Urda Sands (20741)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1c, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Urda Sands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 48.6167, Longitude: 48.5000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): -7 to 47
Area of KBA (km2): 9036.11656
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Hilly sand dunes covered with tree-shrub vegetation, alternate with plains of sandy steppe.
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: Copmlex of birds typical for the northern dry steppe and semidesert, especially tree-shrub areas.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The plains of sandy steppe are used for pasture with high stocking densities. The wooded areas belonged to the state and are used for forestry (forest protection). There is selective cutting by forest-keepers and firewood collecting by locals.
Land use: forestry (15%) | rangeland/pastureland (50%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 10 | |
| Desert | 30 | |
| Grassland | 30 | |
| Shrubland | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In some areas overgrazing, in others there is undergrazing resulting in tall vegetation and deterioration of foraging habitats for raptors. There is some disturbance during selective cutting and firewood collecting.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Karyakin, I.V., Kovalenko, A.V. and Novikova, L.M. (2006). Imperial Eagle in Volga-Ural sands. Results of the research in 2006. In: Raptors Conservation Newsletter, N 6: 39-47. (in Russian).