RIS-Phoksundo Lake Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2006-2008 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8 th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9 th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands . Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 7, 2 nd edition, as amended by COP9 Resolution IX.1 Annex B). A 3 rd edition of the Handbook, incorporating these amendments, is in preparation and will be available in 2006. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY . Jhamak B.Karki DD MM YY Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation P.O.Box 860, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel No: 977-1-4220912, 4220850, 4227926 Fax No: 977-1-4226675 Designation date Site Reference Number Email: [email protected]; [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.dnpwc.gov.np Neera Shrestha Pradhan WWF Nepal Program Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel No-977-1-4434820 Fax No: 977-1-4434820 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Website: www.wwfnepal.org Prepared by DNPWC/WWF Nepal Page 1 of 15 RIS-Phoksundo Lake 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: 18 April 2006 3. Country: Nepal 4. Name of the Ramsar site: The precise name of the designated site in one of the three official languages (English, French or Spanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses after the precise name. Phoksundo Lake 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only) : a) Designation of a new Ramsar site √; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar site boundary and site area are unchanged: or If the site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately ; or ii) the boundary has been extended ; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately ; or ii) the area has been extended ; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note : If the boundary and/or area of the designated site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the site: Page 2 of 15 Prepared by DNPWC/WWF Nepal RIS-Phoksundo Lake 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines , for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): √; ii ) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) √; iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables √. b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. Mainly follows a catchment boundary. 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/or the limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas . 82°55’-83°00’ East Longitude and 29°10’-29°15’ North Latitude 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the location of the nearest large town. It lies in the Mid-Western development region in Karnali Zone. The Administrative district is Dolpa. The district and park headquarter of Dolpa is Dunai. Dunai is the nearest town from where it takes two days (about 30 km) normal walk to reach Phoksundo Lake. The nearest village of the lake is called Ringmo where the Village Development Office, Buffer zone User committee Office, and primary school are available. The nearest village with permanent settlement is Raha Gaun and it takes half days walk from here. The human population of Phoksundo village Development Committee is 509 (94 HH). 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) Average 3,611.5 m 11. Area: (in hectares) 494 hectares Prepared by DNPWC/WWF Nepal Page 3 of 15 RIS-Phoksundo Lake 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. It is Glacial lake of significant size (second largest and deepest in the country) in distinct geographical location of central Himalayan eco-region. The wetland is the centre of endemism in the eastern Himalayan region and source of fresh water for downstream. 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box under each Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsar site. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the Criteria and guidelines for their application (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. (1)• (2) • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 8• 9 √ √ √√√ 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Provide justification for each Criterion in turn, clearly identifying to which Criterion the justification applies (see Annex II for guidance on acceptable forms of justification). Criteria 1: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region. Phoksundo Lake is a unique and representative wetland type in the high Himalayan Paleoartic biogeographical region. It is the second biggest and probably the deepest fresh water lake of Nepal. This lake is the important source of water for the Thuli Bheri River of Nepal. The waterfall from about 500 m south of the lake forms the majestic water fall which is the largest falls (167m) in Nepal (Upreti 1989). Criteria 2 : A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities. Phoksundo Lake (alpine meadows, bogs, and lake/pond) is a unique or critical habitat for a number of rare and vulnerable species of plants and animals. List of fauna in Phoksundo Lake S.No Scientific name Vernacular name IUCN Redlist CMS 1. Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck LC II 2 Aythya nyroca Ferruginous duck NT I/II 3 Rhodonessa rufina Red-crested Pochard II Page 4 of 15 Prepared by DNPWC/WWF Nepal RIS-Phoksundo Lake Major vulnerable, rare, and critically threatened species are listed here: SN Scientific name Vernacular GoN protected IUCN CITES name species list Redlist species 1. Dactylorhiza hatagirea Panchoule * 2. Nardostachys grandiflora Jatamanshi ** VU II 3. Neopicrorhiza scrophulariflora Kutki VU 4. Podophyllum hexandrum Laghupatra II 5. Discorea deltoidea Ban Tarul II It is one of the important sites from where numerous type specimens of plants are collected. Snow leopard ( Uncia uncia ) is a protected species under Government of Nepal, Appendix I of CITES and Endangered under IUCN Redlist 2007. Phoksundo Lake area is one of the prime habitat of Snow leopard (Schaller, 1973, 1977; personal communication with local people in 1996, 2001) It has been reported that local people have occasionally sighted snow leopard in Phoksundo area. The Musk deer ( Moschus chrysogaster ) is a protected species under Government of Nepal and listed in CITES Appendix I, inhabit birch-conifer forests between 2600-4000 m throughout the Himalayan range. It is sparsely distributed with low density in SPNP due to limited abundance of lichens, winter diet of the animal (see Yonzon, 1990) and large scale hunting and poaching in the past (which still exist to some extent). Among major hotspots include Ringmo,and Ringmo Valley (Jackson 1979). The Grey Wolf or Tibetan Wolf ( Canis lupus ) is a protected species under Government of Nepal and is listed in CITES Appendix I. It occurs in the alpine zones (above 3100 m), with grassland, open scrub, broken ridges and gullies of the park. Yonzon (1990) estimated there were at least twelve wolves in different groups of pack size (2-9). Based on the evaluation of people's response, livestock predation incidence, and their observation by site staff and survey (Basnet 2002), the number of wolves has multiplied very fast and their distribution is not limited only in upper Dolpa.