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Site description (2004 baseline):

Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the Maenam-Tendong ridge which runs north-south bisecting Sikkim longitudinally and is drained by the Tista river to the East and Rangit river in the West. The altitudinal gradient of 2,100 m - 3,300 m provides for a range of microclimates and floral diversity from subtropical forests to stabilized scree slopes. These diverse forest types in turn shelter a wide range of faunal elements. The Sanctuary has tremendous watershed value, being the only source of perennial water on this ridge. The South District headquarters, Namchi, situated 30 km due south totally depends on the water piped from the Burmelly stream originating from within the Sanctuary precincts. The adjoining town of Ravangla also depends on the Sanctuary for potable water. “Maenam-la” translates to the “Treasury of Medicines”, being a rich trove of medicinal plants. There is also a historical Buddhist monastery, the Maenam Gompa, at the top of the ridge. Interestingly, despite the disturbance from nearby urban areas, Maenam harbours a rich bird diversity (Anon. 2001). The entire stretch of forest along Temi-Tarku-Damthang-Tendong- Bhanjyang- Ravangla-Maenam and further north linking with Karjee-Labdang forests of the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is virtually contiguous, planted in a few places with the exotic Cryptomeria japonica trees. Tea plantations of the State Government occupy a part of Temi.

AVIFAUNA: There are several villages fringing this IBA due to which the habitat is open in several places. This open habitat coupled with patches of dense forest provides ideal bird habitats in the IBA. The Hodgson’s Frogmouth Batrachostomus hodgsoni was observed in Pabong area (Ganguli-Lachungpa and Lucksom 1998). The site lies in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA- 130), in which Stattersfield et al. (1998) have listed 21 restricted range species. Eight of these have been seen here (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). This mid-altitude IBA falls mainly in Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest (Biome-7). BirdLife International (undated) has listed 112 species in this biome, of which 53 are found here. The higher reaches of this IBA, above 3,000 m show some birds of Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane - Alpine and Tibetan) where 48 species are listed and seven are seen in this site. At lower reaches, Biome-7 merges with Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest) where 95 species are listed. Almost half of them (42 species) have been found here. Some areas of this IBA, especially in the valleys also show some faunal elements of Biome-9 (Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forest). Four species of this biome are also found here. They are Grey Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum (unconfirmed), Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax pectoralis and Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea. The list of other biome species is too long to be mentioned here. This IBA has habitat contiguity with the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003), therefore, both these IBAs together form a large habitat for the bird life of this small state. The site fulfils three IBA criteria: A1 (Threatened Species), A2 (EBA-130: Eastern Himalayas) and A3 (Biomerestricted species).

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Fauna includes Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, Leopard Panthera pardus, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Serow Nemorhaedus sumatraensis, Goral Nemorhaedus goral, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Mouse Hare Ochotona roylei, Particoloured Flying Squirrel Hylopetes alboniger, Hoary-bellied Himalayan Squirrel Callosciurus pygerythrus, Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel Dremomys lokriah, Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula, Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis and Himalayan Crestless Porcupine Hystrix brachyura.

MAIN THREATS: Disturbance to birds; Recreation and tourism; Erosion; Illegal felling of trees; Poaching.

A collaborative biodiversity survey was carried out by World Pheasant Association (WPA)-India and the State Forest Department in 1996 (Ahmed and Ganguli-Lachungpa 1996), prior to which Dipankar Ghosh carried out a short study on Satyr Tragopan through WPA (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). The Sanctuary and surrounding villages were also covered during the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP: a project of the Ministry of Environment and Forests/Kalpavriksh) exercise carried out by the State Forest Department. In addition, formation of Ecodevelopment Committees and ‘Pani’ (Water) Panchayats in villages around Maenam WLS was also facilitated by the State Forest Department (Sandeep Tambe pers. comm. 2003). In 2002, the State Government declared a State Biodiversity Park at Damthang, Tendong comprising 250 ha (S. B. S. Bhadauria pers. comm. 2003). Erosion, landslides and landslips, snow, weeds, wind, poaching, destruction of habitat due to illegal felling and collection of non-timber forest fruits (food of the Asiatic Black Bear, Barking Deer and monkeys) and encroachment in the form of cardamom cultivations are some of the issues affecting the Sanctuary (Anon. 2001). Domestic cattle compete with wild herbivores for fodder and water, and spread disease, while the attendant migratory graziers within the sanctuary cause immense damage to the habitat. Twenty-five permanent cattle-sheds from within the Sanctuary were removed in a phased manner between 2000 and 2002. These cattle-sheds, with their domestic dogs, their incessant demand for firewood, lopping of trees for fodder, and cutting of poles for construction, used to cause grave damage to the biodiversity of this Sanctuary. The land formerly occupied by these cattle-sheds gradually changed into man-made meadows. Other than grass, unpalatable weeds such as Rumex nepalensis have also sprung up. Grazing by stray cattle belonging to the adjoining villages is still a major problem (Anon. 2001). Uncontrolled tourism causes damage to vegetation and change in the behavioral pattern of wild animals in general. Recreational tourism within the Sanctuary is picking up and the magnificent mountain views are a great attraction for tourists. Religious pilgrimages to Bhale-Dhunga and the Buddhist monastery are quite popular amongst the local community. Problems of garbage and noise pollution, vandalism and other tourism generated pressures need to be addressed.

Key contributors: Usha Lachungpa and Sandeep Tambe.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary - Tendong Reserve Forest (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/maenam-wildlife-sanctuary--tendong-reserve-forest-iba-india on 22/11/2024.