Kaziranga National Park
Country
India
Inscribed in
1985
Criteria
(ix)
(x)
The conservation outlook for this site has been assessed as "good with some concerns" in the latest assessment cycle. Explore the Conservation Outlook Assessment for the site below. You have the option to access the summary, or the detailed assessment.
In the heart of Assam, this park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.
© UNESCO
Summary
2020 Conservation Outlook
Finalised on
02 Dec 2020
Good with some concerns
Current state and trend of VALUES
Low Concern
Trend
Deteriorating
Overall THREATS
Overall PROTECTION and MANAGEMENT
Full assessment
Finalised on
02 Dec 2020
Description of values
Ecological processes in development of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
Criterion
(ix)
The Brahmaputra River’s fluctuations result in spectacular examples of riverine and fluvial processes (IUCN, 1985). River bank erosion, sedimentation and formation of new lands as well as new water-bodies, plus succession between grasslands and woodlands represents outstanding examples of significant and ongoing, dynamic ecological and biological processes. Wet alluvial grasslands occupy nearly two-thirds of the Kaziranga National Park and are maintained by annual flooding and burning. These natural processes create complexes of habitats, which are also responsible for a diverse range of predator/prey relationships (World Heritage Committee, 2015).
Significant natural habitat
Criterion
(x)
The Kaziranga National Park represents one of the last unmodified natural areas of this region of India (IUCN, 1985). It is the single largest undivided and representative area of the Brahmaputra valley floodplain grasslands and forests with associated biodiversity. There are three main types of vegetation: alluvial inundated grasslands, tropical wet evergreen forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests (World Heritage Committee, 2015). Grasslands predominate in the west, with tall 'elephant' grasses on the higher ground and short grasses on the lower ground surrounding the bheels. Tropical wet evergreen forests, near Kanchanjhuri, Panbari and Tamulipathar blocks, are dominated by trees. Tropical semi-evergreen forests occur near Baguri, Bimali and Haldibari.
Rare and endemic mammals
Criterion
(x)
Kaziranga National Park was inscribed for being the world’s major stronghold of the Indian one-horned rhino, having the single largest population of this species, currently estimated at over 2,000 animals (World Heritage Committee, 2015). Current estimates indicate that the Park is also home to the single largest population of Asiatic wild buffalo, eastern swamp deer and a sizeable population of Asian elephant. The endangered Ganges dolphin is found in some of the closed oxbow lakes. The World Heritage site has recently recorded the highest ecological density of the Royal Bengal tiger in the world (World Heritage Committee, 2015).
Rare and endemic birds
Criterion
(x)
Kaziranga National Park plays an important role in avifaunal conservation due to its location at the junction of Australasia and Indo-Asian flyway. The birds’ check-list of the Park includes more than 480 species. The wetlands of the Park play a crucial role for conservation of globally threatened bird species by providing the necessary habitat during their annual migrations (World Heritage Committee, 2015). The Park holds significant populations of threatened resident avifauna including the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), long-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus phillipensis), and lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos javanicus).
Assessment information
Rhino poaching poses a significant threat to Kaziranga National Park, with implications beyond the Park and the country. While poaching is not a new phenomenon, there has been an increase in levels of poaching since 2012, which is a cause of concern. Increasingly large floods put the unique biodiversity of the World Heritage site in danger, killing high numbers of rhinos and other wildlife. Climate change is a further threat, likely to cause even more frequent and intensifying floods. The highway along the southern boundary of the site is witnessing heavy traffic and consequently acts as a barrier to animal migration routes and causes wildlife casualties. Likewise, unplanned tourism infrastructure in the vicinity of the Park has affected animal movement in wildlife corridor zones. Spread of alien invasive plant species, especially mimosa, are a clear threat to the characteristic grassland habitat of Kaziranga National Park. Livestock grazing inside the Park has affected the habitat and also hybridization of wild buffalo.
Storms/Flooding
(Extreme weather including storms and heavy seasonal flooding)
Inside site
, Throughout(>50%)
Outside site
Like all World Heritage sites, Kaziranga National Park is being impacted by climate change. The annual floods that occur in the site are important to rejuvenate the unique ecosystem of grassland, swamps and ponds that sustain the large populations of rhinos, elephants, deer, wild buffaloes and subsequently tigers and leopards (Vyawahare, 2018). But increasingly large floods put the unique biodiversity of the site in danger.
Severe losses to wildlife have been sustained during heavy floods in recent years. The monsoon flooding of 2004 was said to be the worst for 50 years, with widespread loss of animals (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). During the floods in 2017, around 104 animals (95 hog deer, 7 rhinos and 2 elephants) were handled by the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), run by the Assam Forest Department and IFAW-WTI, of which 80 were released back into the wild. Kaziranga National Park lost more than 360 animals in two waves of floods in 2017, including 31 rhinos (Vyawahare, 2018). Between 2002 and 2017, 130 rhinos have died in floods in Kaziranga.
These floods are likely to increase in intensity and potentially frequency under climate change. In 2019, the State Government decided to construct 33 new highlands to provide areas for animals to seek refuge during the floods (Karmakar, 2019).
Severe losses to wildlife have been sustained during heavy floods in recent years. The monsoon flooding of 2004 was said to be the worst for 50 years, with widespread loss of animals (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). During the floods in 2017, around 104 animals (95 hog deer, 7 rhinos and 2 elephants) were handled by the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), run by the Assam Forest Department and IFAW-WTI, of which 80 were released back into the wild. Kaziranga National Park lost more than 360 animals in two waves of floods in 2017, including 31 rhinos (Vyawahare, 2018). Between 2002 and 2017, 130 rhinos have died in floods in Kaziranga.
These floods are likely to increase in intensity and potentially frequency under climate change. In 2019, the State Government decided to construct 33 new highlands to provide areas for animals to seek refuge during the floods (Karmakar, 2019).
Livestock Farming / Grazing
(Livestock grazing)
Inside site
, Extent of threat not known
Outside site
Interbreeding of domestic buffalo, which enter into Kaziranga National Park from neighbouring areas, with the wild buffalo population is a problem (State Party of India, 2008). The illegal presence of grazing water buffalo contributes to the spread of rinderpest and has resulted in hybridization of the wild stock (UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Housing/ Urban Areas
(Unplanned tourism infrastructure)
Outside site
Tourism infrastructure has mushroomed along the Park boundary and could hinder animal movement in wildlife corridor zones. A number of awareness activities by the Forest Department has been launched in the surrounding areas in the recent past. While not addressing tourism infrastructure per se, this will help in alleviating wildlife unfriendly practices in the area. Reports of continued, unregulated tourism development adjacent to the World Heritage site continue to be received and any tourism developments within or around the site should be strictly controlled, in cooperation with the District Administration, in order to avoid adverse impacts on the site’s Outstanding Universal Value.
Hunting and trapping
(Rhino poaching)
Inside site
, Widespread(15-50%)
Outside site
Poaching of rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) both within and adjacent to the World Heritage site is of major concern and a significant threat to Kaziranga National Park (MEE, 2007; State Party of India, 2008). Poaching of rhinos for its horn by heavily armed hunters is still profitable (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). There was a decreasing trend of rhino poaching from 2007 to 2011 (State Party of India, 2012). However, recently there has been an increase in the numbers of rhinos poached showing a relative surge in poaching activity in and around the Park (2016-17 12 rhinos poached). The number of rhinos poached has decreased again in recent years (2017-18 7; 2018-19 6; 2019-20 3) and is still lower than they were in the early 1990s (IUCN Consultation, 2017 and 2020).
Invasive Non-Native/ Alien Species
(Spread of invasive species)
Inside site
, Scattered(5-15%)
Outside site
The invasive mimosa weed, Mimosa invisa and M. inermis, has blanketed the native vegetation in about 5% of Kaziranga National Park and requires constant clearing (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Although Park authorities and the Wildlife Trust of India have cleared mimosa from most of the Park (IUCN Consultation, 2017), there is still some concern about the efficacy of the efforts undertaken, including manual uprooting and controlled burning, and the impact of these efforts has yet to be scientifically assessed (State Party of India, 2011).
Housing/ Urban Areas, Commercial/ Industrial Areas, Tourism/ Recreation Areas
(Land encroachment)
Inside site
, Scattered(5-15%)
In Kaziranga National Park, like many protected areas with high density local communities living at the Park boundaries, land encroachment is a major challenge. Illegal encroachment has occurred for expanding areas under tea and rubber plantations, for bamboo harvesting and illegal trading in timber (Gogoi, 2015; Ranjan, 2019). Illegal operations by mining and stone quarrying firms have further damaged the biodiversity of the World Heritage site (Gogoi, 2015). In 2007, a Ministry of Environment and Forestry report revealed that 7,790 ha of Kaziranga National Park had been lost to illegal encroachers (MOEF, 2010) and while the level of encroachment in recent years appears to have fallen, it remains a threat to the site.
The changing demographic and economic profile of the population around the World Heritage site could have potential consequences for the level of future support to conservation, particularly in light of reports of growing tensions resulting from expansions to the site and the military approach to combating rhino poaching. Illegal fishing at the Park fringes and stone quarrying in the adjacent hills disturbs the natural landscape, although the latter has been banned by the Supreme Court of India. Increased tourist numbers will put additional pressure on the Park, as well as on the development of tourism infrastructure, including roads and accommodation, around the Park. Erosion of land along the northern boundary of Kaziranga National Park by river flow could have adverse implications for the Park area in the future and climate change is expected to have an increasing impact through increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions.
Mining/ Quarrying
(Stone quarrying)
Outside site
Stone quarrying in the foothills of Karbi Anglong remains an issue that is currently being addressed in Indian courts. The Supreme Court of India has banned stone quarrying adjacent to Kaziranga National Park (Business Standard, 2019). While this causes disturbance to migrating elephants, the corridors themselves are relatively free of this threat.
Fishing / Harvesting Aquatic Resources
(Fishing on the edges of the park)
Outside site
Illegal fishing in areas adjacent to the World Heritage site (MEE, 2007; UNEP-WCMC, 2011) remains a concern and with increasing tension between local communities and Park management this threat is likely to continue, all be it at a relatively low level.
Erosion and Siltation/ Deposition
(River bank erosion)
Inside site
, Localised(<5%)
Outside site
River bank erosion is caused by the Brahmaputra River along the northern boundary of the World Heritage site. This natural factor could have increasingly adverse implications on the site in the future through increasingly large floods linked to climate change. An indication of the potential for impacts is that nearly 3,000 ha of an original 43,000 ha area has been eroded since inscription (State Party of India, 2012).
Identity/social cohesion/ changes in local population and community that result in negative impact
(Changing demographic and economic profile and alienation)
Outside site
A growing local population surrounding the World Heritage site, land development, monetization of the subsistence economy and progressive alienation of local people from tourism opportunities and benefits (MEE, 2007), is likely to have an impact on the site. Change of land use in the southern fringe of the Park (State Party of India, 2011) is also impacting on natural habitats adjacent to the site.
Major threats to Kaziranga National Park primarily affect its significant natural habitat and its rare and endangered species. Rhino poaching, seasonal flooding and climate change impacts, unplanned tourism infrastructure, highway traffic, spread of invasive species (mimosa) and livestock grazing are current threats that have a direct bearing on the wildlife, habitats and values of the World Heritage site. Potential threats that will pose challenges to the conservation of the site in the future include the changing demographic and economic profile of the local population, tensions with local communities, continued rhino poaching, human-wildlife conflict, illegal fishing, tourist pressures, river bank erosion and impacts from climate change. The predominantly anthropogenic drivers of many of these threats have long-term implications for the site from a conservation perspective and the impacts will be compounded by climate change through intensification of some threats and additional stressors to the site.
Management system
The forest department of the Government of Assam is responsible for the management of the Kaziranga National Park World Heritage site. There has been a series of ten-year management plans from 1981, supplemented by annual plans of operation (UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Effectiveness of management system
Kaziranga National Park is one of the better managed parks in India, but improved management, financial and technical support, and community strategy, awareness, education and involvement in planning are all still necessary (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Eco-development Committees have been constituted to include communities in decisions on conservation and livelihood generation (IUCN Consultation, 2020).
Boundaries
There have been continuing efforts at strategic extensions to the World Heritage site in order to address issues of integrity affecting the existing site (World Heritage Committee, 2008). Since its inscription, the site has been extended several times, increasing its size from the original 42,996 ha to 85,942 ha today, including the river and floodplain areas, as well as strategic wildlife corridors to the Karbi Anglong hills. These extensions have not yet been added to the inscribed World Heritage site, as there are still some court cases contesting some of the additions and these have to be concluded before any proposal for extension can be submitted. While important areas of the hills are protected as forest reserves, plans to create a wildlife sanctuary and even to include some of these critical areas in the National Park have not yet been implemented (State Party of India, 2008). An area of 7,000 ha adjacent to the Kaziranga National Park World Heritage site in the District of Karbi Anglong has already been processed in order to give status of Wildlife Sanctuary, viz, North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary (State Party of India, 2009). The process of issuing final notification is still going on (State Party of India, 2011). All the six Addition Areas to Kaziranga National Park have been notified as buffer zones. The World Heritage site also became core area of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve in 2007, with total area of 103,000 ha (State Party of India, 2012).
Integration into regional and national planning systems
The World Heritage site is well integrated into the national planning system as a National Park and Tiger Reserve under the National Tiger Conservation Authority. It is also part of an Elephant Reserve under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. The tiger population within the site is considered a source for other areas in the region, but the level of regional planning across the site and other protected areas, including those in neighbouring countries, is unknown.
Relationships with local people
Kaziranga National Park is faced with increasing pressures as a result of rapid changes in the surrounding landscape, related to increasing population pressure and agricultural development (State Party of India, 2008). Human-Wildlife conflict, including damage to crops, property and human lives, remain important conservation issues (State Party of India, 2011). Community Eco-development projects have been aimed more at the protection of animals and providing infrastructure, than in helping communities directly, and there has been a lack of consultation and of an open planning process (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Resource dependency (fishing, grazing, thatch and fuel-wood collection) is leading to some issues (MEE, 2007). There is a feeling of land alienation owing to planned inclusion of ‘Addition Areas’ at the edges of the Park. Some proactive measures have been taken by the Park that aim to reverse these trends, including the engagement of local youths as casual workers and tourist guides, the recruitment of volunteers during floods to avert traffic accidents involving wild animals along the NH 37, and the establishment of Village Defense Parties, which consist of groups of local youths who guard areas outside the Park from potential intruders and keep watch on large mammals crossing over to human habitation and tea gardens (Rhino Task Force Report, 2015). More recently, concerns have been raised about the military approach taken to tackle rhino poaching and the impacts this is having on local communities (Barbora, 2017). The eviction of populations from the Park's perimeter have turned into electoral issues with successive extensions to the Park's perimeter and the use of increasingly military efforts to combat poaching, leading to greater and greater tensions (Smadja, 2018).
Legal framework
Kaziranga was originally proposed as a Reserved Forest in 1905 and designated a Reserved Forest in 1908, with the aim of preserving the rhinoceros and other large mammals. The killing of rhinoceros was made punishable by the Assam Rhinoceros Preservation Act of 1954, reinforced by the Biodiversity Conservation Act of 2002. Twelve Acts have been passed to safeguard conservation of the Park’s lands and animals. No rights or privileges to exploit forest produce are exercised. Limited grazing was permitted until the area was finally declared a National Park (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). The World Heritage site has the highest legal protection and strong legislative framework under the provisions of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Indian Forest Act, 1927/Assam Forest Regulation 1891. The Park has a long history of protection reflected in the dramatic recovery of the rhinoceros population and celebration of 100 years of conservation in 2005.
Law enforcement
Despite the significant threat of rhino poaching, enforcement at Kaziranga National Park has been successful at keeping the numbers poached relatively low due to constant intelligence and surveillance techniques (IUCN Consultation, 2017). Enforcement efforts have led to conflict with local communities and concerns have been raised in regard to the military nature of enforcement efforts that often alienate local communities (Barbora, 2017).
Implementation of Committee decisions and recommendations
The State Party has regularly responded to Committee decisions and recommendations (State Party of India, 2008; State Party of India, 2009; State Party of India, 2011; State Party of India, 2012). However, some of the specifics requested in decisions have not been followed up, details are lacking and it is difficult to ascertain if actions have been put in place e.g. regarding monitoring of important wildlife species.
Sustainable use
There is an absence of information on any assessment of sustainable resource use in and around Kaziranga National Park. Use of resources within the World Heritage site has been prevented and is increasingly leading to tensions between the Park management and local communities surrounding the site (Barbora, 2017; Borah et al., 2018; Das, 2017). Areas surrounding the site were previously used for collection of resources, but with the expansion of protected areas around the World Heritage boundaries, access to these areas and their resources have also been restricted. Livestock grazing (State Party of India, 2008), illegal fishing (MEE, 2007) and stone quarrying (UNEP-WCMC, 2011) are present resource use threats outside the boundaries of the site.
Sustainable finance
Park management pointed to the lack of staffing and budget, in particular the unavailability of funds sanctioned under the central funding schemes, with funds held up at the level of the State Government (State Party of India, 2008). Funding for the management of the World Heritage site is normally provided by the Govt. of Assam under the schemes: (i) Development of National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries and (ii) Development of other Wildlife areas. With the declaration of the Park as a “Tiger Reserve” in 2007, it has started receiving additional financial support since 2008-09 under the ‘Project Tiger’ scheme (State Party of India, 2011). In addition, the Park receives support in cash and in kind from a range of national and international NGOs.
Staff capacity, training, and development
Kaziranga National Park has a reasonably well-trained force of forest guards, which have received academic training at the Forester School and Forest Guard School, as well as skill development training, including anti-poaching and other field level training. Much of this training is being provided by NGOs such as Aaranyak, Wildlife Trust of India, and WWF-India (IUCN Consultation, 2017). However, according to the Rhino Task Force Report (State Party of India, 2015), the lack of training in jungle warfare, target practice, as well as knowledge of the terrain and ecological acquaintance with the Park are considered to be severe inadequacies in the effective performance of Kaziranga's field personnel. Park management also pointed to a lack of staffing and budget (State Party of India, 2008).
Education and interpretation programs
There is a lack of specific education and awareness programmes highlighting the values of the site. A joint venture has been launched by the Assam Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of India to establish the Kaziranga Discovery Park. Construction has been completed of an Interpretation Centre at Panbari, adjoining the Park, but the number of visitors and activities of the Centre remain unclear. Increasing tensions between Park management and local communities highlight the importance of education and awareness activities.
Tourism and visitation management
The World Heritage site is highly promoted in local and national tourism policies. Tourist routes are earmarked for visitors, but are often congested with vehicles and high tourist numbers. Adequate visitor services are available, although there are concerns about the management of vehicles once they enter the Park, and the level of visitation. Tourist facilities around Kaziranga National Park are in high demand, due to the large number of tourists that visit the Park every year (State Party of India, 2011). Uncontrolled tourism is also a problem (UNEP-WCMC, 2011), as is ongoing tourism development adjacent to the World Heritage site.
Monitoring
The values of the World Heritage site are periodically monitored as per the Management Plan. However, given the importance of the site for a number of threatened species and the potential of impacts from climate change, tourism, invasive species, land encroachment, presence of livestock and other threats, additional monitoring is required.
Research
Numerous research projects are undertaken in the Park, mostly by academic or other research centres and NGOs. However, there is no overall research strategy or focus. A proposed Tiger Conservation Plan will add to research undertaken and also covers leopards. There has also been some recent research looking into the predation of domestic livestock by tigers and the resulting impacts on local communities (Borah et al., 2018).
Kaziranga National Park has the highest legal protection and strong legislative framework under Indian wildlife laws. The Park has a long history of protection reflected in the dramatic recovery of the rhino population and celebration of 100 years of conservation in 2005. The Park has also been declared as a Tiger Reserve (2007) and there have been six additions to the Park area. The World Heritage site benefits from some government support at both national and regional levels, as well as involvement of national and international conservation organizations. However, there remain some issues of concern particularly with regard to developing a more cooperative and economically beneficial relationship for the local population. The management needs a long-term strategy for dealing with tourism levels and related issues, research and monitoring for habitat and wildlife, human-wildlife conflicts and boundary issues relating to the Addition Areas to the National Park. A landscape approach with spatial and ecological connectivity with the nearby Karbi Anglong hills is needed. Staff training and development will require continued attention of the management and increasing tensions between Park management and local communities also highlight the importance of education and awareness activities. While adequate and sustained finance is a critical requirement, the constitution of the Kaziranga Tiger Conservation Foundation is an important measure to help address this issue.
Assessment of the effectiveness of protection and management in addressing threats outside the site
Some Concern
The protection and management system is confronted with many of the threats that originate outside the World Heritage site. The changing demographic and economic profile of the population around the fringe of Kaziranga National Park is a particular challenge and the Park’s attempts at Eco-development for the communities are yet to yield the desired results. The management is also limited in its mandate to control stone quarrying and unplanned tourism infrastructure though the Park is part of a larger government committee seeking to regulate such development. There is considerable success in checking illegal grazing of livestock. The Park has instituted measures to slow down high speed traffic along the highway near the Park; however, as the volume of traffic is beyond the control of the Park management, additional efforts to limit impacts from traffic is increasingly important. In recent years, the linkage of rhino poaching to wider national, regional and global markets is of very serious concern to the localized protection and management system.
Best practice examples
The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) run by the Assam Forest Department with support from IFAW and WTI for the last ten years, is a centre of excellence for veterinary, rescue and rehabilitation practices. The Centre has released back into the wild close to 5,000 rescued animals including rhinos, tigers, elephants and hog deer (IUCN Consultation, 2017).
Assessment of the current state and trend of World Heritage values
Low Concern
Trend
Deteriorating
The current state of the site’s values with regard to its ecological processes and significant natural habitat is overall relatively good despite being under threat from climate change, extreme flooding and invasive species. However, there are some concerns in regard to a couple of the values for which the site was inscribed. Historically, Kaziranga National Park has demonstrated resilience to poaching of rhinos, but after decades of conservation success, the recent spike in rhino poaching in the Park is worrying. The large mammals of Kaziranga are also under pressure from severe monsoon floodings, unplanned tourism infrastructure, highway traffic, land encroachment, human-wildlife conflict and presence of livestock. Monitoring of populations of threatened species is crucial to addressing these threats and with good management and coordination, rhino poaching is likely to decrease again. Under continued high levels of protection, the Park is likely to maintain its high levels of biodiversity, but the increased levels of protection have caused concern in regard to relationships with the communities surrounding the World Heritage site.
Additional information
Wilderness and iconic features,
Sacred natural sites or landscapes,
Cultural identity and sense of belonging
Kaziranga is regarded as one of the most important wildlife refuges in the world and a veritable storehouse of biodiversity. The Park is internationally recognized as being home to the largest population of the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), some three quarters of the global population lives within the World Heritage site. Estimates also indicate that in addition to the large rhino population, the site is home to the largest population of Asiatic wild buffalo, eastern swamp deer and a sizeable population of Asian elephant. The site has recently recorded the highest ecological density of the Royal Bengal tiger in India, making it an important global population for this species.
The site is home to a number of local communities, many of whom have inhabited the area for many generations. These communities were present prior to the designation of the National Park and World Heritage site with strong connections to the habitat and the species found in the Park.
The site is home to a number of local communities, many of whom have inhabited the area for many generations. These communities were present prior to the designation of the National Park and World Heritage site with strong connections to the habitat and the species found in the Park.
Outdoor recreation and tourism
The site is a hub of recreation and tourism attracting local, national and global visitors and providing important health and recreation benefits alongside the economic ones provided through employment and contributions to the local economy.
Carbon sequestration,
Flood prevention,
Pollination
The natural values of the site provides ideal habitat for climate change mitigation. The site is endowed with high wetland values and acts as a sink in the Brahmaputra valley floodplains. For the full benefits of the World Heritage site in regard to environmental services to be realised it will be important to ensure other threats are minimised.
Direct employment,
Tourism-related income
Tourism provides an important source of income and livelihoods for many living around the Park, as well as direct employment within the Park. The high levels of tourism provide not only direct employment, but wider benefits through tourism related income. It will be difficult to ensure further commitments to conservation of the property if sustainable livelihood opportunities are not developed for the people living in fringe areas (Das, 2017). The study by Das in 2017 found the livelihood of around 20% of the respondents to their survey were people who depended upon tourism-related business.
Increasing impacts from climate change are likely to negatively affect the visitor experience of the site and as a result decrease visitation and tourism, in turn reducing the financial contributions to the economy. These impacts are also likely to directly affect those living adjacent to the World Heritage site through flooding and extreme weather.
Importance for research,
Contribution to education,
Collection of genetic material
The site provides an outstanding opportunity for education and awareness for not only the local but also the national and international community about biodiversity. It provides an important site for research as it represents and includes an important grassland and floodplain ecosystem and is home to globally important populations of some of the worlds threatened species and important habitat for many avian species.
The major benefits of Kaziranga National Park are provided by its nature conservation and wilderness values, which can be availed by the communities living alongside the World Heritage site as well as the wider global community. It is a significant representative of unique biodiversity characterized by floodplain grasslands and forests. Apart from being home to the largest population of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in the world, it harbours substantial numbers of other mega fauna and threatened species. These attributes further make it one of the most important sites for recreation and eco-tourism. The benefits the site provide in regard to flood prevention and climate change mitigation potential are not yet fully exploited and more scientific information is required on these issues. The site is also vital to the local economy through the provision of employment and input from tourism.
| № | Organization | Brief description of Active Projects | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaranyak, Guwahati, Assam | Tiger Research and Conservation Initiative; Rhino Research and Conservation Initiative; Education |
https://www.aaranyak.org
|
| 2 | National Tiger Conservation Authority of India, New Delhi and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun | Status of the Tigers, Co-predators, and Prey in India | |
| 3 | Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam | Ecology of Mimosa Invasion | |
| 4 | Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Guwahati, Assam | UNESCO World Heritage Biodiversity Programme for India (capacity building, community development, research, outreach) | |
| 5 | WWF India | The Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape is a critical region for work of WWF India. Specific areas of support include: Tiger monitoring; Wildlife corridor monitoring; Human-Wildlife Conflict; Support to anti-poaching efforts for rhinos and other high value species |
https://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/critical_regions/kaziranga_karbi_anglong/
|
| 6 | Wildlife Trust of India, Assam | Swamp Deer Recovery Project; Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC, in collaboration with IFAW and Assam Forest Department); Forest guard training and assurance policy project; National Elephant Corridor Project. |
References
| № | References |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Barbora, S. (2017). Riding the rhino: conservation, conflicts, and militarisation of Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Antipode, 49(5), pp.1145-1163.
|
| 2 |
Borah, J., Bora, P.J., Sharma, A., Dey, S., Sarmah, A., Vasu, N.K. and Sidhu, N. (2018). Livestock Depredation by Bengal Tigers at Fringe Areas of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam, India: Implications for Large Carnivore Conservation. Human–Wildlife Interactions, 12(2), p.5.
|
| 3 |
Business Standard. (2019). ‘Supreme court bans mining in Kaziranga National Park’, Business Standrad, New Delhi, 12 April. Available at: https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/supreme… (Accessed 4 June 2019)
|
| 4 |
Das, D. (2017). Park, People and Biodiversity Conservation in Kaziranga National Park, India. Space and Culture, India, 5(1), pp.36-48.
|
| 5 |
Gogoi, M. (2015). Kaziranga under threat: Biodiversity loss and encroachment of forest land. Economic and Political Weekly, 50(28). Available at:. http://www.epw.in/node/145521/pdf
|
| 6 |
Government of India (2015). Report of the Rhino Task Force submitted to National Tiger Conservation Authority.
|
| 7 |
IUCN (1985). World Heritage Nomination – IUCN Technical Evaluation, Kaziranga National Park (India). In: IUCN World Heritage Evaluations 1985, IUCN Evaluations of nominations of natural and mixed properties to the World Heritage List. SC-85/CONF.008/9. [online] Paris, France. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/document/153222.
|
| 8 |
IUCN Consultation (2017). IUCN Confidential Consultation - Kaziranga National Park, India.
|
| 9 |
IUCN Consultation (2020). IUCN Confidential Consultation - Kaziranga National Park, India.
|
| 10 |
Karmakar, S. (2019). ‘Assam’s Kaziranga National Park prepares for floods’, Deccan Herald, Bengaluru, 12 May. Available at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/as… (Accessed 4 June 2019).
|
| 11 |
MOEF (2010), Encroachment in national parks and sanctuaries. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Available at: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=64987
|
| 12 |
Ranjan R. (2019). Shooting at the poachers while the rhinos drown: Managing short‐and long‐term threats to endangered wildlife in conservation reserves. Natural Resource Modeling, 32(1), pp. e12188.
|
| 13 |
Smadja, J. (2018). A Chronicle of Law Implementation in Environmental Conflicts: The Case of Kaziranga National Park in Assam (North-East India). South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal, (17).
|
| 14 |
State Party of India (1985). Nomination of Kaziranga National Park as a World Heritage Site. New Delhi, India.
|
| 15 |
State Party of India (2008). Report of the State Party to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of Kaziranga National Park (India). [online] Government of India. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/814
|
| 16 |
State Party of India (2009). Report of the State Party to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of Kaziranga National Park (India). [online] Government of India. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/738
|
| 17 |
State Party of India (2011). Report of the State Party to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of Kaziranga National Park (India). [online] Government of India. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/319
|
| 18 |
UNEP-WCMC (2011). Kaziranga National Park, India. UNEP-WCMC World Heritage Information Sheets. [online] Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC. Available at: http://world-heritage-datasheets.unep wcmc.org/datasheet/output/site/kaziranga-national-park/.
|
| 19 |
Vyawahare, M. (2018). ‘Kaziranga lost 31 rhinos and 361 animals drown in 2017 floods’, Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 1 January. Available at: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kaziranga-lost-31… animals-drown-in-2017-floods/story-FmNA4GuQ2PAyFdcuvqOOAM.html (Accessed 4 June 2019).
|
| 20 |
World Heritage Committee (2008). Decision 32 COM 7B.12. Kaziranga National Park (India). In: Report of decisions of the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee (Quebec City, 2008). [online] Paris, France: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2008/whc08-32com-7Be.pdf
|
| 21 |
World Heritage Committee (2011). Decision 35 COM 7B.13. Kaziranga National Park (India). In: State of conservation of World Heritage properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (Paris, 2011). [online] Paris, France: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/35COM/documents/ ;
|
| 22 |
World Heritage Committee (2015). Decision: 39 COM 8E Kaziranga National Park Adoption of Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (India). In: Decisions Adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th Session (Bonn, 2015). [online] Paris, France: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Available at: <http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6407>; [Accessed November 2020].
|