Mapping the habitat and distribution of western tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus in the Palas Valley, Pakistan using landcover, terrain and field survey data

Western tragopans are endemic to the Western Himalaya region of South Asia and are threatened by change in land-use, hunting and fragmentation of its habitat. Here, we map the known distribution pattern and potential habitat of the largest surviving population, which occurs in the Palas Valley, Kohistan, NWFP, Pakistan. Although listed as globally Vulnerable, the western tragopan population in Palas is thought to comprise about 1000 birds, perhaps because the valley holds the least degraded tract of Himalayan moist temperate forest in Pakistan. Landsat satellite images were processed to develop accurate landcover data and then integrated into a Geographic Information System alongside information on terrain including a Digital Elevation Model and models of slope and aspect. This process helped to determine the potential habitat of the western tragopan based on its known distribution. Our approach will help aid in situ conservation efforts, for example identifying differences in summer and winter habitats.