From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, April 29: In a significant nod to indigenous engineering, UNESCO has moved to document Sikkim’s traditional Ru-Soam (cane bridges) for global protection. The move follows the remarkable resilience shown by these structures during the 2023 glacial floods, which devastated modern infrastructure across the Teesta basin.
UNESCO has partnered with the Government of Sikkim and the hospitality platform Airbnb to document this engineering heritage within the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve. The initiative seeks to nominate the Ru-Soam bridge-making tradition for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, ensuring its global recognition and protection while highlighting how indigenous wisdom can address modern challenges like climate change.
Crafted by the Lepcha community using local materials such as bamboo, cane, and wood, these bridges reflect a sophisticated understanding of ecological balance. The project will systematically study the environmental and engineering principles of Ru-Soam to determine how these time-tested practices can inform contemporary climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
The resilience of these structures was put to the test during the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) of October 2023. While modern bridges were swept away, several cane bridges remained intact, providing critical connectivity to remote areas.
“This partnership underscores the importance of generating knowledge that is both locally grounded and globally relevant,” said Dr Sandeep Tambe, Principal Secretary of Sikkim’s Department of Science and Technology. “The Ru-Soam bridges are not relics of the past; they are living expressions of engineering ingenuity. They show us that resilience is strongest when it grows from place, memory, and collective wisdom.”
Dr Benno Böer, Chief of Natural Sciences at the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, noted that the project will involve field research, community consultations, and technical assessments. The goal is to produce a comprehensive report on how indigenous knowledge can strengthen modern infrastructure in disaster-prone regions.
Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb Country Head for India and Southeast Asia, added: “Airbnb is proud to support the study of these extraordinary bridges.
This initiative is a step toward amplifying local voices and exploring sustainable, climate-resilient futures.”
This project aligns with UNESCO’s Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) programme, which fosters exchange between indigenous knowledge holders and the scientific community. The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018, serves as a vital platform for this cooperation.
This initiative follows the momentum of the Jingkieng Jri (Living Root Bridges) of Meghalaya, which were included in UNESCO’s tentative list in 2022 and are currently nominated for the 2026–27 World Heritage cycle.
