Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

• Civil unrest (Forced evacuation of Park staff) (issue resolved)
• Illegal activities (Poaching and illegal logging)
• Crop production (Subsistence agriculture inside the property)
• Financial resources (Slow release of funds by central Government)
• Invasive/alien terrestrial species
• Impact of tourism/visitor/recreation (Uncontrolled infrastructure development by local tourism groups)
• Military training (Attempts by paramilitary group to set up base camps in the property) (issue resolved)
• Land conversion
• Water infrastructure (Impacts of upstream dam development)

Between 2007 and 2015, the property benefited from a programme funded by the India World Heritage UNF to enhance management effectiveness, build staff capacity and increase the involvement of local communities.

On 1 December 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/338/documents/ and provides the following updates:

• Wildlife-related offences have been significantly reduced through upscaled anti-poaching efforts, including the creation and renovation of anti-poaching camps and solar fencing in and around the property, along with capacity building and training for relevant officers and conservation partners. The rhino population increased to 50, compared to 34 from the last estimate in 2018;
• Baseline data on keystone species in Manas was generated for the first time through the latest annual wildlife monitoring using state-of-the-art technology. Following the success, a grant was provided by the National Tiger Conservation Authority to institutionalize state-of-the-art wildlife monitoring in daily management;
• No new encroachment occurred. Agricultural encroachment has been taken up at a political level, while efforts are being made to benefit local communities through revitalization of Eco-Development Committees (EDC) and eco-tourism initiatives;
• Habitat management in Manas is guided by the Manas Tiger Conservation Plan on a scientific basis;
• Field-level cooperation between the States Parties of India and Bhutan continues across the Manas landscape;
• A revised proposal for the extension of the property requires a holistic approach, involving rehabilitating encroached areas as well as considering the “1st addition area” immediately west to the property. This is only feasible if the questions related to the encroached areas and related socio-political concerns of the indigenous communities are addressed. The proposed joint feasibility study on a possible transboundary extension requires clearance by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and should be initiated by the State Party of Bhutan;
• A Memorandum of Understanding with the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has entered into force to support conservation efforts in Manas through REDD+ carbon financing. The Government of India foresees allocating additional funding to the property;
• Other initiatives include the establishment of an Interpretation Centre for Conservation and Education and the vaccination of livestock in adjacent areas to prevent disease transmission to wildlife.

It is noted that the park authorities, which prepared the report, do not have the authority to provide further information on the Mangdechhu hydroelectric project or provide the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requested by the Committee in earlier Decisions. No further information concerning the Mangdechhu hydroelectric project or the EIA was provided by the States Parties of India or Bhutan.

The reported increase in the population of rhino is welcome, and the State Party’s upscaled anti-poaching efforts, which resulted in a significant reported reduction in wildlife-related offences are noted with appreciation. It is unclear to what extent the increase in rhino numbers is a result of population growth or further translocations from other protected areas. The generation of baseline data for keystone species in Manas for the first time, with a view to institutionalising the holistic and state-of-the-art wildlife monitoring, is also welcomed, and the State Party should be requested to provide these baseline population data as part of the next report on the state of conservation of the property.

The State Party should be also commended for its efforts to mobilize additional funding for the conservation of the property, not only through increased government funding, but also through REDD+ carbon financing. The State Party should be encouraged to report on how the carbon finance initiative benefits the property, so that lessons learnt could be shared widely.

The revitalization of EDCs and eco-tourism initiatives that aim to benefit local communities and promote their positive engagement in conservation activities are welcomed. However, while it is noted that no new encroachment took place, it is of concern that existing agricultural encroachment remains unresolved. While acknowledging that there is no easy solution to resolve this issue, the State Party should be encouraged to further expedite efforts to address the issue at a political level, with due respect to the social, economic and cultural rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, and full implementation of relevant international norms.

While it is noted that habitat management of the property is guided by the Manas Tiger Conservation Plan, the State Party report does not provide a clear update on whether an Action Plan for the sustainable management of the grassland-woodland ecosystem has been finalized and implemented, despite being urged to do so by the Committee in Decisions 43 COM 7B.7 and 44 COM 7B.185. The State Party should therefore be requested to provide this update, including on the implementation of control measures against the spread of invasive plant species, notably Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha.

It is positive that transboundary cooperation with the State Party of Bhutan continues at a field level. However, it is regrettable and of the utmost concern that neither India nor Bhutan provided information concerning the Mangdechhu hydroelectric project, nor its EIA and Environmental Management Plan (EMP), despite repeated requests by the Committee since 2012, given its potentially significant impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, which is located downstream of the project site (see Decision 36 COM 7B.10). It is recalled that the dam has potential to negatively affect the forests and water bodies of the property in a way which would reduce the ability of the property’s ecosystems to support wildlife, given that the Mangdechhu rivers contribute to the flow of the Manas-Beki river system, which sustains the property. The Mangdechhu dam is likely to further exacerbate the impacts of the existing Kurichu dam if no adequate mitigation measures are planned.

According to the official press release by the State Party of India dated 18 August 2019 which was shared with the Committee in the working document for its extended 44th session, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) website, property’s OUV, notably its integrity; and (b) provide details on the EMP, its implementation and the measures that have been taken to ensure that any negative impacts on the OUV are avoided. In this regard, it is anticipated that a high-level technical consultation will be invited by the Director of the World Heritage Centre and the concerned States Parties, the authorities responsible for the dam, and IUCN to agree an appropriate course of action to ensure the long term conservation and protection of the OUV of the property in relation to the impacts of this project, including an assessment of the need for a mission to the property, and the degree to which the property is faced with specific and proven imminent danger.