Chandubi Lake and adjoining areas (18072)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2005

National site name: Chandubi Lake and adjoining areas

Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.8667, Longitude: 91.4167

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 70 to 150

Area of KBA (km²): 59.5426

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This wetland was formed during the great earthquake of 1897, thus it has immense value as a tectonic lake. It is inside Barduar Reserve Forest in Kamrup district, about 60 km southwest of Guwahati city, close to the Meghalaya border. Mayang Hill Reserve Forest lies to the south of Chandubi Lake. Being located inside a reserve forest has made it a secluded wetland with low biotic interference, and a potential site for bird conservation. Chandubi lake covers c. 300 ha and with its magnificent scenery is already on the tourist map. A large number of picnickers throng here every winter, mostly from Guwahati city and nearby areas. With proper planning and management, the area could be a major site for ecotourism. The villagers of Rajapara forest village and other fringe villages will also benefit from ecotourism. The lake is surrounded by low undulating hills covered with Moist Deciduous forest and patches of Semi-evergreen Forests. Sal Shorea robusta is the dominant tree species in the area.

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: Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus and Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus are the threatened species found in this lake, which also attracts a large number of waterfowl. In the adjoining Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests, White-cheeked Hill-Partridge Arborophila atrogularis, Mountain Bamboo-Partridge Bambusicola fytchii, Blyth’s Kingfisher Alcedo hercules, Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica, White-throated Bulbul Criniger flaveolus, Grey Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum are the various biome species of conservation interest. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Among mammals, we see Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang, Assamese macaque Macaca assamensis, Rhesus macaque M. mulatta, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Hoolock gibbon Hylobates hoolock, Dhole or Wild dog Cuon alpinus (occasional), Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula, Hogbadger Arctonyx collaris, Ferret-badger Melogale sp., Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Leopard Panthera pardus, Tiger Panthera tigris, Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis (rare), Malayan Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor, Irrawaddy or Himalayan Hoary-bellied squirrel Callosciurus pygerythrus, Hoary Bamboo Rat Rhizomys pruinosus, Chinese Porcupine Hystrix brachyura, Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla, and Rufous-tailed Hare Lepus nigricollis ruficaudatus. There are also unconfirmed reports of the Pig-tailed macaque Macaca nemestrina, Stump-tailed macaque M. arctoides and Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa (Choudhury 2003).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	50
Forest	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Siltation; Fishing; Felling of trees; Encroachment. There is a proposal to declare the area a wildlife sanctuary, totaling about 50 sq. km including Chandubi Lake, most of Mayong Hill RF and part of Barduar RF (Choudhury 1989). Like all the wetlands of Assam, Chandubi also faces poaching, extensive fishing, siltation and massive encroachment. If properly protected, Chandubi Lake has great potential to attract thousands of waterfowl. Pallas’s Fish-Eagle is still seen in this lake, which proves that the habitat is still suitable as a waterfowl refuge. Better protection from poaching and illegal fishing would make this IBA a great waterfowl sanctuary.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Soil erosion, sedimentation	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Choudhury, A. U. (1989) The Primates of Assam, their distribution, habitat and status. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Gauhati University. Pp. 300 + maps. Choudhury, A. U. (2003) Chandubi lake should be declared a protected area. Proposal submitted to Government of Assam. 1p. (unpublished).