Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (14328)
Nepal, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2005

National site name: Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Central coordinates: Latitude: 28.6000, Longitude: 83.0000

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 2000 to 7246

Area of KBA (km²): 1193.17566

Protected area coverage (%): 94.45

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve lies in the Baglung district of Dhawalagiri Himalayan range. It is the only hunting reserve in Nepal and was primarily established to cater for the needs of sport hunting and for the conservation of representatives of temperate, subalpine and alpine ecosystems of west Nepal. This reserve is characterized by alpine, sub-alpine and temperate vegetation. Oaks Quercus lanata and Q. semecarpifolia form well developed stands at the reserve’s lower elevations in more moist and shaded areas. The other common tree species are fir Abies pindrow, birch Betula utilis, spruce Picea smithiana, juniper Juniperus recurva, pine Pinus wallichiana, hemlock Tsuga dumosa, rhododendron Rhododendron spp. and other alpine shrubs. There are flat meadows above the tree line.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)

Additional biodiversity: A total of 164 species has been recorded, but no systematic survey of the reserve’s avifauna has been undertaken and more species are likely to be found (Inskipp 1989a). The reserve has by far the largest known stronghold of Cheer Pheasant in Nepal. A 2003 survey estimated a population of 127-212 birds (Subedi 2003a,b); there had only been a marginal and statistically insignificant decline in Cheer population since the previous survey 22 years before (Lelliot 1982). There are large areas of temperate forests and alpine vegetation, so the reserve is likely to support significant populations of characteristic species of the Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest and Eurasian High Montane biomes. Non-bird biodiversity: A number of globally threatened mammals occur including Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Snow Leopard Uncia uncia, Himalayan Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster, Himalayan Tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus, Serow Capricornis sumatraensis and Grey Wolf Canis lupus.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	33
Grassland	33
Forest	33

Threats

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
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	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
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Renewable energy		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information