Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

• 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)
• 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 February 2024, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/338/documents/, which provides the following updates:

• Species monitoring data are provided for rhino, tiger and pygmy hog. Rhino populations have remained fairly stable over the last three years due to strengthened protection measures, reporting 38 (2020-21), 40 (2021-22) and 47 (2022-2023) individuals. A 2023 report on the status of tigers in India recorded 57 individuals in the Manas Tiger Reserve, with an increasing trend in population and density since 2006. In 2023, the reintroduction of pygmy hog to the property (54 to date) continues recovery efforts towards meeting the release target of 60 hogs by 2025. Several new anti-poaching camps have been constructed in the property;
• The carbon financing initiative is currently in planning and study. Consultations with village representatives around Manas Tiger Reserve are ongoing to activate Eco-development committees (EDC) to address alternative livelihoods and human-wildlife conflict mitigation (48 EDCs established). Ecotourism initiatives related to vehicle safari, sightseeing and interpretation facilities continue to be supported and an online tourist ticket booking system is initiated;
• No further agricultural encroachment has occurred in the property, the existing situation remains under control and consultations between local communities, park management and political authorities are ongoing;
• Habitat management continues to be implemented under the Manas Tiger Conservation Plan. The scientific basis for the Action Plan includes objectives to identify grassland sites for restoration and management, provide principles/guidelines for restoration and enhancement, monitor grassland health, and encourage community participation. An intervention strategy for the removal of the invasive Chromolaena through cutting and uprooting is being implemented in pilot sites. An upscaling of efforts and repeated interventions would be required to achieve effective long-term results. A girdling technique is being piloted to control growth of invasive woody species;
• Transboundary field-level cooperation with the State Party of Bhutan is ongoing across the Manas landscape. Potential transboundary extension of the property will require further consultation and a revised proposal is not currently under consideration;
• The Mangdechhu hydroelectric project is under the purview of bilateral agreement between the governments of India and Bhutan, and the States Parties need to consider appropriate discussions.

The ongoing efforts to monitor key species within the property and continued efforts to strengthen anti-poaching are welcomed. It is positive that rhino populations are reported to be stable, the tiger population has been increasing since 2006, and efforts to reintroduce pygmy hogs are facilitating recovery of this endangered species. It is recommended that systematic long-term monitoring is implemented for the property to continue tracking the status of key species and ensure their protection, combined with continued anti-poaching efforts.

The various activities to support carbon financing, ecotourism activities and establish EDCs to address alternative livelihoods and human-wildlife conflict mitigation in consultation with village representatives are noted and encouraged.

It is positive that no further agricultural encroachment has occurred in the property and existing encroachment is reported to be under control, with consultations among relevant stakeholders including local communities underway. However, noting that no details are provided, it is recommended the State Party provide further information on the management measures being implemented and their effectiveness to address the threat of encroachment, with due respect to the social, economic and cultural rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, and respecting all relevant international norms.

Whilst no clear update on the finalisation and implementation of an Action Plan for the sustainable management of the grassland-woodland ecosystem has been provided, as has been requested by the Committee in numerous decisions, implementation of habitat management is reported to continue under the Manas Tiger Conservation Plan. It is noted that the reported objectives identified for the Action Plan have the potential to support longer term management goals. The initiation of pilot activities to address invasive species is a positive step and should be continued, but the reported effectiveness of such measures would require longer-term implementation. As it remains unclear whether an Action Plan has been finalised, it is recommended the State Party provide further details of this Action Plan and its implementation, including 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 is continuing at the operational level. Noting that no further extension of the property is currently envisaged, it is recommended that the State Party consider any potential future transboundary extension in discussion with the State Party of Bhutan.

It should be recalled that the Committee first raised concerns over the Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in 2012 when it requested the State Party of Bhutan to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that included an assessment of potential impacts on Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). IUCN had, at the time, also received third party information that another existing dam, Kurichu dam also upstream of the property, was having visible negative impacts on the OUV of the property, and hence the Committee requested the State Party of Bhutan to also consider cumulative impacts (Decisions 36 COM 7B.10, 38 COM 7B.65 and 39 COM 7B.11). It is therefore of serious concern that there continues to be an absence of information from the States Parties of India and Bhutan in response to the various Committee concerns and requests and that so far, neither the EIA nor the Environmental Management Plan has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre. In order to address this long-standing concern, an online joint meeting between the two States Parties, the World Heritage Centre and IUCN would facilitate a discussion to clarify the current situation including the monitoring and mitigation measures that are being implemented.