Data Zone
Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: This is an important IBA on the southeast corner of Sikkim with Nepal as its western border and contiguity with KBR and Singalila, stretching from alpine meadows down to subtropical forests. Birds from biomes 5, 7, 8 and 9 have been recorded here including at least three globally threatened species, two restricted range species, five out of 48 Biome-5 species, 38 out of 112 Biome-7 species, 21 out of 96 Biome-8 species and three out of 19 Biome-9 species. However, much more research input is needed (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). During a brief survey in September 1996, Biome-7 birds such as White-browed Tit- Babbler Alcippe vinipectus, Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata, Grey-faced Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis, Orange-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata, Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara, Rufous-bellied Crested Tit Parus rubidiventris and Red-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythrocephala were ringed with BNHS rings (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1996).
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Notable mammals include Leopard Panthera pardus, Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula, Masked Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Goral Nemorhaedus goral, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Asian Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, Crestless Porcupine Hystrix brachyura, and Himalayan Mouse- Hare Ochotona roylei. There are unconfirmed records of the Tibetan Wolf Canis lupus chanco and Wild Dog Cuon alpinus.
Research is also needed on the herpetofauna and invertebrates of this IBA.
Threats to forests in this IBA are yak and cow sheds, shepherds’ activities, tree felling in forests, firewood and fodder collection, cattle trade from Nepal and landslides. Yak grazing was not a traditional activity but was started by foreign nationals from Nepal, with yak sheds multiplying from 1975 onwards. More than the yaks, it is the caretaker who causes maximum damage through firewood collection, lopping of trees for fodder, smuggling of medicinal plants, hunting and trapping wild animals. In spring (March), once the snow starts melting, these graziers perform transhumance to the higher summer grazing grounds, moving in the peak monsoons along the traditional migration routes and camping in temporary yak sheds. Before the first snow arrives in November, they move back loaded with dairy products. The areas adjacent to the yak sheds and their migration route are heavily overgrazed and consequently degraded (Tambe 2001). There is proliferation of unpalatable species around these sheds, namely Potentilla peduncularis, Meconopsis paniculata, and Caltha palustris in the alpine regions and Rumex nepalensis, Berberis and Rosa in the temperate regions. The main cause of concern is the intensive, localized collection of firewood from the forests adjoining the yak sheds. At these altitudes, firewood is the only source of energy, which is met mostly from the slow growing Rhododendron shrubbery and Junipers. The graziers, especially the sheep graziers, indulge in trapping of the pheasants and wild mammals. The sheep dogs which are of immense utility to the graziers in rounding up the livestock are let loose during the night. They cause depredation of the pheasants, other ground nesting birds and their nestlings. Even small mammals are not spared. This has resulted in the wildlife becoming very shy, and as a result sightings are rare. Hence, though grazing per se may not be that damaging, the allied activities involved have highly deleterious impact on the biodiversity values of the Singalila Range that comprise this IBA. Controlled tourism and livestock husbandry are the only two economic activities ecologically feasible in this region. Conventionally ‘Eco-development’ is carried out outside the sanctuary facilitated by the State Forest Department and aims at reducing the negative dependencies of the local communities on the natural resources of the sanctuary, the logic behind this approach being improving the socioeconomic status of the “High Impact Group”. In the context of Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, the graziers constitute the “High Impact Group” and stay right within the sanctuary for all the twelve months of the year. Considering the kind of hardships they have to undergo in this tough terrain and inclement weather, most of them are eager to shift out to other alternate livelihoods. Some kind of capacity building and institutional support needs to be provided to these poor graziers as an alternative. Removing these graziers in a phased manner, employing a participatory approach, would be the biggest contribution to the well being of this unique ecosystem (Sharma 2001). This was attempted since 2001 and the State Forest Department has recently successfully removed cattle sheds from the Sanctuary (Sandeep Tambe pers. comm. 2003).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barsey-rhododendron-sanctuary-iba-india on 22/11/2024.