Muthukuzhi (18413)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Muthukuzhi
Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.5000, Longitude: 77.3833
System: terrestrial
0KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Almost the entire area of Muthukuzhi lies within the Kalakad- Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) (part of Virapuli Reserved Forest annexed to KMTR). Some areas in and around the Upper Kodayar reservoir belong to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. This IBA is a transition zone from mid-elevation tropical wet evergreen forests to montane shola grasslands. There are extensive grasslands around the reservoir, and patches of evergreen forest on the slopes. The vegetation on the islands within the reservoir has been badly altered due to planting of non-indigenous species like Eucalyptus sp.
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: Detailed information on avifauna is lacking, however, as this site is within the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, the birdlife is not very different from the Reserve. This is a Data Deficient site. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Gaur Bos frontalis, Tiger Panthera tigiris, Leopard P. pardus, Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Mouse Deer Moschiola meminna, Lion-tailed Macaque Macaca silenus, Nilgiri Langur Trachypithecus johnii, Brown-palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni and Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsi and many other mammals are recorded from this IBA (Johnsingh 2001).
Habitats
Land use: energy production and mining | forestry
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Disturbance; Forest fires; Grazing; Exotic tree plantations; Invasive species. Disturbance is caused due to reservoir and electricity board settlements, roads and operations. The other threats to this IBA are the fragmentation of habitat, exotic tree plantations programmes especially Eucalyptus sp., forest fires and grazing. The adjoining grasslands are grazed by cattle and feral buffalos.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Agro-industry plantations | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Johnsingh, A. J. T. (2001) The Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: A global heritage of biological diversity. Current Science 80: 378–388.