Current view: Text account
Site description (2005 baseline):
Site location and context
Urlabari Forest Groves lie on the south of the East West Highway on the eastern edge of Morang district. The grove consists of a few tall and mature Karam Adina cordifolia trees spread over an area of 100 ha.
The site has been identified as an IBA because of its important nesting colony of the globally threatened Lesser Adjutants.
A total of 31 nests with 56 young and an estimated population of 62 adults of Lesser Adjutant were counted here in the 2003/2004 breeding season (Baral 2004). The number of 118 adults and young totals more than 2% of the current global population estimate (Wetlands International 2002). This site therefore qualifies under the 1% global population criterion as an IBA. The site is under-recorded for other species and therefore a further survey is desirable.
Non-bird biodiversity: No other notable wildlife has been listed for this area. Mammals that possibly occur include Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Indian Hare Lepus nigricollis and Bengal Fox Vulpes bengalensis.
Ownership of forests lies with the community.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
The site is unprotected and local people have no knowledge of the value of the nesting Lesser Adjutants in the area. The Madan Memorial Trust office situated adjacent to the nesting colony could play a significant role in conserving the nesting colony. Similarly, local clubs and group members could be given a good conservation education to help protect the colony.
Site access / Land-owner requests
A thorough survey of the area targeted at other biodiversity components should be carried out.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Urlabari forest groves (Nepal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/urlabari-forest-groves-iba-nepal on 18/12/2024.
