IUCN report flags conservation concerns for Manas National Park

GUWAHATI:

A report of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) highlighted significant concerns for Manas National Park in Assam in terms of conservation.

“Management actions (in Manas) have also been slowly improved through the sustained efforts of the government, backed by significant international support. Nevertheless, there remain some serious threats of significant concern, such as those from agricultural encroachment, the impact from upstream hydroelectric projects in Bhutan, improper protection and management of grasslands, invasive plants as well as some amount of poaching,” the report said.

“The site (Manas) was only removed from the Danger List in 2011. Continued and enhanced management effort will be required to avoid a return to the situation that led to the site’s inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger” it said, adding that Kaziranga National Park was doing better in comparison.

The report further pointed out that farm encroachments by settlers inside the World Heritage Site (in Bhuyanpara Range) pose the most significant threat to the property.

The capacity of forest guards to effectively respond to any new threat, like evicting the encroachers, and insufficient law enforcement remain a cause for concern.

“Although killing of rhinos for their horns has stopped since 2016, illegal killing of other animals has continued,” it added.

(Edited by Ladiangti Rani)

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