Urpod Beel (18108)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2005

National site name: Urpod Beel

Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.0833, Longitude: 90.6000

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 40 00

Area of KBA (km²): 11.89089

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Urpod Beel is the largest lake in western Assam, comprising a waterspread of c. 700 ha. It is only 12 km from Goalpara town, the district headquarters. It is approximately 150 km from the State capital, Guwahati. Urpod is an important site for wintering waterfowl. It is connected with two more waterbodies, Patakata and Matia beels to the east, which makes the total area of the wetland more than 1,000 ha. The Ajagar Hill Reserve Forest to the south, Rakhashini RF to the north and Sagunbahi RF to the west surrounds Urpod beel. These RF are mainly degraded Sal Shorea robusta forests, except for Ajagar RF, the largest reserve forest of Goalpara district, which is Mixed Deciduous type and adjacent to the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. It is in comparatively good condition. The Urpod beel is well known for lotus Nelumbo, lilies Nymphea, as well as Trapa spp. and Euryale ferox. Villagers harvest them for food and medicine. In shallow zones, sedges and reeds abound. Ipomea aquatica has covered a large part of the water body, almost acquiring weed proportions.

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: Like most other wetlands of Assam, Urpod beel is under tremendous human pressure. Despite this, very large numbers of waterfowl are present in winter. If it were adequately protected from human disturbance, it could attract hundreds of thousands of waterfowl. The IBA easily qualifies for the Ramsar criteria of a wetland of international importance. The Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus is regularly seen. There are no recent records of Greater Adjutant L. dubius, but with protection to the habitat, it could reappear. OTHER KEY FAUNA: The wetland is surrounded by degraded forest where the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus is still seen. There are confirmed records of Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis. Probably, other predators also occur. The wetland is enriched with more than 45 species of fish, such as carps, climbing perch (Anabas) and catfishes.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Siltation; Agriculture; Brick kilns; Grazing; Over fishing. Like all other wetlands, siltation, excessive fishing and reclamation for agriculture are the major conservations issues. An awareness programme has been undertaken for the locals and fishermen.

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
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
Residential & commercial development	Commercial & industrial areas		Ongoing

Additional information

References: Anonymous (2002) Preliminary survey report on Urpod beel of Goalpara district, Assam. Nature’s Foster, Bongaigaon. Unpublished report.