People power for Manas

[Guest guest]

Link:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060726/asp/guwahati/story_6526772.asp

 

People power for Manas

- Door-to-door campaign from next month to save sanctuary

ROOPAK GOSWAMI

Guwahati, July 25: Manas National Park is banking on " people's

power " for its conservation and reinstatement in the World Heritage

Site list.

 

Manas officials have decided to launch a door-to-door campaign from

next month to make people aware of conservation needs. The decision

was taken after Unesco retained the park in the World Heritage Site

in Danger list earlier this month.

 

Manas was declared a World Heritage site in 1985, but its status was

downgraded in 1992 following depletion of forests, wildlife

population and destruction of the park's infrastructure by militants.

of Manas Tiger Reserve, Abhijit Rabha, said he and his

officials would meet people living on the periphery of the park to

seek their help and motivate them in conservation efforts. " One-to-

one contact and communication is the need of the hour to get the

people's support for effective conservation of the park. "

 

The officials will meet the heads of families of about 25

villages. " We will tell them that we need them for the betterment of

the park, " Rabha said.

 

According to the director, people's support is essential to check

poaching. " The people are the best source. They see the poachers

first and can inform the authorities, " he said.

 

" Moreover, the people also use the forest for their livelihood. We

will have to tell them they can use the park without destroying

anything, " he added.

 

The officials will also distribute pamphlets among the people and

make audio-visual presentations on the park.

 

" The exercise is similar to politicians seeking votes. The only

difference is that the officials will seek people's support for

better conservation, " another official of the park said.

 

The Unesco's World Heritage Committee had observed at its 30th

session in Lithuania recently that a better security situation at

Manas National Park was now permitting reintroduction of rhinos,

though on an experimental basis initially.

 

Georgina Peard, world heritage officer at the International Union

for Conservation of Nature, said in an email that depending on the

feedback on Manas, the committee would re-examine the situation next

year and consider whether it could take the site off the present

list and put it back in the World Heritage Site list.

 

The committee had also noted that " tourists — domestic ones as well

as those from abroad — are increasingly visiting Manas wildlife

sanctuary and the site has high potential for eco-tourism. The

increased involvement of local people and NGOs in conservation and

management efforts at Manas is welcome " .