Guwahati: Even as Manas National Park continues to script one of the world’s most remarkable conservation comeback stories, UNESCO has sounded an alarm over the rapid disappearance of its grasslands, warning that nearly half of the ecosystem has been overtaken by invasive plant species, threatening the sanctuary’s long-term ecological health.
The World Heritage Committee (WHC) has expressed significant concern that invasive species continue to impact the grassland-woodland ecosystem of the property and noted that nearly half of the grasslands in Manas National Park and the Manas Tiger Reserve have been lost, underscoring the need for sustained management efforts backed by long-term funding.
In its draft decision, the Committee requested India to finalise, as a matter of priority, the ongoing pilot studies on invasive plant management and ensure that their findings inform the preparation and implementation of an Action Plan to tackle invasive species in the property.
The World Heritage Committee is the intergovernmental body responsible for implementing the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Its 48th session will be held in Busan, South Korea, from July 19 to 29.
In its State of Conservation Report submitted to UNESCO, the Centre stated that Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve has lost nearly half of its grasslands due to invasive species, threatening key wildlife habitats. “Sustained management and funding are crucial to restore habitats and protect biodiversity,” the report said.
“It is of significant concern that the grassland-woodland ecosystem of the property, and hence the species that depend on it, continues to be impacted by invasive species, and that nearly half of the grasslands in Manas National Park and MTR are reported to have been lost due to invasive species,” the Committee observed.
“This is a significant increase since the 2014-2018 study that found 20 per cent of grasslands to be severely affected.”
The Committee further noted that the pilot studies on invasive plant management, reported to be underway in the 2024 State Party report, should identify the most effective management methods. It said the finalisation and implementation of the new Action Plan should be expedited as a matter of priority and adequately resourced.
“The State Party may also wish to consider requesting International Assistance through the World Heritage Fund to support these efforts,” it added.
The warning comes at a time when Manas is being hailed internationally as a conservation success story. Once listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger sites from 1992 to 2011 because of insurgency, poaching and habitat destruction, the sanctuary has witnessed a remarkable recovery in recent years.
UNESCO commended authorities for strengthening anti-poaching measures through weekly patrols, enhanced monitoring technology, anti-poaching camps and the recruitment of 182 additional personnel. Institutional restructuring is also underway to improve management efficiency and strengthen protection measures.
The report further noted that long-term wildlife monitoring indicates an encouraging upward trend in populations of several flagship species, including stable rhinoceros numbers, growing tiger populations, the recovery of the endangered pygmy hog, and healthy populations of wild buffalo, elephants and hog deer.
The report also highlighted several other conservation challenges and opportunities. It welcomed the absence of any new agricultural encroachment within the World Heritage property, though older encroachments remain unresolved because of socio-political sensitivities involving Indigenous communities. UNESCO stressed that any future action should respect the social, economic and cultural rights of local communities.
On the regional front, UNESCO praised the continuing cooperation between India and Bhutan in conserving the wider Manas landscape and encouraged both countries to pursue discussions on a possible transboundary extension of the World Heritage property.
At the same time, the Committee has sought fresh information from India and Bhutan regarding the potential impacts of Bhutan’s Mangdechhu hydroelectric project on the Outstanding Universal Value of Manas, noting that key environmental assessment documents have yet to be shared with UNESCO.
The report ultimately paints a paradoxical picture of Manas: poaching has receded, wildlife is rebounding and international cooperation is deepening, yet the sanctuary’s iconic grasslands—the ecological foundation of its extraordinary biodiversity—are disappearing at an alarming pace, posing perhaps the biggest conservation challenge the World Heritage Site faces today.
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