Terai–Duar savanna and grasslands
Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Indomalayan |
Biome | tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
Borders | |
Bird species | 366[1] |
Mammal species | 115[1] |
Geography | |
Area | 34,600 km2 (13,400 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Coordinates | 27°30′N 84°20′E / 27.50°N 84.33°E |
Conservation | |
Habitat loss | 90.62%[1] |
Protected | 8.91%[1] |
The Terai–Duar savanna and grasslands is a narrow lowland ecoregion at the base of the Himalayas, about 25 km (16 mi) wide, and a continuation of the Indo-Gangetic Plain in India, Nepal and Bhutan. It is colloquially called Terai in the Ganges Basin east to Nepal, then Dooars in West Bengal, Bhutan and Assam east to the Brahmaputra River. It harbours the world's tallest grasslands, which are the most threatened and rare worldwide.[2]
Location and description
This tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome stretches from western Bhutan to southern Nepal's Terai, westward to Banke, covering the Dang and Deukhuri Valleys along the Rapti River to India's Bhabar and Doon Valley. Each end crosses the border into India's states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.[2] The eastern and central areas are wetter than the western end.
In Nepal, the wetlands of
Flora
The Terai–Duar savanna and grasslands are a mosaic of tall riverside grasslands, savannas and
Fauna
The ecoregion is habitat for a huge number of
In Nepal's
The grasslands are also home to a number of reptiles including the gharial, mugger crocodile and soft-shelled turtles.
The grasslands partly cover two BirdLife International Endemic Bird Areas, the Central Himalayas EBA in western Nepal and the western end of the Assam Plains EBA south of Bhutan. There are three near-endemic bird species. The 44 threatened and declining bird species of the grasslands include the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), lesser florican (Sypheotides indica), sarus crane (Grus antigone) and the elusive Indian grassbird.
Threats and conservation
Although the population density has been low it is now growing, especially in the Terai belt. Much of the ecoregion has been converted to farmland since the forest was cut down for timber.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0.
- ^ a b c Dinerstein, E., Loucks, C. (2001). "Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- ^ Bhandari, B.B. (2009) Wise use of Wetlands in Nepal Banko Janakari, Special Issue February 2009: 10–17 (PDF)
- ^ Baral, H.S., Inskipp, C. (2009) The Birds of Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Our Nature (2009) 7: 56-81
- ^ Basu P. (2008). Rare One-Horned Rhino Bouncing Back in Nepal. National Geographic News article online
- ^ WWF Nepal (2010) More tigers found in Nepal as Nepal-India trans-boundary efforts for tiger conservation intensify article online Archived 2011-09-02 at the Wayback Machine