Zhusandala (20588)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Zhusandala
Central coordinates: Latitude: 44.4500, Longitude: 74.9500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 360 to 570
Area of KBA (km2): 2161.50042
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Zhusandala plain and edge of sand dunes is located between the Almaty-Karaganda road and the main part of the Taukum desert. At the territory, a stable, high density of breeding Houbara Bustards is observed as the site provides the optimum conditions for this species. The area is also used regularly as a stop-over site by Houbara migrating from other regions, this confirms the A1 criteria. The territory is a typical area of northern desert with the set of biome restricted species, so corresponds to A3 criteria too.
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: Ornithofauna includes about 200 species (Berezovikov et al., 1999), including 83 breeding species, and more than 100 migrants. Breeding species represent the typical complex of the northern Eurasian desert with such species as Chlamydotis undulata, Aquila heliaca, Falco naumanni, Burchinus oedicnemus, Charadrius leschenaultia, Charadrius asiaticus, Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Pterocles orientalis, Calandrella rufescens, Calandrella brachydactyla, Hippolais rama, Sylvia nana, Oenanthe deserti, Cercotrichas galactotes, Lanius pallidirostris (excubitor), Corvus ruficollis, Rhodospiza obsoleta and Emberiza bruniceps. Non-bird biodiversity: The fauna of the area includes 2 species of amphibian, up to 15 species of reptile and 40 species of mammal. Mammals represent the typical desert complex: wolf, fox, desert fox, Rhombomys opimus and Rh. meridionalis, jerboas, a number of species of Muridae, long-eared hedgehog, desert hare etc.; of ungulates, goitred gazelle is common but not numerous. Typical reptiles are steppe agama, steppe tortoise, several species of Phrynocephalus and Eremias, sand-boa, arrow-snake, Agkistrodon halis and Elaphe dione. Flora is represented by typical salsola-arthemisia, nanophyton-arthemisia, ephemera-gramineous associations, with patches of saxaul and tamarix, and with saxaul, Calligonum, Salsola richteri on sand dunes. In total, the flora consist of about 200 species of flowering plants, 5% of them are endemic to Kazakhstan (Osmanova et al., 1988).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The main habitats are grey-soiled arthemisia-nanophyton plain with a gramineous herbs association, discrete patches of saxaul and tamarix, and marginal sand dunes of the Taukum desert (fixed sands with saxaul, Calligonum etc.). The land is used for pasture at a relatively low intensity, tens times less than during the Soviet period (20 years ago).
Land use: agriculture (100%) | nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 1 | |
| Desert | 94 | |
| Shrubland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The number of domestic animals is increasing gradually and there is a threat of overgrazing in some areas. The next threat is illegal hunting, especially of gazelles, and over-exploitation of the Houbara population during the short period (about 2 weeks) of falconry hunting, which is conducted here annually by permission of the Government of Kazakhstan.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Small dams | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Nomadic grazing | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Beryozovikov, N.N., Gubin, B.M., Gul, I.R., Yerokhov, S.N., Karpov, F.F. and Kovalenko, A.V. (1999). The birds of Taukum desert (South-East Kazakhstan). Kiev-Lvov. (in Russian). Ismagilov, M.I. (1961). Ecology of rodents of Betpak-Dala and Southern Pribalkhashie. Alma-Ata. (in Russian) Kovshar, A.F. (1991). Dominants of avifaunistic population of deserts of Kazakhstan. Materials of 10-th All-Union Ornithological Conference. Minsk, P.1: 85-86. (in Russian) Kurochkina, L.Y. (1978). Psammophyte vegetation of deserts of Kazakhstan. Alma-Ata. (in Russian) Nasonova, O.M. (1963). Lower course of Ily river. Vegetation. Ily river valley, its nature and resources. Alma-Ata: 296-304. (in Russian) Osmanova, L.T., Baygozova, G.A. and Karibayeva, K.B. (1988). Taukum station of Institute of Botanic of AS KazSSR. Desert stations of Kazakhstan and Middle Asia. Alma-Ata: 11-23. (in Russian) Dolgushin, I.A., Korelov, M.N. and Kovshar, A.F., eds. The Birds of Kazakhstan. Alma-Ata. 1960, v.1; 1962, v.2; 1970, v.3; 1972, v.4; 1974, v.5. (in Russian)