Shillong, Sept. 5 -- The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has proposed the living roots bridges of Meghalaya for the prestigious Unesco-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for safeguarding and management of cultural landscapes.
The living root bridge, found in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, are a testament to the region's unique cultural and natural heritage.
These bridges, ladders, steps, and erosion-control systems are cultivated by the Khasi-Jaintia communities using the ficus elastica tree and have been an integral part of the landscape for over two millennia, WII officials said.
The indigenous community, including traditional farmers and hunters, continue to use and nurture these structures, reinforcing the remark...