Aksu River basin (15452)
China (mainland), Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Aksu River basin
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.2667, Longitude: 80.9000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1000 to 1050
Area of KBA (km2): 10955.20778
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Located 70 km east south-east of Aksu City and 700 km south-west of Urumqi. The IBA has rich water resources, including the Aksu and Tarim rivers and many reservoirs. However, rapid human population growth has depleted the water resources and affected the breeding and staging areas of birds.
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)
Additional biodiversity: Non-bird biodiversity: There were historical records of Panthera tigris 1950s, but it is now locally extinct. Other animals include Vulpes vulpes, Camelus bactrianus and Cervus elaphus. There area also supports the fish Pelochelys bibroni.
Delineation rationale: Boundary digitized by Tris Allinson at Birdlife International using Google Earth. Accuracy difficult to determine.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 | |
| Shrubland | 33 | |
| Desert | 33 |