ROOPAK GOSWAMI
Guwahati, Oct. 26: New Delhi is yet to respond to Thimphu’s comments
on a draft memorandum of understanding on wildlife cooperation between India and
Bhutan over a year ago to protect Manas on both sides of the international
border.
A source said Bhutan has given its comments on the MoU, but there has been no
response from New Delhi.
“A senior park official from Royal Manas Bhutan visited Manas National Park a
couple of days back and said his government had given its comments on the draft
and has agreed to the trans-boundary concept. It was now waiting for India to go
ahead,” the source said.
There have been discussions between conservation agencies on the
trans-boundary issues which are also supporting the cause and called for
expeditious action from the host country. A number of training programmes has
been organised in Bhutan to educate officials on wildlife issues.
At present, India has a memorandum of understanding with Nepal on controlling
trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol
on tiger conservation with China.
The source said the draft memorandum of understanding has to be vetted by the
ministry of home affairs and external affairs.
At present, collaboration and cooperation between the managers and staff of
Manas National Park and Royal Manas National Park is very strong but it needs to
be formalised.
The Indian and Bhutanese park management and staff regularly visit each other
to exchange information and can move freely across the border for this purpose.
Though there was joint camera trapping of tigers in both Manas National Park
and Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan, the report has still not come out.
However, officials said before talking on trans-boundary issues — which is
required as it will help wildlife conservation on both sides — it is important
to put Manas National Park into proper shape.
There are a number of problems that still haunt Manas like the absence of
control over the buffer areas. For instance, the field director of Manas has no
control of these areas, which causes management problems.
The buffer area forests fall within the jurisdiction of the forest chief of
Bodoland Territorial Council, whereas the core area is under the control of
chief wildlife warden, Assam.
The joint IUCN/Unesco mission which visited Manas early this year has
strongly encouraged both India and Bhutan to do a joint feasibility study on a
trans-boundary expansion of the existing property to include larger areas of
this landscape on both sides of the international border.
While Manas National Park has been declared out of danger, forest officials
said it was time for Bhutan to nominate Royal Manas as a World Heritage Site,
which will help both the sides. India has already given its support for helping
Bhutan to nominate Royal Manas as a World Heritage Site.
