Decision : 36 COM 7B.10
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India) (N 338)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7A.13, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Commends the State Party for the progress achieved in the operationalization of the Manas Tiger Conservation Foundation (MTCF) and the implementation of an integrated ecosystem-based monitoring system and the Eastern Swamp Deer recovery plan;
4. Welcomes the respective and joint initiatives of the States Parties of India and Bhutan to consider an extension of the property, including a transboundary extension, and also welcomes the proposal by the State Party of Bhutan to include Royal Manas National Park on its Tentative List;
5. Requests the State Party to urgently address the slow release of funds to the property, by approving the direct fund flow from Central Government to the MTCF, or through other appropriate measures, to ensure that the current rate of progress can be maintained;
6. Urges the State Party to include clear guidelines for tourism numbers and activities in the further development of the comprehensive tourism management plan, in order to ensure that the fragile and recovering Outstanding Universal Value of the property is not negatively affected;
7. Also requests the State Party of Bhutan to submit a copy of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed Mangdechhu hydro-electric project, including an assessment of potential impacts on OUV and potential cumulative impacts in relation to the existing Kurichu dam, to the World Heritage Centre for review as soon as it is available and prior to making a decision on whether to approve the project, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property, including a report on the progress achieved in addressing the issue of fund release and the implementation of the other recommendations made by the Committee at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011), as well as on progress in addressing the issues raised above, for examination by the Committee at its 38th session in 2014.
Decisions Report2012 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
