Naurzum State Nature Reserve (19952)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1c, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Naurzum State Nature Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.5167, Longitude: 64.2833
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 115 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 1928.40141
Protected area coverage (%): 98.52
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is identical to the Naurzum State Nature Reserve (Zapovednik Naurzum) and is situated in the Naursumskiy and Semiozernyi districts, 200 km south of Kostanay city. It includes dry steppes with isolated forest patches and lake systems, in the central part of the great Turgay depression. There is a large number of fresh- and brackish-water lakes that resemble flat round kettles with a depth of usually no more than 2.5-3 m; they are dependent completely of spring flood water. The types of steppe here are: feather grass steppe, herb-bunch-grass steppe and different types of salt steppe and meadows. The Zapovednik consists of three parts with different types of forest, 9-14 km from one another. The central part (139,714 ha) includes lake systems with surrounding meadows, Naurzum-Karagay - light pine forest, and insular groves of aspen or birch on sand dunes; Tersek-Karagay (12,947 ha) includes high pine forest with some additional birch and aspen along the Turgay plateau, and different steppes in the Dana-Byke river valley; Sypsynagash (38,720) includes dispersed insular groves of aspen or birch on semidesertic steppe with small seasonal lakes, meadows and bushes, in the Karasu river valley. An additional 'buffer zone' of 2-km width with restricted use exists around the reserve, with total area of 116,550 hectares.
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.
Additional biodiversity: 281 bird species, including 158 breeding, have been recorded. Most typical species for the steppes are Alauda arvensis, Melanocorypha leucoptera, Melanocorypha yeltoniensis, Anthus campestris, Oenante oenanthe, Otis tetrax, Circus macrourus, Vanellus gregaria, Grus virgo and Aquila nipalensis. The birds of the different meadows are: Motacilla flava, Saxicola torquata, Hippolais caligata, Lanius collurio, Coturnix coturnix, Perdix perdix, Circus pygargus and Numenius arquata. In the forests characteristic species are: -Tetrao tetrix, Dendrocopus major, Oriolus oriolus, Columba palumbus, Streptopelia turtur, Parus major, Parus cyanus, Phoeicurus phoenicurus, Anthus trivialis and Apus apus. The raptor population is very varied and numerous, with 28 species of birds of prey recorded, including 17 breeding species: Aquila chrysaetos, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Circus macrourus, Circus pygargus, Circus aeruginous, Haliaeetus albicilla, Buteo buteo, Buteo rufinus, Milvus migrans, Accipiter nisus, Accipiter gentilis, Falco cherrug, Falco subbuteo, Falco naumanni, Falco tinnunculus, Falco vespertinus. Most varied are water-birds with 110 species, including 29 ducks and geese, 41 waders, 13 gulls and terns, 7 Rallidae, 4 grebes, 1 loon, 3 pelicans and cormorant, 1 flamingo, 8 Ciconiiformes, and 3 cranes. The site supports very large numbers of breeding waterbirds, especially in years of high water level but numbers fluctuate greatly from year to year. The average total number of breeding Anseriformes is 1-1,400 pairs in good years. The most common breeding waterbirds are: Aythia ferina - 650-1,000 breeding pairs, Anas strepera - 150-200 pairs, Anas acuta - 80-120 pairs, Anas platyrhynchos - 130-150 pairs, Anas querquedula - 50-100 pairs,Anas clypeata - 60-80 pairs, Anser anser - 100-320 pairs, Cygnus olor - 25-40 pairs, grebes (Podiceps cristatus, P griseigena, P. nigricollis) - totalling 1,300-3,300 pairs, Fulica atra - 700-2,800 pairs. There are huge moulting groups of waterbirds: in 1971 up to 40,000 ducks and 300-600 Greylag Geese. In August 1987 about 237,000 waterfowl were counted (Vinogradov, Auezov, 1995). The IBA is situated on a major flyway and hundreds of thousands of waterbirds pass in spring and autumn, and a high proportion sometimes stay for a long time. For example, at least 250,000-300,000 geese crossed the IBA in 1993-1995, and up to 50,000-60,000 were counted at Aksuat Lake in 1993-1995. 33 species are included in the national Red Data Book (1996). Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: 44 species recorded, 42 of them resident. Common ungulates are: Alces alces, Capreolus capreolus, Sus scrofa. Carnivora: Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Vulpes corsac, Lynx lynx, Mustela eversmanni, Mustela erminea, Mustela nivalis, Meles meles. In the steppes, rodents dominate: Marmota bobac, Spermophilus fulvus, Sp. major, Sp. pygmaeus, Cricetus cricetus, Sicista subtilis, voles (Lagurus lagurus, Microtus arvalis, M. gregalis, Ellobius talpinus), Allocricetlus eversmanni, Stilodipus telum, Erinaceus auritus, jerboas (Allactaga major, Stylodips telum), Lepus europaeus. In the forests - Sciurus vulgaris, Erinaceus europaeus, Martes martes, Nyctereutes procyonoides. Common species along lake banks are: Apodemus sylvaticus, Microtus gregalis, Microtus oeconomus, Micromis minutus, Sorex minutus; in high-water years - Arvicola terrestris and Ondatra zibetica. Plus two desert species : Pygerethmus platiurus and Pygerethmus pumilio. Reptiles and amphibians include: Vipera ursini, Lacerta agilis, Eremias arguta, Rana arvalis, Pelobates fuscus, Bufo viridis. Fish: Carassius carassius, Carassius auratus (these two are most common), Phoxinus percnurus, Tica tinca, Perca fluviatilis, Esox lucius, Rutilus rutilus. Some introduced species are also present: Cyprinus carpio, Leuciscus leuciscus, Coregonus peled. 687 species of plants have been recorded in the Reserve, including 5 from the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan. There are forest-, steppe- and semidesert species here.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: It is a strictly protected area, used for nature conservation and research.
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 | |
| Forest | 15 | |
| Grassland | 60 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threat is burning of vegetation, which is especially dangerous for the steppe forests. Low levels of water in the lakes (natural 10-12 years cycles) influence the number of waterfowl. Since 2002, a new cycle of filling wetlands began (a natural increase), which is leading to increasing numbers of fish and waterfowl.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Berezovikov, N.N. and Kovshar, A.F. (1999). Observations of spring passage of waterfowl at Big and Small Aksuat lakes (Northern Kazakhstan) just before their complete drying in 1998. Kazakhstan zoological journal 'Selevinia'. Almaty, 182-186. (in Russian). Bragin, E.A. (1999). Status of rare species of birds in North-Turgai region and in Naurzumskiy Zapovednik. Territorial aspects of bird protection in Middle Asia and Kazakhstan. Moscow, 85-92. (in Russian). Bragin, E.A. and Bragina, T.M. (1999). The breeding fauna of birds of Naurzumskiy Zapovednik. Territorial aspects of bird protection in Middle Asia and Kazakhstan. Moscow, 8-15. (in Russian). Bragin, E.A. and Bragina T.M. (2002). Fauna of Naurzumskiy Zapovednik. Fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals (annotated species lists). Kostanay. (in Russian). Bragin, E.A. and Bragina T.M. (2002). Naurzum lake system. Bragin, E.A. and Bragina T.M, eds. The most important wetlands of Northern Kazakhstan (in limits of Kostanay and west part of North-Kazakhstan regions). Moscow, Russian University Press, issue 5: 101-114. (in Russian). Bragin, E.A. and Bragina T.M. (2002). Wetlands in system of nature complexes of Northern Kazakhstan. General characteristic and nature conservation importance. Bragin, E.A. and Bragina T.M, eds. The most important wetlands of Northern Kazakhstan (in limits of Kostanay and west part of North-Kazakhstan regions). Moscow, Russian University Press, issue 5: 19-38. (in Russian). Vinogradov, V.G. and Auezov E.M. (1995). Turgai Depression as system of most important wetlands for waterfowl. Proceedings of scientific-practice Conference on hunting management under new economic conditions. Almaty: 67-70. (in Russian). Gordienko, N.S. (1978) Dynamic of number of waterfowl on passage in steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan. Second All-Union Conference on Bird Migrations. Alma-Ata, part 2: 41-42. (in Russian). Gordienko, N.S. (1980) The modern status of number and the distribution of waterfowl of Naurzum lakes. Biology of birds of Naurzumskyi Zapovednik. Alma-Ata: 127-156. (in Russian). Gordienko, N.S. (1980) The number and distribution of Grebes at lakes of steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan. Biology of birds of Naurzumskyi Zapovednik. Alma-Ata: 167-198. (in Russian). Gordienko, N.S. and Postavnoy, V.G. (1980) About passage of waterfowl at Naurzum lakes. Biology of birds of Naurzumskyi Zapovednik. Alma-Ata: 157-164. (in Russian). Gordienko, N.S. (1987) New and rare birds of Naurzumskiy Zapovednik. Ornithology, issue 22. Moscow, Moscow University: 178-179. (in Russian). Livron, de A.R. (1938) The birds of Naurzum steppes. Transactions of Naurzum State Zapovednik, issue 1. Moscow: 29-126. (in Russian). Mikheev, A.V. (1938) About structure of avifauna of Naurzum State Zapovednik. Transactions of Naurzum State Zapovednik, issue 1. Moscow: 127-152. (in Russian). Mikheev, A.V. (1938) Materials for studies of waterfowl of Naurzum State Zapovednik. Transactions of Naurzum State Zapovednik, issue 1. Moscow: 153-170. (in Russian). Formozov, A.N. (1937) Materials for fauna of water-birds by observations at the lakes of State Naurzum Zapovednik (Northern Kazakhstan). Proceedings of memory of M.A. Menzbir Academician. Moscow, AS USSR: 551-595. (in Russian). Formozov, A.N. (1949) Ornithofauna of wetlands of east part of Naurzum Zapovednik by observations in 1945. Transactions of Naurzum State Zapovednik, issue 2. Moscow: 87-116. (in Russian). Khrokov, V.V. and Karpov, F.F. (1999) The number and behavior of Sociable Lapwing and Little Bustard in Naurzum. Kazakhstan zoological journal 'Selevinia'. Almaty, 223-225. (in Russian). Bragin, E.A. (2000). On the Demography of the Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca in Kazakhstan in Chancellor, R.D. & B.-U. Meyburg eds. Raptors at Risk. WWGBP/Hancock House: 409-413. Bragin, E.A. (2001). Recent status and studies of the Saker Falcon in the Northern Kazakhstan. Saker Falcon in Mongolia: research and conservation. Proceedings of International Conference on Saker Falcon and Houbara Bustard, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 1- 4 July 2000. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 110-115. Bragin, E.A. and Katzner, T. (2003). Population trend and nesting success of Imperial, Golden and White-tailed Sea Eagles in North-west Kazakhstan, 1990-2002. 6th World Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls. (Budapest, Hungary, 18-23 May 2003). Abstracts: 64. Tolvanen? P. and Pynnonen, P. (1998). Monitoring the autumn migration of Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus and other geese in NW Kazakhstan in October 1996 in WWF. Finland Report # 9. Finnish Lesser White-fronted Goose Conservation Project. Annual report, 1997. Helsinki: 19- 20. Tolvanen, P., Litvin, K. and Lampila, P. (1999). Monitoring of the autumn staging of Lesser White-fronted Geese in north-western Kazakhstan, October, 1998 in WWF. Finland Report #10. NOF Rapportserie Report # 1-1999. Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose conservation project. Annual report, 1998. Helsinki: 42- 46.