HKPL INITIATIVE Birding on the roof of the world Promoting low-impact nature tourism for conservation and livelihoods in the Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape

Photo: Imran Shah

Landscape ecology and biodiversity The region’s forests, wetlands, The transboundary Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir rangelands, and peatlands serve as Landscape (HKPL) – a biodiversity-rich location spanning natural habitat for a wide variety of parts of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan – is home to six protected areas: the Wakhan National Park resident and migratory birds. of Afghanistan; the Taxkorgan Nature Reserve of China; the Broghil, Qurumber, and Khunjerab national parks of Pakistan; and the Zorkul Nature Reserve of Tajikistan. birds. The landscape is an important migratory corridor, Together, these physically connected protected areas cover hosting staging and breeding grounds for several species 33,000 square kilometres, just under half of the total area of including the Critically Endangered sociable lapwing and the the landscape. Endangered steppe eagle, saker falcon, and Pallas’s fish eagle. As part of the western Hindu Kush Himalaya, the HKPL lies As ecological indicators of habitat quality, birds provide at a junction of several important biogeographical regions. important information about ecosystem health for A unique diversity of flora and fauna, including 306 bird conservation planning, setting management priorities, and species, flourish in its cold desert ecosystem. measuring the success of restoration efforts. In the HKPL, Birds are an integral part of the HKPL’s biodiversity. The the six contiguous protected areas present opportunities for region’s wetlands, rangelands, and peatlands are the transboundary cooperation for biodiversity conservation and natural habitat of a wide variety of resident and migratory sustainable development. Bird diversity in the Zorkul Nature Reserve, Tajikistan 0.4% protected areas of the HKPL Critically 129 species Endangered

Common Hoopoe Total 1.3% Upopa epops 6 33,000 km2 Endangered protected of protected area out of the 306 areas 2 bird species 1.3% total 67,506 km Vulnerable Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Wakhan National CHINA 3.9% bird Park, Afghanistan Near Threatened 9 species TAJIKISTAN Xinjiang Threatened 226 species

Gorno-Badakhshan bird 1.6% 12 species Not Evaluated Near Threatened Taxkorgan Nature Badakhshan Reserve, China species 91.5% bird 157 280 species Least Concern Least Concern

AFGHANISTAN PAKISTAN Gilgit-Baltistan

Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo Khyber Distribution of bird species in countries Pakhtunkhwa

Broghil National Qurumber National Khunjerab National Park, Pakistan Park, Pakistan Park, Pakistan 50 62 66 87 species 81 species 79 species bird species are bird species are species of birds are common to all four common to three of common to two of HKPL countries: four HKPL countries four HKPL countries Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape Common Pochard Important Bird Area Hindu Kush Himalaya region Aythya ferina

Threatened species: Estimated global population of mature individuals, population trends, and habitat

CR EN EN EN EN VU VU VU VU

Sociable lapwing Steppe eagle Saker falcon Pallas’s fish eagle Egyptian vulture Yellow-eyed pigeon Eastern imperial eagle European turtle-dove Common pochard Vanellus gregarius Aquila nipalensis Falco cherrug Haliaeetus leucoryphus Neophron percnopterus Columba eversmanni Aquila heliaca Streptopelia turtur Aythya ferina

11,200 50,000–75,000 12,200–29,800 1,000–2,499 12,000–38,000 1,000–2,499 2,500–9,999 12,800,000–47,600,000 NA >50% decline over 58.6% decline between 50–79% decline over Moderate and ongoing Rapid population decline Rapid population Rapid decline in small Rapid decline across Rapid population the past 27 years 1997 and 2011 and 2013 the past 19 years population decline with a across its range decline global population most of its range decline across the and 2015 single migratory population majority of its range Grassland and desert Inland wetland and Rocky areas such as inland Arable land and Forest and inland Forest, shrubland, and Grassland artificial terrestrial land Inland wetland cliffs and mountain peaks shrubland wetland arable land Inland wetland

Source: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | CR - Critically Endangered, EN - Endangered, VU - Vulnerable Bird watching in the HKPL Recommendations for developing Bird watching, a form of wildlife tourism, is undertaken bird-based tourism in the landscape with the intent of viewing wild birds in their natural Research and knowledge generation habitats. In recent years, bird watching tourism has • Studies on the status of bird species, their distribution, emerged as an important ecotourism activity. It has and migratory routes across the landscape proven valuable in accruing economic benefits to local • Scoping study with stakeholders to map out important communities, particularly those in habitats identified as bird areas and potential sites for bird-based tourism important bird areas.

With its breathtaking landscapes and mountain ranges rich Infrastructure development in biodiversity, the HKPL is a veritable treasure trove. Its • Investments to build necessary tourism infrastructure protected areas hold promising prospects for avid birders such as the construction of bird watching towers as well as vacationing bird watchers – due, in large part, to the vast populations of high-altitude birds, desert birds, Awareness and capacity building of local stakeholders and other interesting river and valley birds that are found • Establishment of tourism centres and a code of here. The landscape is, after all, home to spring and autumn conduct for tourists and tour operators stopovers for migratory waterfowl and raptors, and provides • Training on ecotourism for local residents, training of nesting grounds for geese, ducks, herons, and ibises. nature guides Despite immense potential for developing bird watching • Collaborations with local tourism boards and other tourism in the landscape, poor infrastructure and stakeholders to promote tourism sites and develop documentation have impeded its development. promotional materials

r further information Lily Shrestha [email protected] Srijana Joshi [email protected]

ICIMOD gratefully acknowledges the support of its core donors: the Governments of Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Photos: Imran Shah, Yang Zhigang, and Srijana Joshi International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal © ICIMOD 2021 T +977 1 5275222 | E [email protected] | www.icimod.org