Ropar Lake (18342)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2004

National site name: Ropar Lake

Central coordinates: Latitude: 30.9417, Longitude: 76.4500

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1500 00

Area of KBA (km²): 5.43068

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Ropar Lake was created in 1952 with the construction of the Bist-Doab canal which receives water from its head works on the Sutlej river near Ropar town. It is essentially a reservoir surrounded by marshy margins dominated by large stands of Phragmites. Located at the Shivalik foothills, the wetland receives a large silt load from the eroded hills. The lake lies in the Hoshiarpur- Chandigarh sub-montane plain region. The depth of the lake varies from 0.5 m to 6 m. A few shallow waterbodies along both sides of the river are located within the wetland area. The area has been declared as a reserved forest and is under the control of the Punjab State Government. The wetland experiences semi-arid monsoon type climate with average annual rainfall of approximately 1,000 mm. Under the National Wetlands Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, the Ropar wetland has been selected for inclusion in the list of wetlands of national importance. In February 2002, it was declared as a Ramsar Site. The edge of the wetland is characterized by thorny bushes, reeds, grasses, sedges and trees. Water Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes has invaded the wetland.

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: About 154 species of birds have been identified till now (WWF, undated). It serves as an important staging ground for a number of migratory birds, but detailed studies are lacking. In its current stage, the wetland supports birds numbering in a few thousands, not enough to meet any of the IBA criteria. However, it has the potential of housing over 20,000 water birds, after restoration work has been undertaken. OTHER KEY FAUNA: As the lake is surrounded by agricultural fields and human habitation, large mammals are absent, except for Wild Boar Sus scrofa and Bluebul or Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, both of which destructive to crops. Sambar Cervus unicolor, Hog Deer Axis porcinus and Smooth Indian Otter Lutra perspicillata are reported to be present but the report needs confirmation. Thirtyfive species of fish are found, many of commercial value.

Habitats

Land use: forestry | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Aquatic	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Siltation; Invasive species; Poaching. The wetland is choked with fly ash from a thermal power plant in its vicinity. The wetland has also been invaded by the exotic weed, the Water Hyacinth. There is very little suitable habitat left for the birds, this too will gradually fill up with silt from the power plant. The wetland though badly degraded has been nominated as a Ramsar Site. It is in immediate need of restoration. This IBA has great potential to be developed as an excellent bird watching area. It is easy to reach and a tourist complex located inside the wetland offers necessary facilities. Since this wetland is an important source of fisheries, it is significant from the economic point of view of the state (WWF, undated). Ever since the inclusion of Ropar wetland as a Wetland of National Importance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology has taken some initiatives to improve the wetland to make it more suitable for birds and tourists. However, these measures are not enough. A holistic management plan, based on scientific research, is required to make this wetland truly a Ramsar Site – important both for waterfowl and for the state’s economy.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Soil erosion, sedimentation	Ongoing
Pollution	Industrial & military effluents	Type Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing

Additional information