Dehra Gali (DKG) forest (18182)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Dehra Gali (DKG) forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 33.5667, Longitude: 74.4000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1650 to 2396
Area of KBA (km2): 23.35595
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA site on the lower hills of the Pir Panjal Range is located about 32 km northeast of Rajouri town and 190 km from Jammu city. The area falls in the temperate region and experiences heavy snowfall in winter, while summer is moderate.
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: Not much information on the bird life is available but as the habitat is still suitable, it could be an excellent IBA (Shawl 1997). Intisar Suhail (pers. comm. 2003) has seen the Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra, a globally Vulnerable species, according to BirdLife International (2001). Another species of special conservation concern is the Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus. The Himalayan or Impeyan Monal Lophophorus impejanus is also found here, perhaps in considerable numbers. OTHER KEY FAUNA: The area exhibits a rich and diverse faunal composition: Himalayan Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Himalayan Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster, Leopard Panthera pardus, Himalayan Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula, Beech Marten Martes foina, Himalayan Weasel Mustela sibirica, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Jackal Canis aureus, Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, Longtailed Marmot Marmota caudata and Himalayan Mouse Hare Ochotona roylei.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Illegal felling; Grazing; Poaching; Land encroachment. As the area is remote, not much is known about the specific threats. Like most of the sites in Jammu and Kashmir, this site also suffers from the problem of overgrazing, illicit cutting of trees, poaching and encroachment.
| 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 | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: BirdLife International (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Shawl, T. (1997) Identification of potential wildlife areas for establishing protected area network in Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir. Unpublished.