Dharan Forests (14327)
Nepal, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Dharan Forests
Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.8167, Longitude: 87.2833
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 100 to 1300
Area of KBA (km2): 619.40963
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Dharan forests stretch from east to west in Sunsari and Morang districts, and constitute a significant portion of the forest remaining in Sunsari. Tropical evergreen tree species mixed with Sal Shorea robusta form the main vegetation type. Apart from the lower Mai valley forests, which are more degraded and fragmented, Dharan forests form the only significant area of this forest type that remains in Nepal. The forest is bisected by the major Itahari to Dharan road and lies nearly one hour’s drive from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. In addition five gravelled roads run parallel to the Dharan to Itahari road in the east linking the people of the Siwalik region with the terai.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Birds in Dharan Forests are well recorded. A total of 340 species has been recorded (Baral et al. 2015, Basnet 2009, Basnet and Sapkota 2008).<div>DFIBA supports significant populations of four globally threatened species: Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Lesser Adjutant and Yellow-breasted Bunting and so qualifies as an IBA based on the globally threatened criterion (A1). Other globally threatened species that have been recorded, but are rare in DFIBA are: Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed Vulture G. tenuirostris and Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata.</div><div>Three restricted-range species have been recorded: Yellow-vented Warbler Phylloscopus cantator and Blackish-breasted Babbler Stachyris humei from the Eastern Himalayas EBA and Spiny Babbler Acanthoptila nipalensis from the Central Himalayas EBA.<br><p>Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals recorded include Spotted Deer Axis axis, Northern Red Muntjac Muntiacusvaginalis, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Terai Grey Langur Semnopithecus hector, Indian Hare Lepus nigricolis, Rhesus Monkey Macaca mulatta, Black Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor, Crab-eating Mongoose Urva urva and Northern Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennanti. The globally threatened Asiatic Wild Elephant Elephas maximus regularly visits the forests (Basnet 2009, Basnet and Sapkota 2008).</p></div>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The forests are mainly dominated by mature Sal Shorea robusta with Adina cordifolia, Pterygota alata, Phyllanthus emblica, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Aegle marmelos, Bombax ceiba, Cassia fistula and Terminalia alata as co-dominant species. <div>DFIBA includes Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone, Indochinese Tropical Moist Forests and Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest biomes. DFIBA supports significant numbers of species characteristic of the Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone and only small numbers of species have been recently recorded in the other two biomes.</div>
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In recent years, there has been massive scale gravel extraction from the seasonally flooded Patnali river bed. <div>The Chatara Dharan road that runs east-west at the base of Siwalik hills has significantly opened the forest passage. Although effects to forests and birds are not known at this stage, further expansion may significantly alter the forest integrity. Similarly the widening of Dharan-Itahari road has further led the forests towards fragmentation.</div><div>DFIBA remains largely unprotected. Forest clearance and degradation of forests through livestock grazing, and cutting of the understorey and tree branches are rampant. Tree felling and collection of several plant species are ongoing. Livestock grazing is allowed and there is uncontrolled collection of timber, firewood and other NTFP (Basnet and Sapkota 2008, Basnet 2009). </div><div>According to local people they regularly hunt wild mammals such as Spotted Deer, Indian Muntjac and Wild Boar. Birds may also be hunted.</div><div>The invasive Mikania micrantha is covering several parts of the forest (Himalayan Nature 1999) and continues to take over in the interior of the forests.</div>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Baral, HS, Chauhdary, B, Chaudhary, H, Basnet, S, Giri, T, GC, S, Ghimire, S, Acharya, S, Timsina, A, and Karki, S (2015) Birds recorded in Dharan IBA. Unpublished.<div>Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (2016) Proposed extension of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. A report submitted to the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation. Unpublished.</div>
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership