The desert around Kurkuduk village (20645)
Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2006

National site name: The desert around Kurkuduk village

Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.9803, Longitude: 63.5175

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 200 to 250

Area of KBA (km²): 1143.76044

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The northern foothill plains of Bukantau consist of sierozem wormwood plains and small zones of sand and clay deserts. There are numerous desert bushes and stands of saxaul forest. The gently undulating plains slope to the north, where temporary streams flow down and sandy-clay strips are generated among the sands. These ecotopes are favourite places for Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulate). The plain’s width varies from 18-25 km to 5-8 km. The IBA is situated in the Central Kyzylkum desert, 40 km to the north of Uckuduk town. Although only a few sites have been formally proposed under the A3 biome-restricted criteria (for biome CA04b Eurasian Desert and Semi-desert), many of the IBAs in the Kyzylkum Desert region support populations of biome-restricted species and, effectively, form a network of sites throughout the area.

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 avifauna of the shrubby desert is very rich and includes Charadrius leschenaultii, Caprimulgus aegyptius, Podoces panderi, Melanocorypha bimaculata and Lanius isabellinus. This site is one of the largest, permanent residences of Chlamidotis undulata. In 1981 the density of the population of Chlamidotis undulata was, on average, 1 pair per 10.8 square km, and 1 pair per 3.6 square km at its most dense (O. V. Mitropolskiy). Non-bird biodiversity: This area is important for many species of clay and foothills arid territories: Eqius hemiouis (absent at the present moment), Gazella subguttorosa, Spermophilopsis fulvus, Mustella eversmanni and Paraechinus hypomelos.

Delineation rationale: Coordinates and area of this IBA were calculated with ArcGIS.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Typical well developed wormwood deserts situated on sandy and rubbly-clay foothill plains. In the north, between the foothills plains and sand strips there is well developed salty desert with white saxsaul.

Land use: agriculture (100%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Desert	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Settlements are absent. This area is used for pasture (sheep and camel) mainly in the spring and summer, partly in the winter. The use of the area is low-intensity.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing

Additional information