Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and reservoir (18306)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2004

National site name: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and reservoir

Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.6008, Longitude: 75.6780

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 399 00

Area of KBA (km²): 1023.01599

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Gandhisagar is the second largest reservoir (in area) in the country, next only to Hirakud in Orissa. It is formed by an impoundment on the River Chambal. The Chambal, at the dam site, is fed by the catchment areas from the Vindhyachal ranges to the south and Aravalli to the northeast, covering a drainage area of 23,025 sq. km. The maximum length and width of the reservoir are 68 and 26 km respectively, while the Sanctuary is 36,700 ha in area. Gandhisagar Dam is one among the four dams of the Integrated Chambal Development Programme. Shared by Mandsaur and Neemuch districts, the Gandhisagar reservoir and adjoining Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary are about 130 km from Mandsaur. The forests included in the Wildlife Sanctuary were the hunting reserves of the ruling Holkar family of Indore. Until a few decades ago, these forests were dense and full of wildlife. Unfortunately, due to over-exploitation and unrestricted hunting, the area has become depleted both in flora and fauna.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.

Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: Gandhisagar reservoir draws a large number of migratory and nonmigratory birds throughout the year. This reservoir can easily qualify for A4iii criteria, i.e. congregation of 20,000 or more waterbirds. There are reports of Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus and flamingos Phoenicopterus spp. This reservoir is also famous for large numbers of the Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus. Although no proper census of this species has been conducted, its population could easily reach the 1% threshold determined by Wetlands International (2002). As the waterspread is very large and difficult to assess, the number and species composition of other waterfowl is also not known, but many would easily cross the 1% population threshold. Despite the lack of information on waterfowl, and considering its large size and suitability of habitat for waterbirds, we have included Gandhisagar as an IBA based on A4i and A4iii criteria.

Habitats

Land use: energy production and mining | fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	50
Wetlands(Inland)	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Excessive fishing; Pesticides run-off; Over-fishing; Poaching. As the reservoir is under the control of the irrigation and fisheries departments, it is used for fishing. Over-fishing by small mesh size nets is detrimental for fish-dependent birds. Pesticide run-off from the surrounding agricultural fields is another danger, which has not been studied properly. Hunting of waterfowl continues near villages, but the large-scale hunting of earlier days has stopped. Gandhisagar reservoir is a good subject for studies on the impact of man-made reservoirs on the distribution pattern of local and migratory waterfowl.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
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	Ongoing

Additional information