A study published in Biological Conservation and conducted by researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and collaborators revealed that Nepal's less intensified farmlands are playing a surprisingly vital role in bird conservation by supporting over two-thirds of the country's bird species and acting as crucial pitstops for migratory birds traversing a major global flyway.

Researchers synthesized decades of data which documented a remarkable 638 bird species within Nepal's agricultural landscapes. Approximately 71% of Nepal's total bird species were included, and 27% of these species were bred within these farmed areas, highlighting their importance beyond just foraging grounds.

It was found that agricultural areas provided 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, relied on Nepal's farmlands during their journeys. These landscapes served as indispensable stopover, wintering, or even breeding sites.

Besides, researchers found that in these landscapes, insect-eating birds (invertivores) were the most common group, followed by carnivores (vertivores) and omnivores, suggesting the presence of a wide variety of ecological niches.

"The sheer number and diversity of birds including threatened and migratory species using Nepal's farmlands is astounding. This shatters the assumption that agricultural landscapes are inherently bad for biodiversity because they are functioning as vital refugia in Nepal," said Hem Bahadur Katuwal, a Nepali student at XTBG.  

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 an urgent need for integrated policies that simultaneously enhance crop productivity, bird conservation, and the well-being of farmers to ensure that the landscapes continue to function as crucial habitats for both resident and migratory species amidst ongoing changes.