Son Beel (18101)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Son Beel
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.6667, Longitude: 92.4500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 40 00
Area of KBA (km2): 45.577
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Son beel is a large lake in Karimganj district of southern Assam. It is flanked by hills on its west and east. In winter, the extent is only a few fragmented beels, totalling less than 500 ha. It is still the largest beel in Assam but it is being reduced (Choudhury 2000) and unfortunately, there is no conservation effort to save it. The Shingla River, originating in Mizoram, is its major inlet as well as outlet. Further downstream, there is another large lake known as Rata beel, beyond which the Shingla river bifurcates into two rivers Kochua and Kakra. Son beel is accessible from Hailakandi and Karimganj towns. Barringtonia acutangula is the main tree that grows in the beel besides reeds such as Arundo donax and various aquatic plants.
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: More than 150 species of birds have been recorded, although the actual diversity must be much more (A. U. Choudhury pers. comm. 2003). The lake attracts thousands of waterfowl, but due to constant disturbance by fishermen, they do not stay long. If properly managed, Son beel has all the potential to become a Ramsar Site, and could harbour more than 20,000 waterfowl. The Spotbilled Pelican Pelecanus philippensis and Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius have stopped coming, while the Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus is still seen. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not much work has been done on mammals, reptiles and amphibians of this important wetland. What we do know is that two species of otters (Lutra lutra and Lutrogale perspicillata) are found. There are unconfirmed reports of Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrina. Hog Deer Axis porcinus is also reported but its number is much reduced due to poaching and disturbance.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Reclamation and paddy cultivation; Siltation; Excessive fishing; Poaching of birds. The entire area has been silted up and reclaimed to a great extent. Winter paddy is widely grown, and that again has threatened the beel by accelerating reclamation and siltation. Excessive fishing activities disturb the wetland biodiversity.
| 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 |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Soil erosion, sedimentation | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Choudhury, A. U. (2000) Birds of Assam, Gibbon Books and WWF-India NE Region, Guwahati.
Contributors: Key contributor: Anwaruddin Choudhury.