Vazhachal Forest Division (18259)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2007

National site name: Vazhachal Forest Division

Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.4692, Longitude: 76.4308

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 200 to 1300

Area of KBA (km²): 392.66954

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Vazhachal Forest Division falls in Mukundapuram taluka of Trichur district and Aluva taluka of Ernakulam district. The division started functioning from April 26, 1985. It is a long and narrow tract of about 413 sq. km (Karim 1990). The Division comprises of five forest ranges, namely Athirappalli, Charpa, Vazhachal, Kollathirumedu and Sholayar. The highly undulating terrain varies from 200 m to a maximum height of 1,300 m (Karimala Komban in Sholayar Range). These forests are situated on the western slope of the Western Ghats and therefore receive copious amount of rainfall. The eastern side of the division is more rugged than the west. Most parts of Vazhachal Reserve Forest (RF) consist of West Coast Tropical Wet Evergreen, West Coast Tropical Semi-evergreen and Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Deciduous forests. The rest of the area is under various plantations. In the Tropical Evergreen Forests we find Dipterocarpus, Vateria, Palaquium, and Machilus spp. Semievergreen forests consist of Artocarpus, Hopea and Tetramelus as dominant. In the areas with Moist Deciduous vegetation, we generally find Tectona grandis, Dalbergia, Lagerstroemia, Pterocarpus, Terminalia, Grewia, Bombax and Emblica spp.

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: In a five-day survey in April 1996, 139 species of birds were recorded by Nameer and Cheeran (1996), of which 24 were migrants. Susanth Kumar (1996) has recorded 120 species from Vazhachal-Sholayar. Detailed study in different months would reveal more species, as many forest birds could not be seen or identified (especially warblers). The sighting of Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus was noteworthy. This is one of the uncommon hornbills of the Western Ghats with patchy distribution (Nameer and Cheeran 1996). Other uncommon birds seen were Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Great-eared Nightjar Eurostopodus macrotis, Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii, Darter Anhinga melanogaster, and Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus orientalis. Although no globally threatened species was sighted in this IBA, there are chances of occurrence of Nilgiri Wood Pigeon Columba elephinstonii, as this bird moves around in search of fruiting trees. Suitable habitat for this species (wet evergreen and semi- evergreen forest) is present in this site. Vazhachal RF lies in Western Ghats Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Sixteen species have been identified in this EBA (Stattersfield et al. 1998). Six have been listed by Nameer and Cheeran (1996). The site lies in Biome-10 (Indian Peninsula Tropical Moist Forest) where nine out of 15 biome-restricted species have been seen till now, but more are likely to occur as the habitat is still intact. This site fits two IBA criteria: A2 (Restricted Range species: EBA), and A3 (Biome-restricted assemblages). It is also included in the IBA list as the site has good representative of Tropical Secondary Evergreen, Tropical Wet Evergreen and Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest of the Western Ghats Endemic Bird Area. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Checklist of mammals and other taxa is not available with us but looking at the extent of natural forests, the following widespread species are likely to be present: Leopard Panthera pardus, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Spotted Deer Axis axis, Mouse Deer Moschiola meminna, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Nilgiri Langur Trachypithecus johni, Common Langur Semnopithecus entellus and Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica.

Habitats

Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Not known.

Additional information

References: Karim, A. M. K. (1990) The first working plan for the Vazhacal Forest Division (1990-91 to 1999-2000). Kerala Forest Department, Trivandrum. Nameer, P. O., Cheeran, V. J. (1996) Birds of Vazhachal Forest Division: A Survey Report. Kerela Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. Pp.19. Unpublished. 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. Susanth Kumar, C. (1996) Birds of Vazhachal-Sholayar. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 36(6): 99-100.