards would be the prerequisites for Meghalaya’s living root bridges to earn the UNESCO tag.

About 

• Meghalaya houses single to double-decker living root bridges.
  •  Such a bridge is locally called jingkieng jri.

• They are created by human beings.  
  • A living root bridge is like a suspension bridge formed by guiding the pliable roots of the rubber fig tree (Ficus elastica) across a stream or river and allowing the roots to grow and strengthen over time. 
• Although the Living Root bridge takes around 10 to 15 years to take its shape, it can last up to 500 years. 
• They are a symbol of Meghalaya’s heritage

Importance: 

• They can be considered as a reference point for future botanical architecture projects in urban contexts. 
•  They are among the major points of attraction in Meghalaya and also home varieties of flora and fauna.
• They are ever-evolving and have the potential to hold 50 or more people in one go.
  •  Found mostly over streams running through the forests, these are grown by trained Khasi and Jaintia tribes.

 Source:TH