Jhanjimukh - Kokilamukh (18086)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Jhanjimukh - Kokilamukh
Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.8570, Longitude: 94.3240
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 90 to 90
Area of KBA (km2): 130.79831
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site includes the riverine tracts of the Brahmaputra River near its confluence with one of its tributaries, the Jhanji. In addition, there are some lakes and marshes such as Digholi, Misamari, Kawoimari and Laujan, which harbour avifauna. Situated 30 km northeast of Jorhat, the district headquarters, this wetland complex is an important site for waterbirds. The terrain is flat, being part of the floodplains of the Brahmaputra. During monsoon, the major part of this area is completely inundated.
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: Although a full checklist is not available, information on many threatened species is available. This IBA is particularly noteworthy for the records of Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri, which has been listed as Vulnerable. It has been recorded in four beels within this site, Misamari, Digholi, Kawoimari and Laujan (Choudhury 2000). A few thousand waterfowl, including ducks and geese, winter in the area. Seven more threatened species were recorded in the area. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Gangetic Dolphin Plantanista gangetica inhabits the rivers and various turtles are also found.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Aquaculture / Fishing; Encroachment for agriculture; Poisoning of birds. Reclamation of beels, heavy fishing and poaching of birds are the main issues. A ‘bird festival’ like the one organised in January 2003, could generate interest among local people.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Industrial aquaculture | 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: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Choudhury, A. U. (2000) The Birds of Assam. Gibbon Books & WWFIndia, NE Regional Office, Guwahati.
Contributors: Key contributors: Prashanta Kumar Saikia, Shanta Sharma, Anwaruddin Choudhury and Kulojyoti Lahkar.