Nargyz (20738)
Turkmenistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Nargyz
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.7080, Longitude: 62.7697
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 156 to 266
Area of KBA (km2): 763.14806
Protected area coverage (%): 74.83
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is located on the right bank of the Amudarya river and includes the adjoining desert (to the south) and lakes of the Farab collector.
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 Nargyz IBA includes 247 species (45.9% of the avifauna of Central Asia), of these 105 species breed. The IBA is situated on a major migratory flyway. Passerines are most numerous (102 species), birds of prey (28), Anatidae (23), waders (21). In total 81 species of waterbird have been recorded. Resident, passage or wintering species listed on the IUCN Red List and the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan are: Pelecanus onocrotalus and Pelecanus crispus, Platelea leucorodia, Ciconia nigra, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Aythya nyroca, Pandion haliaetus, Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Aquila heliaca, Aquila chrysaetos, Aegypius monachus, Circaetus gallicus, Circus macrourus, Falco naumanni, Falco cherrug, Falco peregrinus, Porphyrio porphyrio, Grus virgo, Tetrax tetrax, Chlamydotis undulata, Otis tarda, Burhinus oedicnemus, Bubo bubo, Coracias garrulus and Anser cygnoides. The number of Haliaeetus leucoryphus recorded is below the threshold for criterion A1 and many of the other globally threatened species have either not been recorded in recent years or are very rare. For criterion A3 species, there is not enough data to estimate their numbers on the IBA. Criterion A4i applies for several species, and the site is also important for the migration of waterfowl and water birds, birds of prey and passerines. Non-bird biodiversity: The majority of the IBA consists of plain-desert ecosystems, with some smaller wetland ecosystems. In the IBA 227 species of higher vascular plants have been recorded. The flora of the tugai is relatively poor, with 86 species of plants of which 15 species are dominant - Populus pruinosa and P. euphratica, Elaeagnus turcomanica, Salix songarica, Tamarix, Halimodendron halodendron, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Phragmites australis, Erianthus ravennae, Trachomitum scabrum, and Aeluropus littoralis. There are specific varieties of Poaceae, Asteraceae and Tamarix. The tugai forests at Michurinskiy, Kenderli and Boyanly are 40-60 years old. 80 species of spider have been recorded. Among insects bugs and butterflies are the most studied. 43 species of fish inhabit the waters of the Amudarya river, channels and collectors, including species listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan (1999). Amphibians – 2 species. Reptiles - 29 species, basically living in the desert areas. Mammals - 42 species, of which insectivores - 4 species, chiropterans - 5 species, lagomorphs - 1 species, rodents - 17 species, predators -12 species and ungulates - 3 species.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The IBA includes the Nargyz (46,100 hectares) and Gabakly (1,200 hectares) parts of Amudarya state reserve and adjoining areas of desert and the valley of the Amudarya. An insignificant part of the site (500 hectares) is occupied by arable lands on which are grown cotton, wheat, rice. The IBA joins a water area of the Amudarya river - 4,170 hectares and tugai forest - 7,600 hectares. The left and right bank parts contain areas of stony and clay desert (4,100 hectares).
Land use: agriculture (34%) | nature conservation and research (66%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 1 | |
| Forest | 11 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 6 | |
| Desert | 82 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Anthropogenic pressures are overgrazing, illegal hunting and firewood collection.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Bukreev S.A. (1997) Ornithogeography and reservation matters of Turkmenistan. Мoscow: 157 p. (in Russian). Marochkina V.V. (1993) Materials on chiropterans of East Turkmenistan // Proceedings of the Turkmen Academy of Sciences. Biology Sciences, №3. (in Russian). Bukreev, S.A. Marochkina, V.V. (1999) Nested fauna of birds of Amudarya reserve. - Territorial aspects of protection of birds in Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Moscow, 1999., with. 49-59. (in Russian). Rajapov M. Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Turkmenistan. Ashgabat, 2002. (in Russian, Turkmen, English). Rajapov M. Turkmenistan. Country Study on the Status of Biodiversity. Ashgabat, 2002. (in Russian, Turkmen, English).