Keoladeo National Park

• Invasive/alien terrestrial species (Prosopis, Paspalum)
• Invasive/alien freshwater species (Eichhornia, Clarias gariepinus)
• Water (extraction)
• Water infrastructure
• Management system/management plan (Need to update the Management Plan; inadequate water management including insufficient water supply and quality and competition among different users; inadequate measures to systematically monitor bird populations)
• Solid waste (Disposal of cattle carcasses near the property)
• Other climate change impacts (High natural variability of rainfall)
• Other factor: Disappearance of Siberian cranes

Total amount provided to the property: USD 80,000 (“Enhancing Our Heritage” project on the assessment of management effectiveness). From 2008 onwards, the property has benefited from the World Heritage India programme, funded by the United Nations Foundation (which aims to enhance management effectiveness and build staff capacity, increase the involvement of local communities in the management of the property, promote sustainable development, and raise awareness through communications and advocacy)

On 3 December 2019, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/340/documents/ and providing the following updates:

• The volume of water reaching the property continues to fluctuate: 190 million cubic feet (mcft) entered the property in 2017, 715 mcft in 2018, and 392 mcft between January and September 2019;
• Two sewage treatment plants in Bharatpur city are in the final stages of commissioning, which will generate around 110 mcft of treated waste water per annum and could be diverted to the property. Expert consultations are underway to develop a robust water quality monitoring mechanism;
• Other potential solutions to sustain adequate water supply include: utilizing more water from Govardhan Drain and the Chambal River; using the property as a temporary drinking water reservoir for Bharatpur city; constructing dedicated pipelines from Panchna Dam and Bandh Baretha to guarantee the timely supply of water to the property; restoring the Gambhiri and Banganga river systems; increasing the water retention capacity of the property and creating a peripheral canal to store water to supply the property when required;
• Annual action plans are implemented to address the removal of invasive alien species (IAS) within the property, namely the African catfish, Prosopis juliflora, and water hyacinths. A draft Management Plan is still under preparation and will incorporate a strategy on IAS; the final copy will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
• The Eco-Sensitive Zone for the property has now been notified by Order SO2606(E) dated July 2019, following no objections from stakeholders. The 500m-wide strip surrounding the entire property expands up to 1.5km in the south in order to incorporate more upstream areas. Stakeholder consultations are continuing to develop a Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-Sensitive Zone. The Zonal Master Plan will not alter the approved existing land use but will prohibit or regulate certain development activities and also provide for the restoration and conservation of existing water bodies, including surface and groundwater;
• Heronry population estimates are undertaken using nest counts during the breeding season. Waterfowl estimates are conducted by teams of experts and volunteers using individual bird counts;
• Discussions between the park management authority and the regional government is ongoing to prevent the disposal of cattle carcasses near the property.

It is regrettable that the State Party did not invite the IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property requested by the Committee in Decision 42 COM 7B.68. In order to assess the state of conservation of the property and provide technical support, it is recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to invite this mission as soon as possible, taking into consideration that the winter season will provide the best conditions to assess the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property.

The issue of insufficient water delivery has been consistently raised by the Committee since 1990 (Decision 14 COM IX), and it is of utmost concern that it remains unresolved to date. The data from the State Party’s report indicate that the property is still subject to considerable annual variations in the volume of water it receives. While it is noted that the State Party is considering various measures to ensure adequate flow, it is of utmost importance that sustainable and reliable solutions are implemented to guarantee at least the 550 mcft minimum water flow for the property, which is required to sustain its basic ecological function. This issue should be addressed in detail in the new management plan. A stringent water quality monitoring mechanism is essential before water from the new sewage treatment plants is released into the property, to avoid any possibility of contaminated water entering the wetlands.

The issuance of a final notification declaring the Eco-Sensitive Zone is welcomed, especially the expansion to the south to include upstream areas and provide additional protection to the whole catchment area. The State Party’s assurances that it is using a consultative process to develop a Zonal Master Plan for this area are appreciated. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to consider formalizing this Eco-Sensitive Zone as a World Heritage buffer zone by submitting a Minor Boundary Modification, as outlined in Paragraphs 107, 163-164 and Annex 11 of the Operational Guidelines.

The State Party’s continued efforts to remove IAS and its intention to incorporate an eradication strategy into the revised Management Plan are welcomed. It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request that the State Party to submit a copy of the draft Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, so that any comments can be reflected in the final version. Recalling that the previous Management Plan expired in 2014 and was subsequently extended until 2017, the State Party should be requested to submit the new draft Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2021 at the latest, to ensure its implementation as soon as possible.

A standardized census methodology appears to be in place for the monitoring of the heronries, but it is not clear if a similar annual census applies to waterfowl. It is recommended that the State Party be requested to submit survey data and analyses that clearly present time-sequenced population trends for both heronry and waterfowl in advance of the requested monitoring mission. Furthermore, it is important to reiterate that a systematic, long-term monitoring approach should be reflected in the revised Management Plan.

The discussions to avoid any disposal of cattle carcasses near the property is noted. However, noting the potential health risks to wildlife and people, it is recommended that that Committee request the State Party to immediately prevent any further disposals from happening.