Makalu Barun National Park and Buffer Zone (14338)
Nepal, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Makalu Barun National Park and Buffer Zone
Central coordinates: Latitude: 27.7500, Longitude: 87.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 435 to 8463
Area of KBA (km2): 1386.35518
Protected area coverage (%): 99.32
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA lies in Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur District of Koshi Province.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: A total of 373 species of birds have been recorded in the MBNPBZ. A total of 348 bird species was recorded from MBNPBZ by Cox (1999). Nineteen additional species were recorded by 2009 (Cox 1992, 2009; Choudhary 1995, Giri and Choudhary 2006, Halberg 1991, Inskipp et al. 2005), and a further six species were added by 2023 (Hari Basnet in litt. to C. Inskipp, 11 January 2023).<div>MBNPBZ supports significant populations of the globally threatened Steppe Eagle. The globally threatened Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola and Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca have been recorded but both species are rare. </div><div>MBNPBZ is of special importance for a high number of restricted-range species that are probably resident: Yellow-vented Warbler, Rufous-throated Wren-babbler, White-naped Yuhina and possibly Broad-billed Warbler from the Eastern Himalayas (EBA 30) and Nepal Cupwing, Spiny Babbler and Hoary-throated Barwing from the Central Himalayas (EBA 129). The BZ is the only Nepal locality where White-naped Yuhina has been recorded since 1989 (Cox 1999, Tymstra 1993).<br><p>Non-bird biodiversity: A total of 88 mammal species has been recorded. Globally threatened species include Himalayan Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Himalayan Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster, Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, Asiatic Wild Dog Cuon alpinus, Mainland Serow Capricornis sumatraensis, and Leopard Panthera pardus. The near-threatened Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, Himalayan Tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus and Himalayan Goral Naemorhedus goral have been recorded. Total of 43 species of reptiles, 16 of amphibians, 315 of butterflies, and 13 fish species have been recorded. In addition, MBNPBZ is recognised for its high botanical diversity supporting more than 3,000 species of plants including 18 endemic species (Hari Basnet in litt. to C. Inskipp, 11 January 2023; DNPWC 2014).</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
Delineation rationale: Protected IBAs extended to include designated Buffer Zones
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: <div>A wide range of vegetation is represented here in undisturbed form; even some of the steepest slopes of the mountain are vegetated. Sal forests reach their northern limit in Nepal along the banks of the Arun below 1000 m. Other forest types comprise subtropical broadleaved Castanopsis tribuloides, C. indica, C. hystrix, Schima wallichii, Alnus nipalensis; temperate Quercus lamellosa, Q. lineata, Acer campbellii, Magnolia campbellii and subalpine Abies spectabilis, Betula utilis, and shrubberies of Rhododendron spp. Vegetation in the alpine zone consists of herbs, grasses and shrubs of Rhododendron spp. (Shrestha 1989). </div>MBNPBZ comprises 35.67% barren land, 32.84% forest, 14.71% bush/shrub land, 6.81% cultivated land, 8.38% glacier, and 1.61 % other landuse types (grassland, pond or lakes, river cutting/cliffs, sandy area and water bodies) (DNPWC 2012).
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Slash and burn is a common and traditional farming practice in the park. Under the rotational farming system, crops are usually sown in slash and burn fields at intervals of five to seven years, but these intervals have been reduced to two to three years, thus limiting time for soil fertility reclamation. The practice has immense impacts on vegetation growth and makes land vulnerable to erosion and landslides (SCDNPWC 2013).<div>Cox (1999) highlighted the degradation of forests and found evidence of hunting for game birds. He also described widespread and over-collection of honey from Giant Rock Bee Apis dorsata nests in the Kasuwa watershed resulting in the decrease of local bee populations in the previous 10-20 years. This is likely to have had a damaging impact on Yellow-rumped Honeyguide Indicator xanthonotus populations in the park.</div>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | 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 |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: <div>Cox, JJr (1992) East Nepal birdquest and forest habitat assessment, November – December 1992. Unpublished. 70 pp. http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/inskipp/1992_002.pdf</div><div>Cox, JJr (1999) An assessment of habitats and human interaction in the Hinkhu, Hongu, Kasuwa and Barun Kholas of Makalu Barun National Park and Peripheral Areas. Unpublished report to The Mountain Institute, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, GON.</div><div>Cox, JH (2008) Rapid assessment of critical habitat, birds and human interaction in Kapilvastu and Dang Deukhuri Districts, Nepal. 29 October – 14 November 2006 and 16 April – 4 May 2007. Summary report to WWF-Nepal Terai Arc Landscape Program (TAL) and Bird Conservation Nepal. Unpublished. 33 pp. http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/inskipp/2007_001.pdf </div><div>Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (2012) Annual Report, Fiscal Year July 2011-July 2012, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Kathmandu.</div>Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (2014) Makalu Barun National Park Management Plan (draft). Kathmandu.<div>Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (2015i) Protected area information. Makalu Barun National Park. http://www.dnpwc.gov.np/index.php/page/19 Downloaded 16 April 2015.<br><div>Giri, T and Choudhary, H (2006b) Additional sightings! Danphe 15(2/3): 7.</div><div>Halberg, K (1991) Notes on birds recorded in Arun and Barun valleys, 18 April to 23 May 1991. Unpublished. 15 pp. http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/inskipp/1991_003.pdf</div><div>Inskipp, C, Baral, HS and Xiaoli, S (2005) RAP Nepal, Makalu Barun National Park, 27 October – 12 November 2005. Final bird report to Conservation International. Unpublished. 17 pp.<br><div>SCDNPWC. (2013) Task 3.3. Report on capacity assessment of local communities strengthening capacity of DNPWC for effective management of mountain protected areas. Report submitted to National Trust for Nature Conservation, Lalitpur, Nepal.</div><div>Shrestha, TB (1989) Development ecology of the Arun River Basin in Nepal. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu.</div></div><div>Tymstra, YR(1993) Some bird observations from the lower Apsuwa River, east Nepal. Forktail 8: 53-63.</div></div>
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership