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Site description (2004 baseline):

A remarkable scrub forest, this IBA has been rejuvenated and transformed over the past two decades. It covers most of the low, rocky hills near Chitradurga town. Non-conventional wind energy is being harnessed on some of the hills. This site is reputed to be the windiest place in south India, with a relentless 50-60 km/h wind velocity all day long, throughout the year. The site is covered by Southern tropical thorn dry scrub forest.

AVIFAUNA: The bird life has not been studied, but Thejaswi Shivanand (pers. comm. 2001) indicates the presence of at least 110 species. The otherwise local and globally threatened Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus is a common bird with a very high encounter rate in this forest. Not much information is available on other species of birds. The Critically Endangered Oriental Whitebacked Vulture Gyps bengalensis is also seen here, but this species is in any case widespread. This site has been selected only on the basis of the good population of Yellow-throated Bulbul.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: No information.

MAIN THREATS: Livestock grazing; Poaching; Firewood collection.

In the past, the area was heavily grazed and under pressure for firewood from the nearby Chitradurga town. A vigilant and concerned forest department at the local level planned afforestation with native scrub species after the land was handed over to them in the 1970s. Encroached land was reclaimed in the late 1990s and further afforestation efforts are now bearing fruit. The sudden increase in the sightings of the Yellow-throated Bulbul is a witness to this effort. The reason for the drop in fuel wood collection can be attributed to the growth of coconut and arecanut plantations throughout the western half of Chitradurga district. These plantations produce sufficient biomass to cater to the firewood needs of the local and regional populace. However, more efforts are required to curb poaching and the rampant livestock grazing in parts of the forest.

Key contributor: Thejaswi Shivanand.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jogimatti Reserve Forest (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jogimatti-reserve-forest-iba-india on 22/11/2024.