BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT Thippagondanahalli
	Setting | Threats | Knowledge Individuals | Habitat | Life Scape | Management

1.      Name of the Hotspot: Thippagondanahalli Reservoir.

2.      Focal species: 

a.      Plants

Terminalia tomentosa, Pongamia Pinnata, Samanea saman, Cassia fistula, Tamarindus indicus, Azadirachta indica, Meila dubia, Albizza odoratissima (List attached)

b.     Mammals:

Jackal, Slender loris, Three Striped Palm Squirrel.

(List attached)

c.       Reptiles:  

Russell’s Viper, Rat Snake, Saw Scaled Viper, Cobra, Vine Snake, Terrapin.

(List attached)

d.     Birds:  

Yellow wattled Lapwing, Barheaded Geese, White browed Bulbul, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Pelican, Booted Hawk Eagle, Grey Partridge, Ashy Headed Sparrow Lark.

(List attached)

e.      Fishes:  

 (Source Mr. Chandrashekariah & Mr. Rahman)

3.      Coordinating Team: 

4.      Investigating Team:

Sridhar, Harish Bhat, Pramod Subbarao, Manjunath P, Shreyas.

            Experience/expertise: Researcher and Naturalists

5.      Dates of data collection: From 08-02-2004 & 15-02-2004

6.      Process of data collection: Field visits, Interviews.

7.      Sources of information:

·        Villagers

·        Irrigation Department

·        Fisheries Department

8.      Number of man-days consumed in data collection: 10 Days.

(For core area, zone of influence)

1.      Location:             Thippegondanahalli Reservoir

Bangalore South

Bangalore District

2.      Area (in ha or sq.km.): 6.837 sq. Kms

3.      Latitude/Longitude/Altitude: 

Latitude: 12° 57‘ 55’’ N

Longitude:77° 20° 25’’ E

Altitude: 2580 feet

Temperature: 15°C - 34°C

Rainfall: 385 mm Approx

4.      Village/Town/Taluk/District: Thippagondanahalli Village, Magadi Taluk, Bangalore Rural

5.      Maps (kind of map and the scale):

6.      Mode of access (Distance from Railway/Bus station):

Nearest Airports: Bangalore

7.      Facilities to stay closest to the hotspot: None, Restricted Entry

8.      Tariff (if any) to be paid to visit the Hotspots: None

9.      Controlling Authorities: BWSSB

10.  Classes of Landscape: Plain Land with Small Hillocks at the Peripheral Region of the Tank

11.  Water bodies:  Single Vast Reservoir with perennial source of water. At present the water level has decreased drastically.

12.  Human populations: No human settlement within the hotspot.

13.  Presence of Scheduled tribes or Nomadic tribes population:  None

14.  Livestock: Cattle & Sheep are found in great numbers.

15.  Irrigation status & Major crops:  Major source of water for irrigation and drinking purpose. Ragi, Sugarcane, Vegetable around the peripheral villages.

16.  Significant forest produce:  Nil

17.  Quantities recorded at the Range or Divisional Forest Offices: No data available since no collection is made.

18.  Cooperative societies and their transactions: NA.

19.  Significant fresh water fish productions:  NA.

20.  Disposal of fishing rights (Leasing/Auctioning/License): NA.

21.  Significant estuarine & marine fish/shell fish productions: NA.

22.  Number and type of fishing crafts: Coracle, Angling & Drag Net.

23.  Nearest Fishing landing centres: NA

24.  Availability of fish processing facilities: NA.

25.  Mining and quarrying activities: NA.

26.  Sources & extent of Air and Water pollution: NA.

27.  Prevalence of Human diseases: NA.

28.  Prevalence of Livestock diseases: NA

29.  Educational institutions:  None

30.  Cooperative societies: None

31.  Youth clubs: NA.

32.  Ladies clubs: NA.

33.  Active NGOs: None

Inventory of two kinds of activities affecting the core area as well as zone of influence

Table – 1

Table-2

Not Available

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Preparation of sketch map of the landscape

1.      For zone of influence

2.      For zone of influence

b.     Description of Habitat types

1.      Habitat type:  Plain Land, Scrub Patches, Small Hillocks.

2.      Local name (if any):

3.      Approximate total area (ha): 6.837 Sq. Kms

4.      Special significance of the habitat type (if any): Reservoir with a temple at the centre which remains submerged when the water level is high.  Distant migratory birds like Bar Headed Geese visit the tank.

5.      Management regimes: BWSSB

6.      Goods and Services provided by the habitat: Provides water to some extent.

7.      Bads and Disservices provided by the habitat: NA.

8.      Significant ecological processes influenced by the habitat type:  NA.

9.      Significant man- induced processes influenced by the habitat: No significant man –induced processes.

10.  Interacting individuals and institutions (Local): No interaction of individuals & institutions.

11.  Activities: No human activities exist within in the reservoir except for BWSSB authorities.

12.  Interacting individuals and institutions (External): NA.

13.  Activities: NA.

c.       History of important habitat patches over 10-15/40-50 years

1.      Type and name of the habitat patch: Reservoir

2.      Change in

i.                    Area: Peripheral area shrunken to some extent due to encroachment.

ii.                 Vegetation strata:  Plain Land & Scrub forest.

3.      Aquatic habitat change in

i.                    Catchment area: Landscape transformation into Human Habitation.

ii.                 Aquatic fauna: Fish Catch and Population has drastically declined.

iii.               Aquatic flora: Devoid of Weeds.

4.      Significant ecological processes influencing the habitat patch: Nil

5.      Significant man induced processes influencing the habitat patch: Nil

6.      Productivity of Goods and Services: Irrigation

7.      Extent of Bads and Disservices: Nil

8.      Reasons for ongoing changes: Demand for Land by Encroachers, Drought, Silting.

9.      Gainers: BWSSB & Fisheries Department

10.  Losers: Local Fishermen

11.  Desired changes/Desired future: Nil

12.  Desired management system:  Water level needs to be regulated and the gates need to be properly checked and maintained.  Maintain cleaner surroundings.  Desilting of reservoir to be taken up to increase water holding capacity.  Local tree species to be planted.

13.  Suggested component for a feasible management plan for that habitat patch:

·        Need to manage and regulate the water storing and supply based on genuine demand.

·        Desiltation programme to be carried out periodically.

·        Boundaries to be marked at the peripheral region of the reservoir.

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Naturally occurring species of significance

1.      Flowering plants:

2.      Lichens: Crustose and foliose lichens

3.      Annelida: Earthworms

4.      Insects:

v     Butterfly

5.      Crustacea: Crab

6.      Other Arthropods: Not observed.

7.      Other invertebrates: Not observed.

8.      Fishes:

9.      Amphibians:

10.  Reptiles:

v     Lizards

v     Snakes

v     Tortoises

q       Indian Flap Shell (Lissemys punctata)

11.      Birds:

12.  Mammals:

b.     Additional information on species of significance

1.      Most common local name of the species (Language):

2.      Scientific name of the species: See the table above.

3.      Habitat favoured: Reservoir, Scrub Patch and the Plains

4.      Value to local community: Moderate.

5.      Major uses/ill effects: NA

6.      Value of global relevance (as Rare, Threatened or Endangered):

c.       Inventory of significant varieties of domestic plants/animals:

1.      Local name of Species:  NA.

2.      Scientific name of species: NA.

3.      Local name of variety:  NA.

4.      Language employed: NA.

5.      Distinctive features of the species/varieties: NA.

6.      Value to local community: NA.

7.      Major uses: NA.

8.      Value of global relevance (as rare, threatened or endemic etc.): NA.

d.     History of significant species/varieties

1.      Most common name of the species: NA.

2.      Scientific name: NA.

3.      Most common local name of variety: NA.

4.      Existing management authority: NA.

5.      Fish breeding season: NA.

6.      Fishing methods (Types of nets used): NA.

7.      Existing management authority: NA.

8.      Current level of abundance: NA.

9.      Trend in abundance in last 10-15/40-50 years: NA.

10.  Significant ecological processes, influencing the species/varieties: NA.

11.  Significance man induced processes influencing the species/variety: NA.

12.  Reasons for the ongoing change: NA.

13.  Gainers (Internal/External): NA.

14.  Losers (Internal/External): NA.

15.  Desired changes/Desired future: NA.

16.  Desired management system: NA.

17.  Suggested component for a feasible management plan for the species/variety: NA.    

(For core area, zone of influence)

a.      Perspectives of others

1.      Desired response options of different members of local or outside communities/institutions/government agencies/industrial or mining undertaking etc. to be recorded):

2.      Significance of management issues and response options:

3.      Management issues pertaining to:                      

a.      Habitat and/or:

b.     Species/variety:

4.      Customary/Administrative:          

Customary:

Administrative:

5.      Since how long the arrangements have been in practice: Since ages.

6.      Changes if any in management pattern over last 10-15/40-50 years: 10-15 Years

7.      Desired changes/Desired future: Nil

8.      Desired management system: Nil

b.     Perspectives of Investigators: 

·        Tourists visiting hotspots are boisterous and use plastics

·        Guard on Duty to be appointed to Control the Tourists.

c.       Desired and feasible pattern of management that should be promoted in the opinion of the investigators:  Since it is under the Regime of BWSSB, it is the nodal agency to undertake appropriate management

d.     Suggested strategy for promoting these desired patterns of management and the communication needs for the purpose:

e.      Cultural, religious, recreational, scenic, tourist significance of the hotspot:

o       A Shiva Temple in the centre of the Reservoir and at the periphery.

o       Tourists come to see the reservoir.

f.       Ecological evaluation of the hotspot:

Rich with Avifauna – Bar Headed Geese, Pochards, Shovellers Migrates to this place

g.      Suggested follow up investigations:

o       Need to document the details of the Hot Spot

o       To document fish catch if in practice

o       Documentation on Traditional Practices of Management and Conservation

o       Changes since 50 years.

o       Complete check listing of Medical Plants in and around reservoir.

o       Customary hunting during the festivals like Sankranthi needs to be discouraged.

h.     Any other suggested follow up:

i.        Management of the Reservoir Water Storage.

ii.     Gates to be regularly monitored.

iii.   See that water level is maintained in off season too.