Ramanagara Reserve Forest (18229)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Ramanagara Reserve Forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.9667, Longitude: 77.5667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 913 00
Area of KBA (km2): 52.65149
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA site is composed of a series of spectacular domed outcrops bordering the plateau on which Bangalore is located, with typical tropical dry deciduous forest and thorn scrub vegetation dominating the landscape, along with areas of millet cultivations including Finger Millet and sorghum, coconut plantations and Eucalyptus jungles.
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 Western Ghats Hotspot (2007). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat status follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: The bird life is similar to that encountered in any scrub forest with a good, scattered population of the restricted range peninsular endemic, Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus. Two species of the Critically Endangered Gyps vultures have been recorded from here. This site could be very important for the Yellow-throated Bulbul, a Vulnerable species, according to BirdLife International (2001). Therefore, we are including it in IBA list. We need more information about the general bird life and also about the abundance and distribution of Yellow-throated Bulbul. In drier parts of Karnataka, wherever boulder-strewn scrub forests survive, this bulbul is found. We need to find out the areas that have significant populations. Ramanagara Reserve Forest could be one of them, but we need more information. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Large mammals found in the IBA include Leopard Panthera pardus, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Wild boar Sus Scrofa, Bonnet Macaque Macoca radiata, Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Jungle Cat Felis chaus and Black-naped Hare Lepus nigricollis.
Delineation rationale: 2014-03-11 (BL Secretariat): a site area of 64498 ha was calculated by GIS from the site polygon, then rounded to the nearest 10% (64000 ha).
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Encroachments for agriculture; Mining of the hills for granite; Felling of trees. The hills are famous for a type of good-quality granite called Closepet granite. This used to be in great demand for export but nowadays caters mainly to the domestic market. Hills located closed to villages are denuded. Loss of vegetation due to fuel wood collection, mainly to supply the growing town of Ramanagara nearby, is a big conservation problem, which can be solved only with the cooperation of people and providing cheaper alternative fuel.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: BirdLife International (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.
Contributors: Key contributor: S. Subramanya.