Decision 43 COM 7B.7

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India) (N 338)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7B.28, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Appreciates the commitment and upscaled efforts by the State Party in cooperation with other stakeholders to combat poaching and to improve staff morale and capacity, which appear to have resulted in zero rhino poaching within the property, and improving the overall management effectiveness, and encourages the State Party to continue its efforts to ensure that the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) is protected from poaching threats;
4. Expresses its utmost concern about illegal encroachments in Bhuyanpara range, including the reported construction of houses and requests the State Party to clarify the current status of encroachment within the property and, if confirmed, to urgently address the issue and step up efforts to prevent further encroachment through inter alia allocating appropriate financial and human resources for surveillance along with efforts to improve local livelihoods;
5. Noting with concern that invasive plant species, notably Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha are spreading at an alarming rate, commends the work undertaken by the State Party to develop a science-based protocol for grassland management, and urges the State Party to subsequently prepare and implement an Action Plan to implement control measures across the property and to continue monitoring trends in order to assess the longer-term effectiveness of these measures;
6. Welcomes the intensification of transboundary cooperation with the State Party of Bhutan in the field of management of the property and the neighbouring Royal Manas National Park;
7. Also recalling the Committee’s concerns regarding the potential impact of the Mangdechhu hydro-electric project on the OUV of the property, deeply regrets that the State Party of Bhutan has not provided information on the status of this project nor submitted a copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), despite repeated requests by the Committee since 2012 and, in accordance with the Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, reiterates its request to the State Party of Bhutan to provide without further delay a copy of the EIA as well as updated information on the project to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN, and to consult with the State Party of India regarding an assessment of potential impacts of this project on the OUV of the property;
8. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2020, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session in 2021.