Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Factors affecting the property in 1991*
- Civil unrest
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
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 1991
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1991**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1991
[Oral report by IUCN and the Secretariat]
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1991
15 BUR VI.43
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Bureau noted with concern that the integrity of this site continues to be threatened by the invasion of a resistance movement which has burnt buildings, destroyed bridges, killed a number of park guards, looted most Park facilities, poached numerous rhinos, elephants, tigers and other wildlife, removed valuable trees and depleted fish stocks in the Manas River. The Bureau recalled that the Indian authorities were requested by the Committee, in 1989 and in 1990, to nominate this site to the List of World Heritage in Danger. Although the Bureau acknowledged that the survey of the villages around this Park that is being undertaken by WWF could lead to a more co-operative approach to management of the Sanctuary in the future, the Bureau was of the view that in the meantime the site has been seriously degraded. Hence, the Bureau recommended that the Director-General of UNESCO write to the Indian authorities requesting them to nominate this site for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
15 COM VIII
SOC: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Committee recalled that this site had been threatened by the invasion of the Sanctuary by the people of the Bodo tribe in 1989. The Committee was concerned that there had been no response from Indian authorities to its recommendation, made in 1989 and 1990, to nominate this site to the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee noted that a survey undertaken by WWF of the surrounding villages might lead to a more co-operative approach to management in the future and a programme for implementing corrective measures has been suggested by members of IUCN's rhino specialist group. Members of the Committee were unanimous in their view that this site was a prime candidate for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Delegate from 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. The Committee however, wished that the Secretariat reiterates the Committee's concern to the Indian authorities and find ways and means to obtain response for submission to the Bureau at its next session in mid-1992.
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.
