Parks - IUCN

MINGMA NORBU SHERPA AND UGEN P NORBU
Reserve affects the fauna in the Bhutanese part of the Manas ecosystem. The greater
one-horned rhinoceros is almost extinct in the Indian reserve due to increased
poaching. Bengal tiger, Asian elephant and the agarwood tree currently face the same
fate as a result of organised poaching to meet the demands of international markets
for wildlife parts and products. Poaching of other animal and fish species for
consumption and sale continues, despite anti-poaching patrols and heavy
penalties. Several instances of illegal tree felling have also been reported along
the southern boundary of Royal Manas. The southern border is thus threatened
from relatively large-scale poaching and deforestation practices. Possibility of
implementing a joint park patrol programme between the park authorities of
India and Bhutan needs to be explored.
Inadequate implementation capacity
Bhutan’s Forestry Services Division is handicapped by a dearth of trained conservationists,
poor park management infrastructure, and an insufficient information base. Only three
of the nine protected areas have been brought under proper management. Despite
its huge area and rugged terrain, Jigme Dorji National Park has only 13 staff. Black
Mountains National Park is also constrained by a similar manpower situation. A
majority of the park staff in Royal Manas has received little or no formal training in
conservation science. The open international border in Royal Manas offers easy access
to poachers whereas insufficient park staff with a poor communication network makes
it difficult to counter this threat.
Jigme Dorji and Black Mountains National Parks have inadequate infrastructure
and facilities required for park management. An on-site park management headquarters
is long overdue in Royal Manas. Facilities for conservation research and public
education are virtually non-existent. The information base is poor and generally
inadequate. Rugged terrain and harsh working conditions call for increased
manpower and improved infrastructure in the three priority protected areas to begin
with, and eventually in the other protected areas.
Cross-sectoral coordination
Traditionally, nature conservation was seen as a business of the Forestry Services
Division solely. There was little, if any, consultation with other sectors such as
agriculture, livestock development, and education. This led to planning and
implementation of conservation interventions with a very constricted and totally
ecological perspective, isolating them from other interconnected aspects.
New approaches for conservation require stronger coordination among
different sectors. This makes protected area management a complex and often
difficult process. Efforts are ongoing to develop and nurture working partnerships
between the Forestry Services Division and local government authorities, such as
the Dzongkhag (District) Administrations. National NGOs, such as the National
Women’s Association of Bhutan and the Royal Society for the Protection of
Nature, are also becoming more involved in protected area management,
particularly in aspects dealing with community development and public education.
In the absence of institutionalised mechanisms for inter-sectoral coordination of
nature conservation programmes and activities, planning and implementation of
protected area management activities in a holistic, concerted, and consensual
manner is difficult.
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