Garadashly - Ekerem (20719)
Turkmenistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Garadashly - Ekerem
Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.9732, Longitude: 53.8252
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -26 to -10
Area of KBA (km2): 63.60679
Protected area coverage (%): 72.94
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The area covers a 1-2 km wide strip of low lying coast ranging in altitude from -26m to -10m at the frontier post of Gamyshly. The coast consists of a 50 to 100m wide sandy strip with hilly ridges of fixed sand and saltmarsh inland. Several vegetative communities occur varying with substrate and distance from the sea - tidally flooded wet saltmarshes; unflooded saltmarshes; saline shelly sands; semi-saline and shelly sands; semi-fixed hilly sand ridges; fixed sands. All areas are affected by fluctuations in sea level.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: The avifauna includes not less than 280 species, of which 240 (86%) are passage-wintering birds, including 120 (43%) which are waterbirds. These represent 46 and 23% of the total avifauna of Central Asia respectively. Passeriformes ae the most common (96 species), followed by Haematopodidae (45), Anseriformes (28), Falconiformes (27) and Laridae (16). Most typical, only on migration, are coots and ducks (Netta rufina, Aythya ferina, Anas platyrhynchos, Aythya fuligula, Aythya marila, Anas penelope, etc.), plus waders, gulls and terns. The IBA is located on a major flyway along the east coast of the Caspian. In spring there is a high turnover rate of birds, with migration lasting from the middle of March to the end of April. In autumn the migration shows several peaks and extends from the end of August to the beginning and middle of November. The following species listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan (1999) have been recorded: Platalea leucorodia, Phoenicopterus roseus, Anthropoides virgo, Buteo buteo, Pandion haliaetus, Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Falco peregrinus, Circaetus gallicus, Burhinus oedicnemus, and also the non-migratory Aquila chrysaetos, Falco cherrug and Bubo bubo. The globally threatened Vanellus gregarius and Aquila heliaca have also been recorded. Criterion A4iii is applicable for 15-20 species which occur in winter and on migration. The following A1 species have been recorded but current data does not justify designating the site under this criterion - Oxyura leucocephala, Anser erythropus, Marmaronetta angustirostris and Aythya nyroca. Non-bird biodiversity: The fauna includes 40 species of mammal, half of which are rodents (21 species), the others are predators (8), chiropterans (5), insectivores (4) and ungulates (2). Reptiles are represented by 30 species, the most significant are snakes Natrix natrix and Natrix tessellata and the Central Asian agama (Agama sanguinolenta). The flora includes more than 370 species of higher plants. The vegetation of the coast is represented by halophytic and salsolas communities. Some sandy areas have fixed vegetation, but this is rare with ephedra, a few species of Calligonum, Salsola richteri, and saxaul (Haloxylon persicum). Carex physodes together with sparse ephemerals also occurs rarely.
Habitats
Land use: military (95%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: At present, the ecosystem of the IBA is considered to be in a safe condition. The greatest threats are considered to be pollution of the coast by household rubbish, illegal hunting and illegal fishing and natural events (storms and floods).
| 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 |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Atamuradov, H.I. (1999)Red Data Book of Turkmenistan. - Т.1. - Ashkhabad: Turkmenistan. (in Russian). Rajapov, M. Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Turkmenistan. Ashgabat, 2002. (in Turkmen, Russian, English). Rajapov, M. Turkmenistan. Country Study on the Status of Biodiversity.Ashgabat, 2002. (in Turkmen, Russian, English).