Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary (18147)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2004

National site name: Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary

Central coordinates: Latitude: 30.8420, Longitude: 77.4605

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 2000 to 3647

Area of KBA (km²): 63.31465

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Sanctuary gets its name from Chur Peak, on top of which sits a majestic statue of Lord Shiva, commanding a breathtaking view of the valleys and forests below (Singh et al. 1990). Churdhar and the nearby temples are important pilgrimage sites. Three main forest zones could be demarcated in Churdhar WLS: Alpine Pastures, Kharsu Oak Forest and Western Mixed Coniferous Forest. Forest classification is based on Champion and Seth (1968). Plantations of Deodar Cedrus deodara, Oak Quercus sp. and other species have been established by the Forest Department.

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)

Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: No study on the avifauna has been conducted in this Sanctuary but Singh et al. (1990) have provided a list of 30 bird species recorded here. The IBA does not have significant populations of any globally threatened species, but the temperate forests of Churdhar still have good habitats for the Himalayan or Impeyan Monal Lophophorus impejanus, Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha and other species of Western Mixed Coniferous Forest and Alpine Pastures (S. Pandey pers. comm. 2002). This site lies in the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA). In this EBA, 11 Restricted Range species have been listed but as we do not have good information on bird life, it is not known how many birds are found in this IBA. According to BirdLife International (undated) classification of biome, this site should come under Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest). This biome occurs from 1,800 to 3,600 m, which is also the altitudinal range of this IBA. BirdLife International (undated) has listed 112 bird species that represent biome assemblages of this area. Based on the information by S. Pandey (pers. comm. 2002), only ten species of this biome are found in this IBA. Once detailed studies are conducted on the bird life of this IBA, many more biome and restricted range species are likely to be recorded. Till such studies, it is included as a Data Deficient site. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Before relentless poaching in the 1960s and 1970s, Churdhar had a good population of the Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster, and the Sanctuary was established primarily to protect this species. Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak and Goral Nemorhaedus goral are still surviving in comparatively good numbers, despite some poaching. Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus is found in the higher reaches. Leopard Panthera pardus is distributed all over the sanctuary, especially near villages and settlements as it thrives on livestock and also on Wild Boar Sus scrofa. Pika Ochotona roylei is found mostly above 3,000 m and forms the prey base for many smaller predators such as weasels, cats and civets.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	33
Grassland	33
Forest	33

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Poaching; Human settlements; Disturbance due to pilgrims; Livestock grazing. Churdhar has one of the last remaining natural forests in southern Himachal Pradesh (Singh et al. 1990). Residents have rights of habitation, agriculture, extraction of timber, fuelwood and minor forest produce, livestock grazing and collection of fodder. Gujjars (nomadic graziers) are given permits for grazing and periodically bring large numbers of livestock into the Sanctuary. Entry into the Sanctuary is not regulated (Singh et al. 1990).

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	Nomadic grazing	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing

Additional information