Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary (18065)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2005

National site name: Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary

Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.7933, Longitude: 91.7300

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 100 to 200

Area of KBA (km²): 29.01266

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the northern part of Darrang district, on the international border with Bhutan, 60 km from the district headquarters, Mangaldoi. The Sanctuary is bordered by the Barnadi river and Nalapara river to the west and east respectively, and fringed by cultivation, tea gardens and settlements to the south. On the northern boundary with Bhutan lies a contiguous sanctuary. Barnadi is close to Khalingdaur Reserve Forest in the east. The area, which lies at the foothills of the Himalaya, consists largely of flat bhabar plains, intersected by numerous nullahs (streams) that remain dry for the greater part of the year. Barnadi was established specifically to protect the Pygmy Hog Sus salvanius and Hispid Hare Caprolagus hispidus, both of which were thought to be extinct prior to 1971, when they were rediscovered at this site (Oliver 1980, 1981; Rahmani et al. 1988). The Sanctuary is also important as a refuge for other threatened species such as the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Tiger Panthera tigris and Gaur Bos frontails. Although about 60% of the Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary is reported to be grassland, most of it is now grassy woodland. Plantation of Tectona grandis, Careya arborea, Artocarpus chaplasha, Dillenia sp. and Anthocephalus sp. has destroyed the open grasslands. Only one remains in the Sanctuary along River Deosunga which is about 200 m at its broadest (Anon. 1990). The main Forest types are Tropical Moist Deciduous along the northern edge of the Sanctuary, and mixed scrub and grassland in the southern part with few trees. The vegetation in the south, however, has been drastically modified by human activity. Most of the natural vegetation has been cleared and replaced by commercial plantations of Bombax ceiba, Gmelina arborea, Phoebe goalparensis, Tectona grandis and Eucalyptus and by thatch grasses (mostly Saccharum, with some Phragmites and Themeda).

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: AVIFAUNA: The site has been selected as IBA due to the presence of the Bengal florican Houbaropsis bengalensis which was reported earlier from the grassland. The grassland is still present, albeit not in pristine condition, but there has been no recent record of the florican from this area (G. Narayan pers. comm. 2003). However, if proper protection is given, the grassland could be revived. Much like other similar forests of Assam, Barnadi WLS is also extremely rich in bird diversity but no detailed study has been conducted. As far as general bird life is considered, this site should be considered Data Deficient. OTHER KEY FAUNA: The fauna of the Sanctuary includes the Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard Panthera pardus, Hog Deer Axis porcinus, Pygmy Hog, Hispid Hare and Gaur. Although the Sanctuary is small, it is a favourite haunt of wild elephants, often in large numbers.

Habitats

Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research

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

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Hunting; Uncontrolled burning of vegetation; Grazing. The Sanctuary suffers from acute water scarcity throughout winter. More than 300 ha in southwest Barnadi was extensively encroached upon, prior to its designation as a Sanctuary. Cattle, domestic buffalo and some sheep graze in the grasslands. Insurgency has played havoc with the inherently weak management of this important site, as a result of which poaching and tree cutting are rampant.

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
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather	Droughts		Ongoing

Additional information

References: Anonymous (1990) Status and Ecology of the Lesser and Bengal Floricans, with reports on Jerdon’s Courser and Mountain Quail. Final Report. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. Pp. 155. Oliver, W. L. R. (1980) The Pigmy Hog- The Biology and Conservation of the Pigmy Hog Sus salvanius and Hispid Hare Caprologus hispidus. Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust Special Scientific Report No. 1. Pp. 80 Oliver, W. L. R. (1981) Pigmy Hog and Hispid Hare - further observations of the continuing decline. Dodo, 18: 10 20. Rahmani, A. R., Narayan, G., Sankaran, R. and Rosalind, L. (1988) Bengal Florican - Status and Ecology. Annual Report 1986 - 1987. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay.