VARANASI, April 2 -- As part of accelerating conservation efforts at Salkhan Fossils Park in Sonbhadra, which was included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in June 2025, security will be strengthened with the construction of a separate entry point and installation of CCTV cameras, district officials said. Sonbhadra district magistrate Badri Nath Singh said the forest department has been directed to enhance protection measures at the park. He added that a dossier for UNESCO's permanent status has already been submitted, as a one-year period on the tentative list is a prerequisite for final inclusion. Sonbhadra Fossil Park, popularly known as Salkhan Fossil Park, is situated in Salkhan village along the Varanasi-Shaktinagar state highway, about 12 km from the district headquarters, Robertsganj. The fossils are found on an ancient hill rising approximately 150-200 metres above sea level and represent a variety of early life forms. The area is also home to wildlife such as rabbits, snakes, butterflies, black deer and monitor lizards. During the Precambrian eon, soft algal colonies-cyanobacteria-interacted with limestone to form layered structures known as stromatolites. The stromatolite fossils at Salkhan Fossil Park are estimated to be about 1,600 million years old and are considered among the oldest fossils on Earth. The site was discovered in 1929 by geologist John Bicknell Auden of the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The fossil deposits are located in Salkhan village, which falls within the Gurma range of the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area managed by the forest department. Stromatolite fossils occur in five distinct patches across the park, which spans about 25 hectares and, at present, is protected by wire fencing. According to the DM, security will be reinforced by deploying additional guards. Plans are also underway to incorporate a separate CCTV-enabled entry point into the park's development blueprint. Plantation drives will be carried out in vacant areas to increase green cover at the site, which is managed by the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary under the forest department. Authorities are also planning to develop nearby ponds and add visitor amenities such as seating arrangements, fountains, and solar lighting in the near future. Construction activities will remain prohibited in the vicinity of the park to preserve its ecological and scientific value. An electricity substation will also be established to support the park's infrastructure. Officials said efforts are being made to attract more tourists and researchers to the site. Information boards will be installed along major roads and in nearby cities, including Varanasi and Mirzapur, to promote the park. A proposal has also been prepared for setting up a small interpretation centre to explain the evolutionary history of the Earth and life forms. This is expected to improve visitors' understanding of fossils and biological evolution. Singh said inclusion in the UNESCO tentative list is only the beginning, noting that the park has already drawn attention from scientists and tourists from India and abroad. He expressed hope that the site would emerge as a major centre for conservation and research on Earth's history....