Sundarbans National Park
Factors affecting the property in 1997*
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1997
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1997**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1997
The Director of the Sundarbans 'Biosphere Reserve' of India, presented a report at the Meeting of the South Asian World Natural Heritage Site Managers held in New Delhi and Keoladeo National Park, during 16-19 January 1997. The Sunderbans National Park and World Heritage Area, comprising 1,330 sq.km., is the core area of the larger Sundarbans Project Tiger Reserve (2,585 sq.km) and the even larger 'Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve'; the 'Biosphere Reserve' extends over more than 9,000 sq.km of the inter-tidal area of the Sundarbans delta. Although India has not yet formally nominated the 'Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve' for inclusion in UNESCO's international network of biosphere reserves, the case clearly illustrated an interesting application of the World Heritage and the Biosphere Reserve concepts of UNESCO within the same ecosystem. Several eco-development activities undertaken in the larger Biosphere Reserve, e.g. fishing, collection of honey, timber harvest etc., have enabled the management to establish a working relationship with the local people and solicit their cooperation for the protection of the biosphere reserve's core area, i.e. Sundarbans National Park and World Heritage Area. The working relationship established with the management and the local people have particularly been useful in minimizing the poaching threat to the world's largest population of the Bengal tiger in this World Heritage Site.
Action Required
The Bureau notes with interest the harmonious application of UNESCO's World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve concepts in Sundarbans and urges the Centre and IUCN to identify similar cases and bring it to the attention of States Parties to the Convention.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1997
21 BUR IV.B.23
Sundarbans National Park (India)
The Bureau was informed that the Sundarbans National Park and World Heritage Area, comprising 1,330 sq.km., forms the core area of the larger Sundarbans Project Tiger Reserve (2,585 sq.km) and the even larger "Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve" which extends over more than 9,000 sq.km of the inter-tidal area of the Sundarbans delta. Although India has not yet formally nominated the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve for inclusion in UNESCO's international network of biosphere reserves, the case illustrated an interesting application of the World Heritage and the Biosphere Reserve concepts of UNESCO within the same ecosystem. Several eco-development activities undertaken in the larger Biosphere Reserve, e.g. fishing, collection of honey, timber harvest etc., have enabled the management to establish a working relationship with the local people and solicit their cooperation for the protection of the "Biosphere Reserve's" core area, i.e. Sundarbans National Park and World Heritage Area. This working relationship between the management and the local people has been particularly useful in minimizing the poaching threat to the world's largest population of the Bengal tiger inhabiting this World Heritage Site. The Bureau noted with interest the harmonious application of UNESCO's World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve concepts in Sundarbans and urged the Secretariat and IUCN to identify similar cases and bring them to the attention of States Parties to the Convention.
India
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
