UNESCO lauds Manas’ revival story, removes danger tag

Acknowledging the great revival story, UNESCO has removed the 'danger tag' imposed on the famous Manas National Park of Assam 19 years ago, following significant improvement in wildlife conservation.

The decision to remove the 'danger tag' was announced during the ongoing 35th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Paris.

"Significant improvements in the preservation of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary have allowed for its withdrawal from the World Heritage List in Danger," the Committee said.

Situated on the foothills of the Himalayas, the Manas sanctuary, home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as tiger, pygmy hog, one-horn rhinoceros and elephant, was inscribed in the List of Danger in 1992, seven years after it had entered UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The Committee noted that the outstanding universal value, for which Manas was inscribed in the World Heritage list, was "recovering from damages sustained during ethnic unrest" in the site.

Since then, there have been concerted efforts by the government and locals assisted by committed NGOs and individuals to revive Manas.

Under the 'Bringing Back Manas' initiative of the BTC and the Assam forest department in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and WTI, Greater Manas was declared, tripling its area.

The protection and management of Manas was enhanced through training of front line staff, provision of equipment and facilitating and encouraging involvement of local communities in conservation.

The decision on the World Heritage status of Manas was an outcome of voting by 22 member countries to the World Heritage Committee.

An independent review on the status was done by the IUCN to apprise the Committee on the present situation in Manas.