Guwahati: The population of the critically endangered Bengal Florican in Manas National Park, Assam, is showing a promising increase, yet this positive trend is overshadowed by a worrying decline in the grassland habitats essential for the bird’s survival. A recent study, “Current Conservation Status of Bengal Florican in Manas National Park,” published in The Journal of Threatened Taxa, highlights the urgent need for grassland protection and restoration to ensure the conservation of the Bengal Florican and other grassland-dependent species.
Field surveys conducted from February to April 2021 recorded 50 male and 17 female Bengal Floricans in Manas, a significant increase from the 24 males recorded in a 2009 survey. The highest number of individuals was sighted in Kokilabari in the Bhuyanpara range, followed by Rupahi and Kuribeel. However, no Floricans were found in several areas where they were previously reported, indicating localized declines.
The study also revealed alarming changes in grassland vegetation. In 2000, grasslands covered 11.7 sq km (79%) of the area surveyed, but by 2020, this had decreased to 7.3 sq km (49.6%). During the same period, 4.7 sq km of grassland was converted into a mosaic of grassland and woodland, and 0.49 sq km of grassland was lost to woodland encroachment.
“Grassland is the uniqueness of Manas, and it is the only park in Asia where all grassland-dependent species are found together,” said Bibhuti Lahkar, a grassland specialist with Aaranyak and a co-author of the study. He stressed the importance of prioritizing grassland conservation.
The World Heritage Committee has repeatedly called for the finalization and implementation of an action plan for the sustainable management of the grassland-woodland ecosystem in Manas. The study highlights several threats to grassland habitats, including uncontrolled natural succession, livestock grazing, invasive alien plants, and the collection of non-timber forest products by local communities. These disturbances pose serious challenges to the survival of the Bengal Florican and other species, such as the Pygmy Hog, Hispid Hare, Indian Rhino, and Asian Elephant.
The study emphasizes the need for immediate habitat management actions to restore and conserve the unique grasslands of Manas, warning that the increase in woodland and woody plant-infested mosaic forest is a serious threat to the region’s biodiversity.
Also Read: Assam: Four poachers arrested with Pangolin scales in Goalpara