Data Zone
Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: Despite being the lowest altitude IBA in Sikkim, this site has records of birds restricted to biomes 9, 8, 7 as well as 5, perhaps due to seasonal altitudinal migration as well as the telescoping effect of the Sikkim Himalaya, where in a distance of c. 100 km, habitats ranging from lowland subtropical forests to high cold desert can be seen (Ali 1962). Hence, as many as 14 globally threatened and restricted range species and at least four Biome-5 species, 15 Biome-7 species, 33 Biome-8 species and seven Biome-9 species have been recorded from this IBA. The lowland forests of Sikkim are home to several species identified as Near Threatened by BirdLife International (2001): Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis now restricted to few sightings over tea estates, Red-breasted Partridge Arborophila mandelli (not recorded recently) and Ward’s Trogon Harpactes wardi. The Nepal Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga immaculata could also occur here. During a survey conducted here in 1996, no potential habitat was found for the Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis. Biome-5 species like Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii are regularly recorded in winter on the banks of the Great Rangit river; Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria recorded from Trans-Himalayan Lhonak Valley (at Green Lake) and other high altitude sites is also recorded from this IBA. The Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens was found breeding in 1996 very close to human habitation, hawking dragonflies around the Fisheries Department pond at Baguwa but cleverly avoiding the mist-nets set around it. Ward’s Trogon was sighted at Baguwa and Jorethang in October 1996 (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1996). All these records make this IBA a very interesting bird watching and conservation area.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: The lowland fauna includes Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Himalayan Crestless Porcupine Hystrix brachyura, Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Tree Shrew Tupaia belangeri, squirrels, fruit bats, a host of butterflies and other invertebrates, riverine fish (over 40 species), Indian Rock Python Python molurus, geckos, freshwater frogs and toads.
The lowland forests of Sikkim have not yet been included in the Protected Area Network of the State. However a representative area of the Kitam Reserve Forest was proposed to be notified as a Bird Sanctuary (Sandeep Tambe pers. comm. 2003). Population-wise, the entire South District of Sikkim is second largest after the East District. There are 144 inhabited revenue blocks. This area has been experiencing frequent occurrences of forest fire and was selected as a case study for watershed analysis (Sandeep Tambe pers. comm. 2003). Habitat loss and fragmentation: The original forest as seen on the Survey of India map of more than 20 years ago, all along the course of the Rivers Tista and Great Rangit, is today a very narrow forest belt fragmented for the most part. Lowland forested areas between Jorethang and Melli are comprised of the Reserve Forests of Majhitar, Kitam and Melli-Ralu-Sumbuk. A metalled road runs right through carrying heavy vehicular traffic. The major townships of Jorethang, Melli and Rangpo are all along this route. The area has also been set aside as the industrial development zone with a range of establishments from a small glass factory to the Manipal University complex, beer factories and LPG bottling plant. New hydoelectric projects have also been taken up in this zone. Timber poaching from across the state border was reported by local people as the principal cause of lack of old large trees especially Teak Tectona grandis. In-depth study and long term monitoring of the lowland forests, especially the vanishing Sal forest belt of Sikkim is urgently required. Livestock grazing: Cattle were grazed in almost all forest areas till a ban on grazing in reserve forests was instituted in 2002. Spread of weeds like Lantana, Mikania and Eupatorium is noticeable in many areas. In recent years, the spread of an accidentally introduced exotic species of snail has been reported to be causing crop damage. Use of biocides in agriculture is being phased out by the State government in an effort to become an ‘organic state’. Dynamiting and poisoning of water for fish: People reported this all along the Ramam Khola and at Manpur below Kitam. There is evidence of forest fires in parts of Kitam where several scorched Chir Pines can be seen. In addition to the above-mentioned biotic pressures, Kitam forest also has the problem of succession of the natural Sal stands by the Chir Pine Pinus roxburghi which is fire resistant. There was a clear shortage of bird life in the Pine stands as compared to Sal patches though the exact quantification has not been done. Since this IBA is used more like a thoroughfare even by bird watchers passing through to more popular birding, trekking or tourism destinations in higher altitudes, there is a real lack of ecological information from this zone. Sightings of Kaleej Pheasant very close to human habitation or along the Melli-Jorethang road are no longer common (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1996). Indian Peafowl in Kitam introduced from Punjab over three decades ago by the State Forest Department (S. T. Bhutia pers. comm. 2003) seem to be thriving and villagers sometimes complain of crop depredation. Study is also needed to check for genetic dilution in Red Junglefowl near villages in this IBA.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lowland forests of South Sikkim (Melli-Baguwa-Kitam, Jorethang-Namchi, Sombarey) (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lowland-forests-of-south-sikkim-(melli-baguwa-kitam-jorethang-namchi-sombarey)-iba-india on 22/11/2024.