Now Reading: IUCN warns Kaziranga at risk as Assam pushes ESZ cut
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IUCN warns Kaziranga at risk as Assam pushes ESZ cut
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has warned that land-use changes and unplanned infrastructure threaten Kaziranga National Park's long-term ecology. The IUCN's 2025 Conservation Outlook, finalised on October 11, 2025, rated the park as 'Good with Some Concerns' and flagged risks from habitat fragmentation, invasive species, unregulated tourism, and climate change intensifying floods.
The assessment gains significance as the Assam government plans to reduce the park's eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) from the default 10 km to between 1 km and 3 km. The Assam Tribune reports that conservationists have criticised the move, arguing it would allow damaging industrial activities on the Karbi Anglong hills, which serve as a flood-time shelter for wildlife. Separately, The Hindu reports that the Assam government has not responded to a Supreme Court-constituted panel's March 2022 notice seeking details of construction in nine animal corridors and within the 10-km ESZ, despite two reminders.
Environmental activist Rohit Choudhury, who filed the original petition leading to the 2019 Supreme Court ban on mining along Kaziranga's southern boundary, used RTI to seek updates. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) replied that the information was unavailable, while the state forest department refused to provide it, citing a sub judice case.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Assam Tribune leads with the IUCN report, framing the ESZ reduction as a threat validated by an international body. The Hindu leads with the Assam government's inaction on a Supreme Court panel's request, foregrounding a failure of implementation and official opacity. The Assam Tribune omits the specific timeline of non-compliance, while The Hindu omits the full range of IUCN-identified threats beyond corridors. Together, they show a government pursuing a contested policy while disregarding a court-ordered data request. The middle-ground reading is that the ESZ debate is unfolding against a backdrop of documented administrative delay and ecological risk. The key date to watch is the next court hearing in the sub judice case.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 government-critical
Sources (2): assamtribune.com (government critical), thehindu.com (government critical)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
