Tsengeleg Lakes (16355)
Mongolia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Tsengeleg Lakes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 48.4500, Longitude: 113.4667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 825 to 896
Area of KBA (km2): 88.03497
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site, which is located 30 km west of Tsagaan Ovoo soum centre, includes several steppe lakes, such as Gun Tsengeleg, Gun Galuut and Erveekhei. Gun Galuut Lake is the largest and has some reed and tall grassy vegetation on its northern shores. Other lake shores are barren with sandy or fine gravel bars. The surrounding area is characterised by steppe with short grass. Only four to six households inhabit the site year round. The main land use is livestock grazing. Livestock numbers around the lakes are increasing, and this is resulting in overgrazing and land degradation. In recent years, the water level of the lakes has dropped due to drought and a warmer climate.
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: The following Globally Threatened species occur at the site: Swan Goose Anser cygnoides (EN); Whitenaped Crane Grus vipio (VU); and Great Bustard Otis tarda (VU). The site supports an assemblage of species restricted to the Eurasian steppe and desert biome. The site also supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of Swan Goose Anser cygnoides, Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Shelduck T. tadorna, Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo and Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Non-bird biodiversity: The site is not known to be important for other fauna and flora.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Grassland | 50 |