Parks - IUCN
Parks - IUCN
Parks - IUCN
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MINGMA NORBU SHERPA AND UGEN P NORBU<br />
Collaboration at bilateral level<br />
The Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of India have maintained<br />
friendly political ties for several decades. This provides a policy environment<br />
conducive for strengthening bilateral partnerships in the conservation of the Manas<br />
ecosystem, which is a unique natural heritage for both countries.<br />
Senior government officials have held a series of discussions to manage the<br />
greater Manas ecosystem for tiger conservation. Already there are plans for a joint<br />
meeting between the park authorities of India and Bhutan as well as funding<br />
possibilities by international aid agencies on both sides of the Manas ecosystem.<br />
Both protected areas are bordered in east, west, and north by forested areas and<br />
are fairly safe from encroachment. The southern part of Indian Manas Tiger<br />
Reserve is heavily populated and requires immediate attention to design and<br />
implement eco-development interventions.<br />
Recognition as a World Heritage Site<br />
The Manas Tiger Reserve in India was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1985.<br />
The importance of Manas ecosystem – linking tropical forests, duars, and<br />
grasslands to temperate and alpine habitats of the Black Mountains, or even<br />
further to Jigme Dorji National Park – requires attention from the world<br />
community for enlisting it as a World Heritage Site. The combined protected area<br />
system provides a rare opportunity to conserve a high-value biodiversity complex<br />
in the South Asian region.<br />
Status of implementation<br />
Management of protected areas<br />
The Forestry Services Division, a technical division within the Ministry of Agriculture,<br />
is responsible for the overall protection and management of forests and wildlife<br />
resources in Bhutan. It is one of the<br />
largest government organizations in<br />
Bhutan with staff strength of over 800 and<br />
a network of field offices spread<br />
throughout the country.<br />
Within the Forestry Services Division,<br />
the Nature Conservation Section is<br />
specifically responsible for coordinating<br />
and technically backstopping nature<br />
conservation and protected area<br />
management activities. Today, the Nature<br />
Conservation Section has over 20 staff<br />
members with separate units for<br />
conservation management planning,<br />
wildlife inventory, protected area<br />
extension, and the geographic information<br />
system. The Section is responsible for<br />
providing policy and technical advisory<br />
support for the management of Royal<br />
Manas, Black Mountains, and Jigme<br />
43<br />
Royal Manas<br />
National Park.<br />
Photo: Bruce<br />
Bunting.