Tamur valley and watershed (14346)
Nepal, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Tamur valley and watershed
Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.8500, Longitude: 87.1667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 3800
Area of KBA (km2): 1334.41571
Protected area coverage (%): 0.01
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Tamur valley lies in far eastern Nepal in Koshi Zone. The Tamur forms a major watershed extending from the confluence with the Koshi River at 100m in the tropical zone (Dhankuta district) to the Tibetan border above 3800m in the alpine zone (Tapleung district). It includes two important forests of Nepal, one at Tinjure Danda and the other at Milke Danda, both of which lie outside the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. However, the upper Tamur lies in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. The Tamur watershed has an extensive area of broadleaved lower temperate forests of Quercus lamellosa, Castanopsis spp. and mixed broadleaved forests. Some of these forest patches, for example those on Milke Danda, are particularly rich in rhododendron species. Higher up there are upper temperate forests of Quercus semecarpifolia, Abies spectabilis and Rhododendron spp., predominantly Rhododendron arboreum, and are “…arguably the largest rhododendron forests in the world” (Milleville, 2002).
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) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Eastern Himalayas Hotspot (2005). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: A total of 260 species, including 215 possible breeding species, has been reported from the Tamur valley watershed. These include the restricted-range species Rufous-throated Wren Babbler, Spiny Babbler and Hoary-throated Barwing and the near-threatened Yellow-rumped Honeyguide that are probably resident (Halliday and McKnight 1990). There are large areas of temperate forest that support significant populations of species characteristic of the Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest biome. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals recorded include Assam Macaque Macaca assasmensis, Hanuman Langur Semnopithecus entellus, Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Leopard Panthera pardus, Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Grey Wolf Canis lupus, Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula and Indian Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak. Several species of herpetofauna have been reported in the area (Oli et al. 2002).
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Inskipp and Inskipp (1986), Inskipp (1989a), Halliday and McKnight (1990), Rai (1998), Milleville (2002), Oli et al. (2002).