Data Zone
Country/territory: China (mainland)
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, A4i (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,060,000 hectares (10,600.00 km2)
Site description (2009 baseline)
Located in central Tibet, about 210 km from Lhasa. The south-eastern section of the IBA is mountainous, and the eastern and western sections have open plains near the lake. Nam Co is the largest and highest-altitude lake in Tibet, with an open-water area of 192,000 ha. The islets in the lake are used as breeding habitat by birds.
Key biodiversity
Non-bird biodiversity: The area supports a nationally protected bird, Tetraogallus tibetanus, and nationally protected animals including Ursus arctos, Panthra uncia, Equus kiang and Pantholops hodgsoni.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Nam Co (China (mainland)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/nam-co-iba-china-(mainland) on 26/12/2024.