Hemis National Park (18186)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Hemis National Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.0197, Longitude: 77.5333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 3140 to 5854
Area of KBA (km2): 5100.298413
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD’
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Hemis National Park (NP) is located in the Trans-Himalayan Ladakh district on the south bank of the Indus river. It extends from the southern side of the Indus Valley, southwards across the Zanskar Range as far as the Tsarap Chu and eastwards to the Buddhist monastery Hemis Gompa, after which the Park is named. The Markha and Rumbala Valleys and the Zanshar river are located within the Park. The present area of the Park is 4,10,000 ha, comprising a 1,25,000 ha core area and 2,85,000 ha buffer zone. Further extensions to the Park totaling 65,000 ha are recommended (Mallon and Bacha 1989). Hemis is wholly mountainous in character. The core area (Alam Nullah and lower Chang Chu) lies in a band of hard limestone and other sediments that have been raised and tilted almost vertically, then deeply incised by a series of gorges. The terrain is rugged to the extreme with a high proportion of cliffs, screes and exposed rocks. It is isolated, with only a few passes crossing the main watersheds. The Markha and adjacent Sumdah Blocks comprise the catchment areas of the Markha, Rumbak, Shang and Sumdah rivers, all of which drain north into the Indus. The area covered by these two blocks consists of narrow valleys with short gorge sections. Gently sloping alluvial fans form a short section of stone desert along the south bank of the Indus between its confluences with the Zanskar and Rumbak. The upper Chang Chu (or Karnak) Block lies above 4,000 m. Here the landscape is different from the rest of the Park, and typical of the eastern plateau of Ladakh. The valley is broad, with a level floor up to 1 km wide, and bounded by open hills with relatively few cliffs. Shun-Shadi, which encompasses the Niri Chu and Shun catchment, is a remote and sparsely inhabited block lying above 3,800 m. The terrain is exceptionally rugged, with deep gorges, cliffs and steep broken slopes. There are two small lakes, unusual features in the mountains of central Ladakh (Mallon and Bacha 1989). Hemis is the largest Protected Area in the Indian Himalayas. Its large size and altitudinal ranges, from valley floors to mountain peaks, ensure that it is fully representative of the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem of central Ladakh. Important features are the remnant patches of juniper scrub and riverine woodland, the Snow Leopard Uncia uncia and associated prey populations, with an uninhabited and little-disturbed core area (Mallon and Bacha 1989). This PA has been selected as one of several Snow Leopard Reserves under a project launched by the Government of India, aimed at conserving this rare species, its prey populations and its fragile mountain habitat (Ministry of Environment and Forests 1988). Much of central Ladakh is high altitude desert (Dhar and Kachroo 1983) characterized by sparse grassland and herbaceous vegetation on mountain slopes, with shrublands and patchy forest at the base of the valleys. The vegetation of the park is described by Mallon and Bacha (1989), and further details given in Fox et al. (1986). Trees are sparse and isolated, or as small open assemblies on hill slopes, and thin strips of riverine woods in common with the rest of Ladakh. The core area and the proposed Zanskar Gorge Block contain some of the best remaining fragments of a type of steppe juniper forest formerly common to many parts of central Asia. Characteristic species are Juniperus macropoda and J. indica, which occur as scattered trees on cliffs and high slopes up to 4,250m, and form patches of open scrub in a few localities. Thin strips of riverine woodland are most extensive in the Chang Chu catchment. Principal species are Salix karelinii and Myricaria squamosa, with a few poplars Populus euphratica, birch Betula utilis, juniper and willows Salix spp. The vegetation thins out above 4,500 m, with a few alpine species persisting to 5,000 m and above. Chundawat (1990) has given a list of 314 plant species recorded in the catchment of Rumbak Nullah.
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: Almost all the high altitude birds of the Western Himalayas are found in the Hemis NP. Till now, 80 species have been recorded, of which about 50 breed in the Park. The Park does not have any globally threatened or restricted range species but many Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane- Alpine and Tibetan) species have been recorded. This extensive Park is perhaps the best representative of Biome-5. Thick stands of Hippophae rhamnoides and other vegetation in the Markha and Chang Chu Valleys provide important habitat for large numbers of wintering passerines such as Guldenstadt’s Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogaster, Great Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilla, Eastern Great Rosefinch C. rubicilloides, Black-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis, Stoliczka’s Tit-Warbler Leptopoecile sophiae, Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides and Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens (Mallon and Bacha 1989). Unusual passage migrants include first records in Ladakh of Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis, Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata and Orange-flanked Bush Robin Tarsiger cyanurus. There are no extensive wetlands in the Park, but a few species of ducks have been seen on the Zanskar river in spring and migrating teal Anas crecca in the Markha and Chu Valleys (Mallon and Bacha 1989). OTHER KEY FAUNA: Hemis NP is famous for its population of the Snow Leopard which is of relatively high density, especially in the core area. The total population is estimated at 75-120 individuals, being most numerous in the Chang Chu catchment of the core area, mainly because its prey population is also high. Bharal or Blue Sheep Pseudois nayaur is present (1.3 animals per sq. km) in some valleys. The total population is estimated at 2,600-5,000. Urial Ovis orientalis is restricted to the northern part of the Park, where 226 animals were recorded in 1984. An isolated herd of 20-22 Tibetan Argali Ovis ammon hodgsonii lives in the vicinity of Ganda La, the pass between the Rumbak and Markha valleys. These are descendants of a small group which wandered into the area in the 1980s, the limit of the normal range of this species being in the Taglang-La region, some 75 km to the east (Bacha 1985; Fox et al. 1986; Mallon and Bacha 1989). Another interesting species, widespread in suitable forest habitats in the plains, is the Wild Dog Cuon alpinus. A separate race laniger distributed from Altai mountains to Manchuria (Prater 1980) is found in Hemis. Another major predator is the Tibetan Wolf Canis lupus chanco, which is widespread in the alpine and other flat areas. It is also a different race from what we see in the Indian plains. Lynx Lynx lynx has been reported but it presumably very rare. Smaller predators are Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, Weasel Mustela altaica, Stone Marten Martes foina, and Pallas Cat Otocolobus (Felis) manual which feed on birds and small mammals such as the Large-eared Pika Ochotona macrotis, Woolly Hare Lepus oiostolus and Himalayan Marmot Marmota himalayana. Common Otter Lutra lutra has been reported (Mallon and Bacha 1989). Amphibians are not recorded in this area, but reptiles are known to be represented by three species of lizard: Agama himalayana (numerous), Scincella ladacensis (sparsely distributed) and Phrynocephalus theobaldi, which is restricted to the stony desert in the northern of the park (Mallon and Bacha 1989).
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 | |
| Grassland | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Road construction; Poaching (not a major problem). The Park has some 1,600 residents distributed among 23 settlements, but there are no permanent settlements in the core area. In addition, people from outside the Park use its resources, particularly for grazing. Most residents are engaged in both agriculture and pastoralism, while those in the upper Chang Chu follow a semi-nomadic existence typical of the eastern plateau of Ladakh. Less than 1% of the Park’s total area is cultivated, the main crops being barley and peas. All families own some domestic livestock. Traditional grazing rights are respected, preventing degradation of pastures from overgrazing. Trees, where available, and shrubs are used for timber, fuel and winter fodder. Artemisia, Caragana and Acantholimon shrubs are commonly used for fuel, and Aconogonum tortuosum and Stachys tibetica as winter fodder. Animal dung is also used for fuel, precluding its use as fertiliser on fields or pastures (Mallon and Bacha 1989). Immediate objectives are to develop the Park infrastructure, eliminate current land use and disturbance in the core area, and develop strategies in consultation with local people for managing resources in the buffer zone for the benefit of residents, but without detriment to the habitat. A reduction in grazing, and the establishment of fuelwood plantations are high priorities. It is suggested to extend both the core and buffer zones, and to designate the whole area as a biosphere reserve (Rauf Zargar and M. S. Bacha pers. comm. 2003).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Chundawat, R. S. (1990) The ecological studies of snow leopard and its associated prey species in Hemis High Altitude National Park, Ladakh. Technical Report No. RR-1. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun. Pp. 27 Dhar, U. and Kachroo, P. (1983) Alpine flora of Kashmir Himalaya. Scientific Publisher, Jodhpur. Fox, J. L., Sinha, S. P., Chundawat, R. S. and Das, P. K. (1986) A survey of snow leopard and associated species in the Himalaya of northwestern India. Project Completion Report. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun. Pp. 51 Mallon, D. P. and Bacha, M.S. (1989) Ecology and management of the Hemis National Park, proposed extensions and Shun-Shadi Sanctuary. Report to the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir Government, Srinagar. Unpublished. Pp. 42. Ministry of Environment and Forests (1988) The snow leopard conservation scheme. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi. Pp. 27 Prater, S. H. (1980) The Book of Indian Animals. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. Pp. 324.