Royal Manas National ParkEdit

Royal Manas National Park is a flagship protected area in southern Bhutan that anchors the country’s conservation-first approach to development. Sitting along the southern foothills of the eastern Himalaya and abutting the Manas River, the park forms a natural bridge to India’s Manas National Park and the broader Manas ecosystem. The designation reflects Bhutan’s long-running policy of safeguarding biodiversity, clean water sources, and responsible tourism as foundations for stable, lasting prosperity.

Geography and climate - Location and landscape: Royal Manas National Park occupies a lowland to mid-elevation belt in southern Bhutan, where riverine corridors thread through dense forests and open grasslands. The park’s topology includes broad valleys carved by the Manas River and surrounding forested hills that provide a variety of habitats. - Climate: The park experiences a monsoon-influenced climate typical of southern Bhutan, with warm, wet summers and cooler, drier periods in winter. Rainfall patterns support lush forests and seasonal wetlands that sustain diverse wildlife and birds. - Cross-border context: The park lies at a political and ecological crossroads with northeastern India, forming part of a transboundary landscape that includes Manas National Park and other conservation areas. This cross-border connectivity is a key asset for regional biodiversity and coordinated anti-poaching efforts.

Flora - Ecosystem variety: Royal Manas National Park encompasses tropical and subtropical forest types, riverine woodlands, and floodplain grasslands along the Manas River. This mosaic supports a wide range of tree species, shrubs, and understory plants that serve as food and cover for larger animals. - Productivity and services: The forest matrix helps regulate climate, protect soils, and maintain water quality for downstream communities. These ecological services are foundational to both habitat integrity and local livelihoods through ecotourism and sustainable use of forest resources.

Fauna - Large mammals and apex predators: The park sustains populations of several large mammals and predators common to the southern Himalayan foothills, including elephants, leopards, and tigers, along with other herbivores that depend on the riverine and forest habitats. - Birds and other biodiversity: The area is notable for its birdlife, with many species adapted to forest, grassland, and wetlands. The diversity of fauna reflects the park’s role as a refuge and corridor within the larger Manas ecosystem. - Cross-border biodiversity significance: The connected landscape with India’s protected areas enhances genetic exchange and migratory pathways for many species, increasing resilience against local disturbances.

History and governance - Establishment and purpose: The area was designated in the mid-20th century as a wildlife sanctuary and later upgraded to national park status as part of Bhutan’s expanding protected-area network. The designation reflects a commitment to conservation, scientific research, and sustainable development through protected status. - Management structure: Royal Manas National Park is managed under Bhutan’s system of protected areas, with governance focused on preserving biodiversity while balancing the needs and rights of local communities. Management emphasizes habitat protection, ranger patrols, scientific monitoring, and sustainable tourism. - Cross-border cooperation: Given its position at a geopolitical boundary, the park explicitly participates in cooperative efforts with neighboring jurisdictions to combat poaching, share data on wildlife populations, and coordinate land-use planning that supports both conservation and local economies.

Local communities and livelihoods - Coexistence and livelihood strategies: Local communities historically relied on forest resources for grazing, collection of wood products, and small-scale farming. The park’s management framework seeks to balance wildlife protection with sustainable livelihoods through community involvement, benefit-sharing from tourism, and traditional practices that align with conservation goals. - Economic dimensions: Eco-tourism, guided treks, and wildlife-related activities provide revenue streams for communities and the national economy. The approach emphasizes long-term gains from healthy ecosystems, water security, and resilient rural incomes.

Tourism and interpretation - Visitor access and experience: The park is a destination for responsibly managed wildlife viewing, nature walks, and cultural experiences tied to Bhutan’s protected-area network. Tourism is positioned as a vehicle for conservation funding, local employment, and education about biodiversity. - Policy and design: Infrastructure and services in the park emphasize sustainability, limiting habitat disturbance while providing meaningful experiences for visitors. Interpretive programs highlight the ecological and cultural importance of the Manas landscape and its cross-border connections.

Controversies and debates - Conservation versus livelihoods: A central debate concerns how to balance strict habitat protection with local access to forest resources and grazing lands. Proponents of conservation argue that preserving intact habitats yields long-term benefits in biodiversity, water security, and tourism revenue. Critics from some development-focused perspectives contend that excessive restrictions can hamper short-term livelihoods and local economic opportunity. In this frame, the question is how to maintain tight protections while enabling sustainable income streams for communities. - Transboundary dynamics: The cross-border nature of the Manas ecosystem means regional cooperation is essential, but it can also introduce complexities related to border security, land-use sovereignty, and jurisdictional overlap. Advocates emphasize that coordinated management enhances anti-poaching effectiveness and habitat connectivity, while skeptics worry about uneven implementation or bottlenecks in cross-border funding and governance. - Resource allocation and governance: Debates exist about how best to allocate scarce resources for monitoring, enforcement, and community programs. Supporters of a businesslike, results-oriented approach argue that predictable funding streams from ecotourism and international support are crucial for sustained biodiversity outcomes, whereas critics warn against overreliance on tourism in fragile ecosystems. - The role of external actors: International partnerships and donor involvement are often viewed through two lenses. Supporters see them as necessary capital for conservation and capacity-building; detractors worry about footprints of aid dependence and potential distortions to local decision-making. From a policy perspective, the argument centers on ensuring that external inputs reinforce national sovereignty, local autonomy, and durable conservation outcomes rather than short-term projects.

See also - Bhutan - Protected areas of Bhutan - Manas National Park - Manas Wildlife Sanctuary - Biodiversity of Bhutan - Tiger