Saltpans of Bhavnagar (18140)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2004

National site name: Saltpans of Bhavnagar

Central coordinates: Latitude: 21.6703, Longitude: 72.2555

System: marine, terrestrial

Area of KBA (km²): 143.43839

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The district of Bhavnagar lies to the west of the Gulf of Cambay in the Kathiawad peninsula in the State of Gujarat. The district used to hold numerous village tanks, estuaries and streams which were the main habitat for waterfowl, but many such natural habitats have been destroyed or have deteriorated in quality. However, their role is now taken over by salt pans. The saltworks have created an important habitat for wetland birds and are now being used by a great variety of species as a wintering area, which were once used by few waterfowl (Dharmakumarsinhji 1973). This new habitat serves as an important staging ground for migrant waterbirds moving along the coast.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.

Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: According to Dharmakumarsinhji (1973), Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata, Northern Pintail A. acuta, Common Teal A. crecca, Garganey A. querquedula, Spotbilled Duck A. poecilorhyncha, Wigeon A. penelope and Gadwall A. strepera were common in the salt reservoirs of Bhavnagar. This site has been selected as an IBA based on A1 and A4iii criteria. The salt pans attract hundreds of thousands of small waders, especially species belonging to Calidris, Tringa, Limosa and Numenius. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, various egrets and two species of flamingos also forage in these saltpans and coastal lagoons. The only globally threatened species is the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus. Sometimes up to 200 individuals are seen here. OTHER KEY FAUNA: These saltpans do not have any significant population of mammals or reptiles.

Habitats

Land use: urban/industrial/transport

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Aquatic	50
Forest	25
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	25

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Not much is known.

Additional information