Barna Reservoir (18302)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Barna Reservoir
Central coordinates: Latitude: 23.0833, Longitude: 78.1167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 349 00
Area of KBA (km2): 60.41871
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Barna Reservoir is located beside the national highway NH-12, c. 85 km from Bhopal, the state capital and c. 45 km from the nearest railhead, Obedullaganj. It is one of the most important waterbodies of Raisen district. The reservoir has dense forest on three sides, and shares its perimeter with two sanctuaries as its bund lies inside Singhori WLS while the backwaters lie inside the Ratapani WLS (an IBA). Barna Reservoir, apart from being a perennial water source to the animals of the sanctuaries, provides refuge to thousands of migratory birds during winter. It is mainly used for fishing and irrigation, and was created by damming the Barna river under the Narmada Valley Project. The reservoir looks like an amoeba when seen from above, with large numbers of bays and meandering inland channels, surrounded on both sides by forest or agricultural land. These extensive belts of shallow water are ideal for waterfowl and waders. The forest around Barna belongs to Mixed Dry Deciduous category. Most forest is open and subjected to heavy biotic pressure. Apart from natural vegetation, the reservoir shares its boundary with miles of agricultural land.
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: No detailed study has been conducted on the water birds of the Barna reservoir, but a preliminary survey in the winter of 2001- 2002 revealed a huge congregation of more than 20,000 birds on the main waterbody (Koustubh Sharma pers. comm. 2002). This site seems to qualify easily for A4iii criteria (site known or thought to hold on a regular basis equal to or more than 20,000 birds). Among the conspicuous birds, large flocks of Common Coot Fulica atra and Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina were seen in the relatively deeper portion of the reservoir. This site has not been covered during the Asian Waterfowl Census, and needs regular monitoring of waterfowl and other birds. Villagers report nesting of Sarus Crane Grus antigone in agricultural land, where the Sarus traditionally enjoys protection. The near threatened Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus is also seen, but breeding has not been recorded. The surrounding forest and agricultural fields have 30 species listed in Biome-11 (Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone). However, most of these species are presently common and widely distributed, hence of low conservation importance. OTHER KEY FAUNA: A moderate population of Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard Panthera pardus and Dhole Cuon alpinus is reported from Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as well as Singhori Wildlife Sancuary that surround Barna Reservoir. Apart from these, Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena, Golden Jackal Canis aureus and Jungle Cat Felis chaus constitute the main carnivore population. Herbivore population consists of Chital Axis axis, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, Four-horned Antelope Tetracerus quadricornis, Chinkara Gazella bennettii, Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra and Wild Boar Sus scrofa.
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Poaching; Encroachment; Pesticides. As agricultural fields border the reservoir, the danger of pesticides reaching water, and accumulating in the different trophic levels, are very high. No study has been conducted on this aspect. Apart from this, changeover from traditional crops to cultivation of cash crops threatens the presence of many birds including the Sarus Crane Grus antigone. Charaching and illegal exploitation of the reservoir for fishing are persistent threats. Although the site is not popular among hunters and poachers from outside due to difficulty in reaching the birds, rich and influential local people frequently hunt here.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Only in the future |