KBA Profile: Pambar River

National Site Name Pambar River

English Name

KBA delineation Catchments (Level 12)

yes - The catchments in the very upper Pambar River (forested and designated as PA's) contain Focal area delineation all 3 endemic species to the KBA. The upper catchments of the other rivers in the KBA may contain H. palaniensis.

The Pambar River flow north draing the Palni Hills, in and . Parts of the upper catchments in Kerala and Tamil Nadu are designated as the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, () National Park and the , which is well Site description protected decidious forest. As the stream flow downstream they go through a landscape dominated plantations (tea, coffee, and eucalyptus), followed by dense urban areas and horticulture. The other upper catchments are not protected and are impacted by urban and agriculture.

Management required at Yes catchment scale

Management required at focal Yes area within catchment

KBA Trigger Species

Group Species Criterion1 Criterion2 Criterion3 Notes

Crabs Gubernatoriana escheri NA 19025.06277 NA

Fishes Garra menoni VU 11823.96787 NA

Fishes Horalabiosa palaniensis VU 6402.52725 NA Endemic to the KBA

Fishes Hypselobarbus dubius EN NA NA

Mesonoemacheilus Fishes VU 5162.856829 NA Endemic to the KBA pambarensis Fishes Puntius cauveriensis EN NA NA

Plants Anaphalis beddomei VU NA NA

Plants Cyathea crinita EN NA NA

Plants Hydrocotyle conferta EN NA NA

Fishes Nemacheilus monilis NA 10632.57541 NA

Odonata Esme cyaneovittata NA 4808.193268 NA

Odonata Euphaea cardinalis NA 22114.31401 NA

Odonata Idionyx minima NA 17442.77981 NA

Odonata Idionyx periyashola NA 11398.516 NA

Odonata Macromia flavocolorata NA 21648.41687 NA

Odonata Merogomphus longistigma NA 26458.05683 NA

Onychogomphus Odonata NA 27739.64776 NA nilgiriensis

Odonata Protosticta antelopoides NA 17066.74095 NA

Odonata Protosticta davenporti NA 17361.03282 NA

Plants Anaphalis leptophylla VU NA NA

Plants Anaphalis wightiana VU NA NA

Plants Notonia shevaroyensis VU NA NA

Crabs Baratha pushta NA 11317.41043 NA ADD - endemic to KBA and focal area

Endemic to KBA and will qualify for Crabs Snaha escheri NA NA NA Restricted Range criteria

Protected Areas Overlap with KBA

Name Designation Desig. Type Status PA Management Focus Eravikulam National Park National Designated No freshwater biodiversity management

Anamalai Sanctuary National Designated No freshwater biodiversity management

Chinnar Sanctuary National Designated No freshwater biodiversity management

Western Ghats World Heritage Site International Inscribed No freshwater biodiversity management

Anamudi National Park National Proposed No freshwater biodiversity management

Potential KBA Stakeholders*

Palni Hills Conservation Council

Kestrel Adventures

Tamil Nadu Forest Department

Anglad Institute of Natural History

Periyakulam Forestry College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society

Vattakanal Conservation Trust

ACT Foundation

Kodai International School

Toxic Link

Zoological Survey of India, Southern Regional Station

KBA Freshwater Habitats

5.1 Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks(includes waterfalls)

5.2 Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers/Streams/Creeks 5.4 Bogs Marshes Swamps Fens Peatlands[generally over 8ha]

5.5 Permanent Freshwater Lakes(over 8ha)

5.7 Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools(under 8ha)

15.1 Water Storage Areas(over 8ha)

Threats to KBA

Threats (IUCN Classification Scheme) Notes

1.1 Housing & urban areas

1.2 Commercial & industrial areas

1.3 Tourism & recreation areas

2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops

2.2 Wood & pulp plantations Eucalyptus

2.3 Livestock farming & ranching

2.4 Marine & freshwater aquaculture

7.2 Dams & water management/use

8.1 Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Fishes

9.1 Domestic & urban waste water

9.2 Industrial & military effluents

9.3 Agricultural & forestry effluents

9.4 Garbage & solid waste

Conservation actions for KBA Conservation actions In (IUCN Classification Needed Notes place Scheme)

1.1 Site/area protection Yes Yes Focal area already partially protected.

1.2 Resource & habitat Yes Focal area already partially protected. protection

Management of existing Protected Areas to incorporate freshwater 2.1 Site/area management Yes biodiversity. Catchment management across KBAs, especially for the upper catchments

2.2 Invasive/problematic Yes Wattle and fishes species control

2.3 Habitat & natural Palni Hills Conservation Council have undertaken some restoration of water Yes process restoration bodies within Lake

4.1 Formal education Yes Forest Department

4.2 Training Yes Forest Department

4.3 Awareness & Yes All stakeholders communications

5.2 Policies and regulations Yes Plantations and industry

5.3 Private sector standards Yes Plantations and industry & codes

Exisiting urban development policies and implementation of Wetland 5.4 Compliance and Yes (Conservation and Management) Act 2010 & Water (Prevention and Control enforcement of Pollution) Act 1974.

Food Security

Used for food security Score Notes

1. Subsistence

Optional/alternative 2 Essential staple 2

Emergency 0

2. Commercial

Local 2

Regional 0

National 0

3.Migrant fishers 1

Notes Mostly fish

Other

Nathanella indica is a mayfly species endemic to the KBA (Palni Hills). There is also Tor remadevi a newly described fish species endemic to the KBA. Travancoriana convexa (a freshwater crab, LC) is also known from this KBA (its type locality). Three frogs species are endemic to the KBA (Ghatixalus asterops, Raorchestes Other biodiversity dubois, Raorchestes griet) and on species (Raorchestes resplendens) is endemic to the this KBA and the adjacent Chalakkudi River KBA. There is also a recent record of the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium canarae.

Protected areas overview

1. Bahir, M.M. and Yeo, D.C.J. 2007. The Gecarcinucid freshwater crabs of southern India (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 16:309-354. References 2. Easa, P.S. and Shaji, C.P. 1996. Freshwater fishes of the Pambar River, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary , Kerala. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 93: 304-306.

Dahanukar, N., Jayachandran, K.V., Irudayaraj, V., Iyer, P., Katwate, U., Krutha, S.K., Molur, S., Pati, S.K., Acknowledgments Pragatheesh, A. Raghavan, R., Rehel, S.M., Sivaramakrishnan, K.G. and Subbramanian, K.A.

* Potential KBA stakeholders have not been contacted in any official capacity nor have they endorsed the KBA – they are a list of potential stakeholders to inform any organisation or individual who may want to undertake conservation activities on freshwater biodiversity in this KBA