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Site description (2004 baseline):

Barna Reservoir is located beside the national highway NH-12, c. 85 km from Bhopal, the state capital and c. 45 km from the nearest railhead, Obedullaganj. It is one of the most important waterbodies of Raisen district. The reservoir has dense forest on three sides, and shares its perimeter with two sanctuaries as its bund lies inside Singhori WLS while the backwaters lie inside the Ratapani WLS (an IBA). Barna Reservoir, apart from being a perennial water source to the animals of the sanctuaries, provides refuge to thousands of migratory birds during winter. It is mainly used for fishing and irrigation, and was created by damming the Barna river under the Narmada Valley Project. The reservoir looks like an amoeba when seen from above, with large numbers of bays and meandering inland channels, surrounded on both sides by forest or agricultural land. These extensive belts of shallow water are ideal for waterfowl and waders. The forest around Barna belongs to Mixed Dry Deciduous category. Most forest is open and subjected to heavy biotic pressure. Apart from natural vegetation, the reservoir shares its boundary with miles of agricultural land.

AVIFAUNA: No detailed study has been conducted on the water birds of the Barna reservoir, but a preliminary survey in the winter of 2001- 2002 revealed a huge congregation of more than 20,000 birds on the main waterbody (Koustubh Sharma pers. comm. 2002). This site seems to qualify easily for A4iii criteria (site known or thought to hold on a regular basis equal to or more than 20,000 birds). Among the conspicuous birds, large flocks of Common Coot Fulica atra and Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina were seen in the relatively deeper portion of the reservoir. This site has not been covered during the Asian Waterfowl Census, and needs regular monitoring of waterfowl and other birds. Villagers report nesting of Sarus Crane Grus antigone in agricultural land, where the Sarus traditionally enjoys protection. The near threatened Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus is also seen, but breeding has not been recorded. The surrounding forest and agricultural fields have 30 species listed in Biome-11 (Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone). However, most of these species are presently common and widely distributed, hence of low conservation importance.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: A moderate population of Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard Panthera pardus and Dhole Cuon alpinus is reported from Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as well as Singhori Wildlife Sancuary that surround Barna Reservoir. Apart from these, Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena, Golden Jackal Canis aureus and Jungle Cat Felis chaus constitute the main carnivore population. Herbivore population consists of Chital Axis axis, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, Four-horned Antelope Tetracerus quadricornis, Chinkara Gazella bennettii, Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra and Wild Boar Sus scrofa.

MAIN THREATS: Poaching; Encroachment; Pesticides.

As agricultural fields border the reservoir, the danger of pesticides reaching water, and accumulating in the different trophic levels, are very high. No study has been conducted on this aspect. Apart from this, changeover from traditional crops to cultivation of cash crops threatens the presence of many birds including the Sarus Crane Grus antigone. Charaching and illegal exploitation of the reservoir for fishing are persistent threats. Although the site is not popular among hunters and poachers from outside due to difficulty in reaching the birds, rich and influential local people frequently hunt here.

Key contributor: Koustubh Sharma.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barna Reservoir (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barna-reservoir-iba-india on 23/12/2024.