RMNP has its third Conservation Management Plan prepared that covers 5-year plan period from July 2015-June 2020. The Conservation Management Plan provides a framework for proactive decision making, guide and facilitate biodiversity conservation, natural and cultural resource management, park development, and all other management activities which will allow park management to effectively address future problems and opportunities.
Following guiding principles forms the foundational core for the development of vision, management programs and actions.
(i) Sustainability.
Royal Manas National Park is acclaimed by many as a splendor of nature where natural systems are mostly allowed to function with little or no interference. It is for this reason that the National Park continues to enhance and promote the essence of sustainability for maintaining the ecological integrity and to provide the future generations with a National Park that can, at the very least be enjoyed and utilized as it is today. For realizing the vision and objectives, the various needs of those enjoying, living and working in the Park must be integrated with the requirements of the National Park’s special environment and resources. To facilitate this, the conservation management plan should subject to appraisal in order to assess the potential social, economic and environmental impacts resulting from the proposed aims, goals and policies and actions. Harmonizing the conservation and economic needs of the local communities is pivotal for successful implementation of conservation interventions. Every attempt shall be made to ensure the correct balance exists between pressures and needs, conservation and enhancement and opportunities.
(ii) Adaptive management and employing agile and informed management.
Ecosystems are complex and dynamic and our potential to predict how they will reciprocate to management actions and human use is often restricted. Despite the uncertainties management decisions (to either take action or not) must be implemented. The conservation management plan should be sufficiently flexible to allow for change throughout the implementation process. Continuous learning through past experiences and modifying practices and dynamic adjustment shall be the core of adaptive management approach. This approach will particularly be important in the light of shifts in climatic, ecological and social economic conditions. The effective adaptive management will therefore be contingent on regular monitoring and evaluation of the conservation interventions and consequently improve planning and delivery of conservation inputs (NCD 2004).It should be considered and applied during the implementation of projects as well. The planning for and management of natural resources should strive for continuous improvements and effectiveness through adaptive management of natural resources.
(iii) Research and science.
Research and science shall form the principal component in making responsible decisions in the management, planning and implementation, as well as to broaden scientific understanding and predictive capacity to deal with new situations. For informed conservation interventions, it should be guided by a reliable scientific knowledge, supported by vast range of research studies, including an integrated scientific monitoring framework in place. Royal Manas National Park has initiated a lot of research studies integrating both ecological and social aspects and will continue to give precedence on research to help employ agile and informed management.
(iv) Leadership and Stewardship.
The conservation and protection of cultural and natural heritage of Royal Manas National Park shall be under the auspices of the government, employees and the local communities of Royal Manas National Park. Leadership and stewardship should be reflected by setting examples, taking responsibilities and by demonstrating and advocating environmental and heritage ethics and practices, and by assisting and cooperating with others. Effective leadership is all about inspiring and empowering people and having an intentional influence on the people for a common purpose of wildlife conservation. The park management will continue to empower the local communities who are the stewards of the park and other stakeholders by leading and setting right examples in an effort to achieve the vision and objectives of the national park.
(v) Cohesive participation and collaboration.
Participation is the bedrock of policy planning and management practices to help ensure sound decision making, build public understanding and provide opportunities for the people to contribute knowledge, expertise and suggestions. To ensure that the national park is managed sustainably and to facilitate delivery of the National Park´s objectives, the park management will strive to establish and maintain meaningful and beneficial relationship with a wide range of stakeholders and further contribute towards strengthening stakeholder-RMNP relations by empowering stakeholders and local communities to participate in decision-making processes related to management and development issues in RMNP.
