Ghodaghodi Lake Area (14329)
Nepal, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Ghodaghodi Lake Area
Central coordinates: Latitude: 28.6833, Longitude: 80.9333
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 205 to 1400
Area of KBA (km2): 28.49635
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This wetland complex is situated in the far southwestern terai and the main lake's southern tip is bordered by the East-West Highway. This area is a key link between the Churia Hills and the terai plains, and also acts as a corridor connecting Bardia National Park with the Suklaphanta National Park.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: A total of 299 bird species was listed for the IBA for the period 1992-2018 (Bird Conservation Network, BCN and Ghodaghodi Municipality, 2018). GLA supports significant populations of the globally threatened Great Slaty Woodpecker. GLA therefore qualifies as an IBA based on the globally threatened criterion.<br>Other globally threatened species recorded are: Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris, Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata, Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, River Tern Sterna aurantia and Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis. Further fieldwork may find that GLA supports significant populations of some of these species.<div>Non-bird diversity: A total of 34 mammal species, 29 of fish, nine species of herpetofauna and 388 vascular plant species have been recorded (GoN, CSUWN undated). Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus, Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata and Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus are three globally threatened mammals that have been recorded in the area (IUCN Nepal 2004). Other species recorded include Bengal Fox Vulpes bengalensis, Leopard Panthera pardus, Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Northern Red Muntjac Muntiacus vaginalis, Spotted Deer Axis axis and Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula. A variety of reptiles including the globally threatened Red-crowned Roofed Turtle Kachuga kachuga, Three-striped Roof Turtle Kachuga dhongka, Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris and Burmese Python Python vittatus are known to occur in the area (Bhuju et al. 2007). </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
Delineation rationale: Digitised using Google Earth, based on feedback from Partner, IBA Directory and Google Earth
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Ghodaghodi lake is surrounded by subtropical broadleaved trees such as Sal Shorea robusta and Saj or Asna Terminalia alata. Other tree species include Amala Phyllanthus emblica, Mitho Neem Murraya koenigii, Kyamun Cleistocalyx operculata, Bael Aegle marmelos, Karma Adina cordifolia, Kusum Schleichera Triyuga etc. Small patches of Phragmites karka grow in the shallower area of the lake. In other lakes, for example Nakhrodi, Bainsha trees Salix spp. are abundant (CSUWN and BCN 2012). Higher up there is rocky ground and on the highest slopes there are Salla pines Pinus roxburghii (DR Chaudhary in litt. to C. Inskipp, 19 May 2016). <div>The land cover type of the area includes forest (52.2%), degraded forest (3%), grassland (1.8%), agricultural land (34.5%), highway/greenbelt (0.5%), sand/riverbed (1.6%) and lakes (6.1%). The IBA includes natural permanent or seasonal lakes with areas ranging from 2 to 138 ha, the largest being Ghodaghodi Lake followed by Nakhrod. (CSUWN and BCN 2012).</div>
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The lake's close proximity to the East-West highway could be a major environmental problem to the lake and its wildlife unless the area is carefully managed. Major threats to the lake are increasing human disturbance for the collection of fuel wood and fodder, fishing, boating and loud noise caused by some religious activities; hunting of waterbirds using pesticides; drainage of the lakes for fish farming; unnecessary development at religious sites and cattle grazing (Bird Conservation Network, Kailali 2014). The forests are threatened by cutting for timber and by cattle grazing. Hunting is a serious threat to forest birds including the globally threatened Great Slaty Woodpecker (DR Chaudhary in litt. to C. Inskipp, 19 May 2016).
| 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 | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: <div>Anon.( 2003) Koshi Tappu valued at US$ 9 million a year. www.nepalnews.com 9 September 2003.</div><div>Bhuju, UR, Shakya, PR, Basnet, TB and Shrestha S. (2007) Nepal biodiversity resource book. Earthprint. </div><div>Bird Conservation Network, Kailali (2014) Conservation of Ghodaghodi Lake IBA and Strengthen Local Conservation Group. Annual progress report 15 June 2014 to 30 November 2014. Unpublished. </div>Bird Conservation Network, BCN and Ghodaghodi Municipality (2018) Birds of Ghodaghodi Municipality Bird Conservation Network, Sukhad, Kailali and Bird Conservation Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal, Ghodaghodi Municipality, Sukhad, Kailali.<div>CSUWN and BCN (2012) Birds of Ghodaghodi Lake area. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal and Bird Conservation Nepal, Kathmandu.</div><div>GoN/CSUWN (undated) Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal Project.</div><div>IUCN Nepal (2004) Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal Project Brief and Annexes. Unpublished.</div>
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership