Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Manas National Park faces a major ecological fight. Poaching is down and wildlife numbers are up. But half the park's vital grasslands are now lost to invasive plants. This puts the UNESCO World Heritage site in deep trouble.
The World Heritage Committee revealed these findings in a draft report ahead of its upcoming July session in Busan. The crisis has exploded in recent years. Back in 2018, only 20 percent of the grasslands were under threat. Now, that figure has more than doubled.
Officials warn the damage threatens the future of endangered species. "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," the Committee said. Restoration efforts require steady management and cash.
Authorities have ramped up protection efforts to keep poachers away. They added 182 frontline staff and boosted patrols. These steps helped stabilize populations of one-horned rhinos and pygmy hogs, while tiger numbers are on the rise. No new agricultural encroachments have popped up, though old ones remain stuck in political gridlock.
The Committee urged India to finish pilot projects on invasive plants and finalize an action plan. They also pressed for more information regarding potential environmental impacts from hydropower projects in Bhutan. Cooperation between the two nations remains strong as they discuss extending the site across the border.
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