Ranni Reserve Forest (18255)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Ranni Reserve Forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 9.3083, Longitude: 76.9750
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 46 to 1920
Area of KBA (km2): 971.55449
Protected area coverage (%): 86.49
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Ranni Reserve Forest covers the whole of Goodrical, Rajampara, Karikulam, Shethakkal, Shethakkal Extension and Valiacavu proposed reserve. The major reserves (namely Konni, Rajampara and Goodrical) lie in a compact block adjacent to each other. The whole area is very rugged. There are two main ridges running north-south and forming the eastern and western boundaries of the Goodrical Reserve. Ranni Reserve Forest (RF) is mostly covered by Southern Tropical Evergreen, Southern Moist Deciduous and Semi-evergreen forests. Evergreen forest is generally met with along the river banks and streams and in places below 1,000 m. Some evergreen forest is also found above 1,200 m in the mountain folds, especially in Goodrical and in the far eastern portions of Konni Reserve. Tropical Moist Deciduous forest exist in most parts of Konni below 800 m. Regular annual fires result in the spread of grass in the more open areas. The hilltops are covered with grasslands, especially in Murinjakaru, Nanattupara and Kattadikunnu areas. Extensive patches of natural grasslands are also found in Goodrical on the southern bank of Pamba river. The Working Plan document (Pillai, undated) mentions 165 species of plants, mainly of commercial importance.
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: Although, no detailed study on the biodiversity has been done in Ranni RF, it is likely to have many Western Ghats endemics, such as Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus, Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon Columba elphinstonii, White-bellied Treepie Dendrocitta leucogastra and White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis. As information on avifauna is not available, we are considering it as Data Deficient. It is selected as an IBA because this almost compact block of 87,738 ha has good natural forests and grasslands of the Western Ghats. It could have many threatened, restricted range and biome species. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Data not available.
Habitats
Land use: forestry
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Grassland | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Not known.
Additional information
References: Pillai, K. N. (undated) A working plan for the Ranni Forests: 1958-59 to 1972-73. Kerala Forest Department. Trivandrum.
Contributors: Key contributors: State Coordinator and the IBA Team.