Amarambalam Reserved Forest - Nilambur (18238)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2007

National site name: Amarambalam Reserved Forest - Nilambur

Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.2333, Longitude: 76.1833

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 40 to 2554

Area of KBA (km²): 740.34206

Protected area coverage (%): 48.38

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Amarambalam Reserve Forest is one of the largest reserve forests of Kerala. It shows very high altitudinal gradation from 40 m to 2554 m, and coupled with high rainfall, the forest cover is extremely thick. It continues with the Silent Valley National Park (an IBA) and also forms a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Sharma et al. 2000).

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: P. O. Nameer, State Coordinator of Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) has identified 212 species of birds from Nilambur and Amarambalam reserve forests. The site lies in the Western Ghats Endemic Bird Area (Stattersfield et al. 1998) where 16 Restricted Range species have been identified. Eight such species have been sighted in this IBA. Beside the Restricted Range species, one Critically Endangered, and two Vulnerable species are also known to occur. BirdLife International (2001) has also identified 52 Near Threatened species in India. Three of them are found in this IBA, but more are likely to be found once detailed studies are conducted. Amarambalam Reserve Forest lies in Biome-10 (Indian Peninsula Tropical Moist Forest), classified by BirdLife International (undated). In this Biome, 15 bird species have been identified as typical biome assemblage. Twelve such species are found in this IBA. Interestingly, P. O. Nameer (pers. comm. 2003) has seen 11 species of woodpeckers and three species of barbets, seven species of bulbuls, nine species of babblers and 11 species of flycatchers. This shows that the habitat, at least for birds, is still intact in this site. Sharma et al. (2000) found high bird diversity index comparable to other areas. Shannon-Weiner Index was 3.73 and Simpson’s Index of diversity was 0.04. The bird community showed high evenness. Maximum species richness was obtained during November and highest diversity index was recorded during April. OTHER KEY FAUNA: This site has almost all the large and small mammals found in the Western Ghats. Sharma et al. (2000) have reported 25 mammals, including the endemic and threatened Lion-tailed Macaque Macaca silenus and Nilgiri Tahr Hemitragus hylocrius (observed near Mukurthi NP, another IBA).

Delineation rationale: This 2004 IBA incorporates the 2007 KBA 'Nilambur Forest Division' (comprising the sub-sites of 'New Amarambalam Reserved Forest' [includes Karulai Reserve Forest] and 'Forests North of Palunda' [includes Nadugani Reserve Forest]).

Habitats

Land use: forestry

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Not known.

Additional information

References: BirdLife International (undated) Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Asia: Project briefing book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K., unpublished. BirdLife International (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Nameer, P.O. (1993) Birds of Nilambur Forest Division - a survey report. NEST & Kerala Forest Department. Sharma, J. K., Ramachandran, K. K., Nair. K. K. N., Mathew, G., Mohandas, K., Jayson, E.A. and Nair, P. V. (2000) Studies on the Biodiversity of New Amarambalam Reserved Forest of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. In: Biosphere Reserves in India and their Management. Proceedings of the Review Meeting: Biosphere and their Management, 8-11 September 2000, Peechi, Kerala. Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. and Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.