Kerala's Western Ghats World Heritage areas are grouped into the Agasthyamalai, Periyar, Anamalai, Nilgiri and Thalakkavery sub-clusters

Background

The Kerala Forest Department records that the World Heritage Committee, an independent body of 21 States Parties to the 1972 World Heritage Convention of UNESCO, considered the inscription of forest areas of the Western Ghats on the World Heritage List at its meeting held from 24 June to 6 July in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation.
The Kerala areas included in the World Heritage Site fall under five sub-clusters. The Agasthyamalai sub-cluster covers Shendurney, Neyyar and Peppara wildlife sanctuaries and the Kulathupuzha and Palode ranges.
The Periyar sub-cluster covers Periyar Tiger Reserve and the Ranni, Konni and Achencovil divisions.
The Anamalai sub-cluster covers Eravikulam National Park, Mankulam Division, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mannavan Shola and Karianshola; the Nilgiri sub-cluster covers Silent Valley National Park, New Amarambalam Reserve Forests, Kalikavu Range and Attappady Reserve Forests.
The Thalakkavery sub-cluster covers Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. The department notes that the Western Ghats is recognised as one of the world's eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity and is home to at least 325 globally threatened species.