Data Zone
Country/territory: Nepal
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4ii (2005)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 225 hectares (2.25 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2011 | very poor | high | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2005 baseline)
Jagdishpur is currently the largest reservoir in the country with a surface area of 157 ha and was constructed for the purpose of irrigation. It was created over the location of Jakhira Lake and surrounding agricultural land in the early 1970s. The construction of a rock-fill dyke took place in the early 1980s. The water in the reservoir is fed from the nearby Banganga River that has a catchment area in the Churia Hills. Incoming suspended silts and nutrients are deposited in the reservoir mouth. The water depth at the reservoir’s deepest point varies from a maximum of 5 - 7 metres to a minimum of 2 -3 metres. The reservoir is surrounded by cultivated land and there are two smaller lakes known as Sagarhawa and Niglihawa situated in the area that serve as a buffer habitat for bird movements.
The reservoir bank is planted with Dalbergia sissoo and Acacia catechu. The aquatic vegetation is represented by extensive coverage of floating leaved species, mainly Nelumbo nucifera, followed by Hygrorhiza aristata and Potamogetan nodosus. The abundant submerged species include Naja minor, Ceratophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata. Ipomea carnea ssp. fistulosa and Typha angustifolia grow around the reservoir margin.
In general the vegetation is in a submerged succession stage, with patches of floating species and reed swamp formations. The dense aquatic macrophyte vegetation indicates an advancing eutrophic status and a high sedimentation rate. This could lead to a rapid succession towards a marsh meadow condition and a reduction in the life span of the reservoir in the absence of a desiltation tank (DNPWC and IUCN 2003).
Key biodiversity
The birds of Jagdishpur are very poorly known, although the site is believed to provide an important habitat for resident, wintering and passage migrant wetland birds. Five globally threatened species have been recorded including Lesser Adjutant. A total of 42 bird species was found during a July 1997 survey, despite heavy rain, but no other systematic survey has taken place (DNPWC and IUCN 2003). Many more species are likely to occur.
Non-bird biodiversity: The wetland supports a small population of the globally threatened Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perpsicillata. A total of 25 species of fish was recorded during the July 1997 survey (DNPWC and IUCN 2003).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jagdishpur Reservoir (Nepal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jagdishpur-reservoir-iba-nepal on 23/12/2024.