Rangawa Reservoir (18313)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Rangawa Reservoir
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.7000, Longitude: 79.8500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 257 00
Area of KBA (km2): 14.27469
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Rangawa reservoir is located about 15 km from the airport of Khajuraho, a World Heritage Site. It is a vast reservoir of c. 500 ha. The wetland is surrounded by hillocks, villages and agricultural fields. The boundary of the Panna Tiger Reserve (an IBA) is located just a few hundred metres from the reservoir. The reservoir is easily accessible, being close to the national highway and village roads. The vegetation around the reservoir comprises mostly thick Teak forest Tectona grandis, which covers almost the entire terrain towards the southeast of the reservoir. Apart from this, Palash or Dhak Butea monosperma, makes up the rest of the vegetative cover. Other hillocks around the reservoir bear small shrubs. The main bund of the Dam is about 2 km long, and gives way to a canal which is used for irrigation. The Rangawa reservoir has long shallow stretches towards its northern and western peripheries, close to the Panna-Khajuraho road. This area supports most of the migratory birds during winter. As fishing and other conspicuous human activities are conducted towards the deeper zones, the birds get a relatively disturbance free refuge in the shallow areas.
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: The precise number of species present in and around the lake is unknown. Reports suggest that the reservoir hosts more than 20,000 birds during peak winter season. Therefore, it satisfies A4iii criterion. The reservoir is mainly used for irrigation and fishing. An old, partially submerged castle towards the southeast is used by Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger and other birds for roosting. Many forest birds that are seen in Panna Tiger Reserve can be seen here, although no proper survey has ever been conducted.
Delineation rationale: 2014-03-11 (BL Secretariat): a site area of 1427 ha was calculated by GIS from the site polygon, then rounded to the nearest 10% (1400 ha).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Aquatic | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Soil erosion at the reservoir banks; Poaching; Encroachment and intensive land use. The villages in the catchment area of Rangawa reservoir are primarily dependent on agriculture. Use of toxic pesticides is prevalent, and the farmers do not know the proper quantity of pesticides that they must use. As a result, large quantities of pesticides flow into the reservoir, the cumulative toxic effect needs to be studied.
| 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 |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |