Abstract
The national status of Nepal birds was determined using the IUCN Red List criteria and following IUCN regional guidelines. Records of all species identified as potentially at high risk were extracted from all relevant references in a comprehensive, up-to-date Nepal bird bibliography. In addition, numerous previously undocumented records were obtained from observers in Nepal. The initial list of potentially threatened species was revised as records were accumulated. Literature reviews were made of current pressures on Nepal birds, responses to these pressures and recommendations for the future. Finally a comprehensive summary table was compiled for all nationally threatened species, including their world distribution, global threat status, national threat status, occurrence, habitat, main altitudinal range, population, key threats, research needs, and key conservation interventions needed. In 2010, 149 bird species (17% of the total recorded) of Nepal birds were considered nationally threatened: 53 Critically Endangered species, 48 Endangered and 47 Vulnerable. Near Threatened species were not assessed due to lack of time available for the necessary research. An additional 16 species were considered threatened in 2010 compared with 2004; no species assessed as threatened in 2004 was considered non-threatened in 2010. When habitat types are considered wetland species are the most threatened (35% of the total wetland species), followed by grassland species (23%). When altitudinal preferences are considered lowland species are the most threatened (36% of all lowland species), followed by species only occurring in the middle hills (17%). Human activities leading to habitat loss and damage are the major threats, with agriculture the root cause; hunting and trapping are other important threats. Effective responses for conservation include Nepal protected areas network, community forestry, designation of Ramsar sites, National Wetland Policy implementation, surveys of globally threatened species and their conservation needs, and conservation awareness activities. Recommendations for future actions by non governmental organisations are made.
Highlights
METHODSNepal is renowned internationally for its rich diversity of bird species
The country possesses an area of just 147,181km2 (0.1% of the world’s total landmass), it accounts for about 8% of the world’s bird species, with 867 species recorded up to the end of 2010, including about 800 species that are regularly recorded (Bird Conservation Nepal 2011, unpubl. data)
This paper presents an assessment of national threatened species conducted in 2010, a review of current pressures on Nepal’s birds and responses already taken, and some recommendations for actions by Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) to address the status of Nepal’s nationally threatened birds
Summary
Nepal is renowned internationally for its rich diversity of bird species. the country possesses an area of just 147,181km (0.1% of the world’s total landmass), it accounts for about 8% of the world’s bird species, with 867 species recorded up to the end of 2010, including about 800 species that are regularly recorded (Bird Conservation Nepal 2011, unpubl. data). Better documentation on species’ status enabled the latter report to be much more detailed than the 1996 report It included an account of the threats to Nepal’s birds, an assessment of national threat status for individual species considered to qualify at national level for IUCN Categories Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered categories and a comprehensive review of all Endangered and Critically Endangered species. The national status of Nepal’s birds was determined using the IUCN Red List criteria, and following IUCN’s regional guidelines in their application This involved considering a few issues that are not encountered at the global level, for example species that do not reproduce in the country, but are still dependent upon its resources for their survival (IUCN 2003). All nationally threatened species, including their world distribution, global threat status, national threat status, occurrence, habitat, main altitudinal range, population, key threats, research needs, and key conservation interventions needed (see results)
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