Divichi liman (or Lake Akzibir) (158)
Azerbaijan, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1c
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Divichi liman (or Lake Akzibir)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.3167, Longitude: 49.0833
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -27 to -27
Area of KBA (km2): 65.1617
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow (0.5-1.2 m) lake with vast reedbeds on its western side in the Khachmas coastal lowland. It is leased by the Hunters' Society of Azerbaijan. The lake area varies from 1,600 to 7,000 ha depending on irrigation and rainfall.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. 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: Among breeding species are large colonies of herons (including Botaurus stellaris, Ixobrychus minutus and Ardea purpurea). Porzana parva and Porphyrio porphyrio also breed. The site is especially important for the autumn migration of waterbirds, more than 70,000-80,000 pass each year, with about 5,000 wildfowl wintering (Anas platyrhynchos, A. clypeata, A. crecca, A. querquedula, A. strepera, Aythya fuligula, Netta rufina), and up to 5,000 Fulica atra. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Marmaronetta angustirostris (very rare passage visitor), Aythya nyroca (two estimates: 5+ breeding pairs; several hundreds breeding).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threat comes from very intensive hunting, this being one of the most visited sites in Azerbaijan (about 225,000 shots per year). There are frequent changes in the water-level (`Other' threat), and it was probably polluted by pesticides from agricultural run-off.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Only in the past and unlikely to return |