GUWAHATI, June 21 � After years of being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in danger, Manas National Park has been able to shed its �in danger� tag.
At a meeting held in Paris today, it was decided that the natural landscape of Manas deserves to be recognized as a World Heritage Site.
State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain speaking to this correspondent over phone said: �Yes, it is true. Manas is once again a UNESCO World Heritage Site�those determining the status have appreciated the various measures taken to restore the flora and fauna of the park, and it is indeed good news for Assam.�
Several NGOs working in the ecological restoration of Manas have hailed the decision admitting it would be a big morale boost for those working to protect biodiversity in Assam. It is also likely to help promote tourism in and around the park.
Significantly, apart from being a national park, Manas is an Important Bird Area, an Elephant Reserve, and a Tiger Project, a status shared by few other natural landscapes in the country.
