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Site description (2004 baseline):

This IBA extands from the Nafra locality in West Kameng district to the Lada border post in East Kameng district, in the remote interior areas of Arunachal Pradesh. It is largely montane, and access to most parts is possible only on foot. The IBA is bordered to the north by the snow-covered peaks of the Great Himalayan Range from which the Kameng, a major river of the State originates. Due to its remoteness, the habitat is still intact; and the forests, especially in the interior, are untouched and pristine. Human habitations and jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation is minimal, and mostly restricted to areas below 1,800 m.

AVIFAUNA: The avifauna of this IBA has not been recorded completely. During a preliminary short survey, about 85 bird species were recorded. The proposed new subspecies of Sclater’s monal Lophophorus sclateri, that was discovered in the neighbouring Lower Subansiri district (Kumar and Singh 1999), also occurs here. This subspecies is restricted to the interior areas in the western part of the state and is likely to be endemic to India. Two species of tragopans, Temminck’s Tragopan Tragopan temminckii and the Threatened Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii occur in the area (Kumar 2003). Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis, another globally threatened species (BirdLife International 2001), is known to visit the area during the winter months.

This site lies in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Areas (Stattersfield et al. 1998). Of the 21 species of this EBA, eight have been found at Mouling National Park.

Due to altitudinal variation from 600 m to 7,000 m, four biomes are represented in this IBA: Biome-9 (Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forests) below 1,000 m; Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest) between 1,000 m to 2,000 m; Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest) between 1,800 m to 3,600 m; and Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane) above 3,600 m. As a complete checklist is not available, it is difficult to say how many different Biome-restricted species are found at this site. However, looking at the intact forests, the list would be quite long.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Other important wildlife in the area includes the little known mountain goat Takin Budorcas taxicolor, Serow Nemorhaedus sumatraensis, Goral Nemorhaedus goral, Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster, Red Panda Ailurus fulgens, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa and Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista petaurista. Takin and Musk Deer are the most sought after by hunters in the area. Little is known about the Himalayan species of reptiles and amphibians that may occur here. The rivers and streams abound with a variety of fish, many of them migratory.

MAIN THREATS: Hunting; Jhum cultivation.

This site is important as it holds some little known threatened mammals and birds, and has not been adequately explored floristically. Projects relating to illegal trade in wildlife and the conservation of species such as the Musk Deer need to be taken up in this area. There is no commercial logging in this IBA mainly due to the lack of roads. Habitat loss due to jhum cultivation, however, is a serious threat, but it is restricted to areas below 1,800 m. Close to Nafra locality, primary forests have been lost to jhum, and the abandoned areas have now been taken over by Blue Pine Pinus wallichi plantations. In East Kameng district, jhum cultivation is intensive and in some areas the mountain slopes are completely barren. Hunting, as in the rest of the State, is widespread and bird species such as Monal and Tragopan are sought after for their skins and feathers, which are in great demand. Among mammals, Musk Deer and Black Bear are most sought after for valuable body parts. The rivers and streams are regularly dynamited for fish.

Key contributor: R. Suresh Kumar.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Nafra - Lada area (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/nafra--lada-area-iba-india on 22/11/2024.