Chitwan National Park

• Ground transport infrastructure (Plans to construct a road and railway through the property; Proposed infrastructure projects)
• Invasive/alien terrestrial species (Spread of invasive species; Encroachment of wildlife habitats in the buffer zone)
• Management systems/Management Plan (Lack of appropriate inter-agencies and inter-ministries consultation and coordination for development proposals)

N/A

On 30 November 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/284/documents/ and reports the following:

• Coordinated and collaborative actions between various agencies and stakeholders including strengthened institutional mechanisms, improved community participation and enhanced interagency coordination, as well as surveillance using modern technologies, continue to prevent poaching within the property;
• The new alignment to locate the East-West Electrified Railroad outside the property is yet to be finalized. Several coordination meetings were held between the Department of Railways and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) with agreement that the adopted route will have minimum impact on the property. The proposed construction site is “almost outside the property”. The Government of Nepal recently approved the “Wildlife Friendly Infrastructure Guideline”;
• The Thori-Madi-Bharatpur road continues to be managed in line with the 2016 IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission recommendations, including that any upgrading or widening of the road inside the property shall not be permitted. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the 8km road section located inside the property will propose construction of “wildlife friendly infrastructures”;
• The decision to halt the construction of a 7km stretch of the proposed Terai Hulaki Highway that would cross the buffer zone remains in effect. No decision has been taken on the alignment of the proposed China-India Trade Link of Province 3 (now Bagmati Province) and Province 4 (now Gandaki Province), the Madi-Balmiki Ashram road and the Malekhu-Thori road which would cross the property. The DNPWC and the park authority continue to oppose any new roads or the reopening/upgrading of old roads passing through the property;
• Additional guidance is required from UNESCO to prepare a boundary modification proposal to reflect changes following the governmental gazette in 2016 to transfer 1,818 ha from the Gajendra Mokshya Dham of Tribeni from the national park into the park’s buffer zone, and 2,063 ha from the Padampur site (previously in the park’s buffer zone) into the national park;
• The dismantling of houses in the park’s buffer zone area under the jurisdiction of Ayodhyapuri User Committee was undertaken by local authorities in accordance with the National Parks Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 and its subsequent regulations, with “no single intention to abuse the human rights of the local communities”. The area was illegally occupied since 1997 and alternative housing outside the property was provided by the local government in 2020 but some of the households continued to reside in the area despite notifications given by the park authority and tried “double occupation” following the resettlement. The authority is fully aware of securing the fundamental rights of local communities, who are considered an integral part of park management and the implementation of wildlife conservation activities, including rhino conservation successes.

On 25 April 2023, the World Heritage Centre sent a letter to the State Party to verify third-party information concerning a poaching incident in January 2023 where two rhinos were killed, and other recent deaths of rhinos which are reportedly linked to construction activities in and around the property. No response has been received at the time of preparation of this report.

Whilst noting with appreciation that the continued anti-poaching efforts by the State Party and partners have resulted in six out of nine ‘zero poaching years’, the resurgence of rhino poaching since 2020 remains of serious concern. It is recommended to request the State Party to provide clarification on the recently reported rhino deaths and to strengthen measures within and around the property, as necessary, to ensure the protection of threatened species such as the rhino from poaching.

It is noted that the new alignment to locate the East-West Electrified Railroad outside the property is yet to be finalized. Given the reported proximity of the proposed construction site to the property (i.e. “almost outside the property”), it is recommended the State Party again be requested to submit an EIA of the proposed alignment which adequately assesses its potential impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, together with a detailed map, to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN when it is available and before finalizing a decision on the alternative route.

Continued suspension of the proposed road projects inside and adjacent to the property, including the construction of the proposed Terai Hulaki Highway, China-India Trade Link of Province 3 (now Bagmati Province) and Province 4 (now Gandaki Province), the Madi-Balmiki Ashram road and the Malekhu-Thori road, as well as upgrading of the section of the reiterate the importance of a permanent ban on any new roads or the reopening/upgrading of old roads passing through the property as recommended by the 2016 IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission. It is unclear what the proposed construction of “wildlife friendly infrastructures” inside the property refers to, and the State Party should be requested to provide precise clarification and details on this matter and to ensure that the potential impacts of such infrastructure are assessed in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and to submit the Wildlife Friendly Infrastructure Guidance to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN.

Given the reported changes made to the boundaries of the National Park in 2016, and the fact that the property does not have a buffer zone as approved by the World Heritage Committee, it is important to reiterate the urgency of reflecting this in the inscribed property through a boundary modification proposal in accordance with the Operational Guidelines. The State Party’s intention to submit a boundary modification proposal and the need for further guidance for the submission is noted. It should be also noted that up-to-date maps clearly showing the boundaries of the property as inscribed in 1984, as requested by the World Heritage Centre in its letter of October 2020, are yet to be submitted. It is therefore recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit up-to-date maps for the property to the World Heritage Centre as soon as possible and to seek further guidance from the World Heritage Centre and IUCN regarding the boundary modification procedures and the implementation of the 2016 mission recommendations.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN remain concerned about alleged human rights abuses which were first raised in a letter in 2020. and to ensure all park operations are conducted in line with a rights-based approach.