Lowland forests of South Sikkim (Melli-Baguwa-Kitam, Jorethang-Namchi, Sombarey) (18375)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Lowland forests of South Sikkim (Melli-Baguwa-Kitam, Jorethang-Namchi, Sombarey)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 27.1545, Longitude: 88.3300
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 400 to 1000
Area of KBA (km2): 39.69005
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Much of the South District of Sikkim is populated with townships, villages and agriculture holdings. The lowland forests of Sikkim lie at the southern end of the South District, bound to the south by the Great Rangit river, extending roughly from the foothills of the outer Himalayas to an altitude of about 1,000 m. This IBA includes the river valleys of Ramam, Rangit, Great Rangit and Tista and adjoins the Maenam-Tendong (an IBA) to its north. Various species of orchids, Rhapidophora, wild banana, screwpines, nettles and giant bamboo are characteristic of this site. The Rangit Valley Sal Shorea robusta shows a unique association with the Chir Pine Pinus roxburghii (Bejoy Gurung pers. comm. 2003). In patches of protected forest, it is possible to see Sal being slowly dominated by Pine. Such patches are relatively poor in bird life (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003).
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 Eastern Himalayas Hotspot (2005). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: Despite being the lowest altitude IBA in Sikkim, this site has records of birds restricted to biomes 9, 8, 7 as well as 5, perhaps due to seasonal altitudinal migration as well as the telescoping effect of the Sikkim Himalaya, where in a distance of c. 100 km, habitats ranging from lowland subtropical forests to high cold desert can be seen (Ali 1962). Hence, as many as 14 globally threatened and restricted range species and at least four Biome-5 species, 15 Biome-7 species, 33 Biome-8 species and seven Biome-9 species have been recorded from this IBA. The lowland forests of Sikkim are home to several species identified as Near Threatened by BirdLife International (2001): Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis now restricted to few sightings over tea estates, Red-breasted Partridge Arborophila mandelli (not recorded recently) and Ward’s Trogon Harpactes wardi. The Nepal Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga immaculata could also occur here. During a survey conducted here in 1996, no potential habitat was found for the Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis. Biome-5 species like Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii are regularly recorded in winter on the banks of the Great Rangit river; Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria recorded from Trans-Himalayan Lhonak Valley (at Green Lake) and other high altitude sites is also recorded from this IBA. The Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens was found breeding in 1996 very close to human habitation, hawking dragonflies around the Fisheries Department pond at Baguwa but cleverly avoiding the mist-nets set around it. Ward’s Trogon was sighted at Baguwa and Jorethang in October 1996 (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1996). All these records make this IBA a very interesting bird watching and conservation area. OTHER KEY FAUNA: The lowland fauna includes Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Himalayan Crestless Porcupine Hystrix brachyura, Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Tree Shrew Tupaia belangeri, squirrels, fruit bats, a host of butterflies and other invertebrates, riverine fish (over 40 species), Indian Rock Python Python molurus, geckos, freshwater frogs and toads.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Forest fires; Disturbance to birds; Spread of weeds and exotic snails; Urbanization and effects; Use of biocides for agriculture. The lowland forests of Sikkim have not yet been included in the Protected Area Network of the State. However a representative area of the Kitam Reserve Forest was proposed to be notified as a Bird Sanctuary (Sandeep Tambe pers. comm. 2003). Population-wise, the entire South District of Sikkim is second largest after the East District. There are 144 inhabited revenue blocks. This area has been experiencing frequent occurrences of forest fire and was selected as a case study for watershed analysis (Sandeep Tambe pers. comm. 2003). Habitat loss and fragmentation: The original forest as seen on the Survey of India map of more than 20 years ago, all along the course of the Rivers Tista and Great Rangit, is today a very narrow forest belt fragmented for the most part. Lowland forested areas between Jorethang and Melli are comprised of the Reserve Forests of Majhitar, Kitam and Melli-Ralu-Sumbuk. A metalled road runs right through carrying heavy vehicular traffic. The major townships of Jorethang, Melli and Rangpo are all along this route. The area has also been set aside as the industrial development zone with a range of establishments from a small glass factory to the Manipal University complex, beer factories and LPG bottling plant. New hydoelectric projects have also been taken up in this zone. Timber poaching from across the state border was reported by local people as the principal cause of lack of old large trees especially Teak Tectona grandis. In-depth study and long term monitoring of the lowland forests, especially the vanishing Sal forest belt of Sikkim is urgently required. Livestock grazing: Cattle were grazed in almost all forest areas till a ban on grazing in reserve forests was instituted in 2002. Spread of weeds like Lantana, Mikania and Eupatorium is noticeable in many areas. In recent years, the spread of an accidentally introduced exotic species of snail has been reported to be causing crop damage. Use of biocides in agriculture is being phased out by the State government in an effort to become an ‘organic state’. Dynamiting and poisoning of water for fish: People reported this all along the Ramam Khola and at Manpur below Kitam. There is evidence of forest fires in parts of Kitam where several scorched Chir Pines can be seen. In addition to the above-mentioned biotic pressures, Kitam forest also has the problem of succession of the natural Sal stands by the Chir Pine Pinus roxburghi which is fire resistant. There was a clear shortage of bird life in the Pine stands as compared to Sal patches though the exact quantification has not been done. Since this IBA is used more like a thoroughfare even by bird watchers passing through to more popular birding, trekking or tourism destinations in higher altitudes, there is a real lack of ecological information from this zone. Sightings of Kaleej Pheasant very close to human habitation or along the Melli-Jorethang road are no longer common (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1996). Indian Peafowl in Kitam introduced from Punjab over three decades ago by the State Forest Department (S. T. Bhutia pers. comm. 2003) seem to be thriving and villagers sometimes complain of crop depredation. Study is also needed to check for genetic dilution in Red Junglefowl near villages in this IBA.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Ali, S. (1962) The Birds of Sikkim. Oxford University Press, Madras. BirdLife International (2001)Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK. Ganguli-Lachungpa, U. (1996) Baseline Bird Survey in Proposed Kitam Wildlife Sanctuary and other low-land forests of South Sikkim. Report submitted to Oriental Bird Club (Unpublished).
Contributors: Key contributors: Usha Lachungpa and Sandeep Tambe.