Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Factors affecting the property in 1992*
- Civil unrest
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
- Other Threats:
Destruction of Park infrastructures
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Construction of a dam (issue resolved); Bodo people insurgency; Illegal removal of vegetation and poaching
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1992
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1992**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1992
The Bureau may recall that this site had been threatened by the invasion of the Sanctuary by the people of the Bodo tribe in 1989, and since then the Indian authorities had not responded to the Committee's recommendation that this site be nominated for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in Danger. At its last session, the Delegate of Thailand was of the view that the Committee had the authority, under Article 11, paragraph 4, to include this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger without waiting for a formal request from the Indian authorities. The Committee, however, wished that the Secretariat reiterates the Committee's concern to the Indian authorities and find ways and means to obtain a response for submission to the Bureau.
The Secretariat, via letter of 6 February 1992, transmitted the concerns and recommendations of the Committee to the Indian authorities. The Secretariat and IUCN also invited Mr. Deb Roy, Additional Inspector General of Forests (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests, to present a paper on the status of conservation of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary at a workshop on the World Heritage Convention held from 18-19 February 1992 as part of the IVth World Park's Congress in Caracas, Venezuela. Mr. Roy accepted this invitation and informed the workshop participants that the Indian Government has regained control of most parts of Manas and has started an investnment programme to reconstruct infrastructure damaged by militants. He also mentioned that the staff of the Sanctuary has regained strength and morale and are increasingly able to curtail the movements of militants who appeared to have used the Sanctuary as a refuge to hide from the security forces of the Indian Government. Mr. Roy was keen to emphasize that the damage caused by a militant faction of the Bodo tribe who invaded the Sanctuary was largely restricted to infrastructure which could be rehabilitated over the next few years. In his view, the ecological integrity of the site had not been seriously threatened. A programme for the development of local people living in the vicinity of the Sanctuary, launched by WWF-India, is expected improve relations between people and management. Mr. Roy was of the view that the inclusion of this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger is unlikely to have any additional impacts on efforts that are being currently undertaken by the Indian Government to rehabilitate the site.
Mr. Roy informed a member of the Secretariat, who undertook a mission to India during March 1992, that a draft of his paper will be officially transmitted to the Secretariat, as a response to the Secretariat's letter of 6 February 1992. The receipt of the draft of the paper is awaited.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1992
The Secretariat informed the Bureau that the damage caused by the invasion of this Sanctuary by the Bodo tribe in Assam, India, was estimated to be about 50 million Indian rupees (about 1.6 million US dollars). Although considerable damage was done to the Park infrastructure, the habitat in the inaccessible parts of the Sanctuary still remained intact. The Bureau, while noting that the conditions for introducing normal management and administration regimes for the site may be improving, was nevertheless concerned that a full assessment of damage had not been made and that the Indian authorities have not yet provided a formal written report on the state of conservation of this Sanctuary, despite repeated requests from the Committee since 1989.
The Bureau reiterated that the World Heritage Centre contact the Indian authorities once again and request a written, up-to-date report on the state of conservation of the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. The Bureau recommended that the Committee, at its next session, review the information provided by the Indian authorities in such a report and in consultation with IUCN and the Secretariat, determine whether or not this site ought to be included in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Bureau's observations and recommendations were transmitted to the Indian authorities by letter of 14 August 1992 and a response is awaited.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1992
16 BUR V.25
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The World Heritage Centre informed the Bureau that the damage caused by the invasion of this Sanctuary by militants from the Bodo tribe in Assam, India, was estimated to be about 50 million Indian rupees (about 1.6 million US dollars). Although considerable damage was done to the Park infrastructure, the habitat in the inaccessible parts of the Sanctuary still remained intact. The Bureau, while noting that the conditions for introducing normal management and administration regimes for the site may be improving, was nevertheless concerned that a full assessment of damage had not been made and that the Indian authorities have not yet provided a formal written report on the state of conservation of this Sanctuary, despite repeated, requests from the Committee since 1989.
The Bureau reiterated that the World Heritage Centre contact the Indian authorities once again and request a written, up-to-date report on the state of conservation of the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. The Bureau recommended that the Committee, at its next session, review the information provided by the Indian authorities in such a report and in consultation with IUCN and the World Heritage Centre, determine whether or not this site ought to be included in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
16 COM VIII
SOC: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Centre informed the Committee that the damage caused by the invasion of this Sanctuary by the Bodo tribe in Assam, India, was estimated to be about 50 million Indian rupees (about 1.6 million US dollars). Although the Park infrastructure suffered considerable damage, the habitat in the inaccessible parts of the Sanctuary appeared to be intact. The Committee, while noting that the conditions for introducing normal management and administration regimes for the site may be improving, was nevertheless concerned that a full assessment of damage had not been made and that the Indian authorities have not yet provided a formal written report on the state of conservation of this Sanctuary, despite repeated requests from the Committee since 1989.
The Committee noted with concern the information provided by the Representative of IUCN that the area is still not completely free from encroachment by militants belonging to the Bodo tribe and that illegal cultivation was spreading into parts of the Sanctuary. The Committee concurred with the view of IUCN that Manas Wildlife Sanctuary continues to be in danger of losing the values for which it was granted World Heritage status. The Committee noted with regret that the Indian authorities have not provided a report on the status of conservation of Manas, despite repeated requests over the last three years, and therefore decided to include Manas Wildlife Sanctuary on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in accordance with the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention.
The Committee requested the Centre to inform the Indian authorities of its decision and reiterate its request for a comprehensive report providing a full assessment of damage to the site and the remedial measures that are being taken.
16 COM X.E
Inscriptions on the List of World Heritage in Danger
Even though there were no requests from the States Parties concerned, the Committee on the basis of state of conservation reports provided by IUCN (see Chapter VIII, page 20) decided, in accordance with Article 11, paragraph 4 of the Convention to include the following sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Angkor (Cambodia)
Mt. Nimba Nature Reserve (Cote d'Ivoire/Guinea)
Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
No draft Decision
India
Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
