Parvati Aranga Wildlife Sanctuary (18428)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Parvati Aranga Wildlife Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 27.4167, Longitude: 82.3333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 8.95547
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Parvati and Aranga are two connected waterbodies comprising an area of 1,084 ha.They are rainfed lakes in a deep natural depression in the Gangetic plains of the terai region. The Parvati Aranga Sanctuary was established in 1997. However, core and buffer zones have not yet been demarcated. Although no village is located in the immediate vicinity of the Sanctuary, agricultural fields have reached the edge of the wetland. According to the Forest Department, many agricultural fields have encroached on forest land. For proper management, settlement of rights and demarcation of the true boundaries of the Sanctuary are required. It is also essential to involve local people in the management of the wetland, so that both people and birds benefit. The Sanctuary lacks an interpretation centre and there are no publicity pamphlets on this important wetland. No visitor record is kept. The staff is not trained in bird watching.
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: Parvati Aranga Sanctuary is well known for large numbers of waterbirds during winter. When the rainfall is good and waterspread is normal, more than 20,000 waterbirds congregate in this IBA site. The population of Sarus crane Grus antigone is more than 200. Choudhury et al. (1999) have counted 112 Sarus, including 31 juveniles. They consider Parvati Aranga as an important site for Sarus conservation in India. Congregatory birds in the sanctuary include many species of ducks and waders. There has been no recent survey except for one trip by the IBA Officer in November 2001, when there were not many birds (Islam, 2001). However, Forest officials informed that more than 20,000 waterbirds come in winter. Therefore, this wetland has been declared as an IBA. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not available.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Disturbance to birds from fishing; Drainage; Pesticides. Till 1996, the Fisheries Department used to auction the fish in the area, which has now stopped. Fishing, however, continues illegally. Birds are trapped with nets, but not to any significant extent. The Sanctuary has no weeds, but on the banks some wild Cannabis has made an appearance. This needs to be removed to maintain the wetland. The pesticide used in the surrounding fields runs off into the lakes, but its impact on birds has not been assessed.
| 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 |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| 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 |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Choudhury, B. C., Kaur, J. and Gopi Sunder, K. S. (1999) Sarus Crane Count – 1999. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Pp 23. Islam, M. Z. (2001) IBAs of Uttar Pradesh. Survey report. Bombay Natural History Society.