Lake Gey Gel (140)
Azerbaijan, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Göy göl qoruğu
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.4333, Longitude: 46.3167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1100 to 3065
Area of KBA (km2): 102.08677
Protected area coverage (%): 93.72
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of forest (in main reserve of 6,739 ha: Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus, etc.), subalpine and alpine meadows, with mountain lakes, rivers and springs, on the deeply incised slopes of Mount Kyapaz (3,065 m) in the north-eastern Murovdag range (Little Caucasus).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Caucasus Hotspot (2003, updated 2004). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: Over 50 species breed, including 35 in the forest zone. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aegypius monachus. Other breeding vulture species are Gypaetus barbatus, Neophron percnopterus and Gyps fulvus. The subalpine and alpine zones support at least four of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Eurasian high-montane biome, as well as Alectoris chukar, Anthus spinoletta, Serinus pusillus, Carduelis flavirostris, Carpodacus erythrinus, among others.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 12 | |
| Forest | 52 | |
| Grassland | 36 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are the drawing of water from Lake Gey Gel for Gandja (Kirovabad) (`Other' threat), increased access for tourists to the lake environs, and associated development of facilities, also strip farming and cattle-driving. The separate northern section of the reserve exists primarily to protect the rare endemic pine Pinus eldarica.