Western Ilmen area (1484)
Russia (Central Asian), Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Zapadnye podstepnye ilmeni
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.9605, Longitude: 47.3120
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -24 00
Area of KBA (km2): 5981.26204
Protected area coverage (%): 4.88
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is located on the boundary of the Astrakhan region and the Kalmyk republic, in the southeastern portion of the East European Plain. The wetland extends west of the Volga and stretches south to the Caspian Sea coast, following the natural boundary between the lake system and semi-desert areas.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Delineation rationale: 2009-08-06: IBA area changed from 590,000 ha to 598,145 ha (by BL Secretariat, following RBCU spreadsheet of changes that need making). 2014-08-12 (BL Secretariat): centroid coords adjusted to 45°57'38'N 47°18'43'E and site area changed to (or confirmed as) 598145 ha (rounded), on basis of refined polygon downloaded from Spatial Database on Important Bird Areas of Russia 2014 (© Russian Bird Conservation Union, © Transparent World).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (85%) | fisheries/aquaculture (18%) | hunting (90%) | tourism/recreation (3%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 13 | |
| Desert | 57 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 |
Additional information
References: G.M.Rusanov, V.G.Krivenko
Contributors: The map polygon is provided courtesy of the Spatial Database on Important Bird Areas of Russia 2014 (© Russian Bird Conservation Union, © Transparent World).