Intensive agriculture is a known threat to birds in Europe and North America. However, a study published in Biological Conservation revealed that Nepal's less intensified farmlands are playing a surprisingly vital role, supporting over two-thirds of the country's bird species and acting as crucial pitstops for migratory birds traversing a major global flyway.
Synthesizing decades of data, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their collaborators documented a remarkable 638 bird species within Nepal's agricultural landscapes. This represents approximately 71% of Nepal's total bird species. Significantly, 27% of these species breed within these farmed areas, highlighting their importance beyond just foraging grounds.
The researchers found that agricultural areas provide essential habitat for threatened species, including 3% globally threatened birds and 14% nationally threatened birds. Approximately 37% of bird species using the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), a major migratory route between the Arctic and Indian Ocean, rely on Nepal's farmlands during their journeys. These landscapes serve as indispensable stopover, wintering, or even breeding sites.
Insect-eating birds (invertivores) were the most common group, followed by carnivores (vertivores) and omnivores, indicating diverse ecological niches are supported.
"The sheer number and diversity of birds, including threatened and migratory species, using Nepal's farmlands is astounding," said Hem Bahadur Katuwal, a Nepalese studying at XTBG. "It shatters the assumption that agricultural landscapes are inherently bad for biodiversity. In Nepal's context, they are functioning as vital refugia."
The researchers regarded that current agricultural policies and species conservation plans in Nepal largely fail to recognize the value of farmlands for birds or promote bird-friendly farming practices.
They proposed that there is a critical need for integrated policies that simultaneously enhance crop productivity, bird conservation, and the well-being of farmers to ensure that these landscapes continue to function as crucial habitats for both resident and migratory species amidst ongoing changes.
Available online: 17 May 2025
