Soltandag - Gyzylburun (20744)
Turkmenistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Soltandag - Gyzylburun
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.7880, Longitude: 64.1902
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 180 to 300
Area of KBA (km2): 117.00966
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises the system of lakes Soltandag-Kyzylburun-Tajlak formed on the right bank of the middle course of the Amudarya river as a result of flooding of the collector-drainage waters to the solonchak depression, arriving from the Karshinsky agricultural area of Uzbekistan from the Mehedjan collector channel. The lakes are inter-connected by spillway adjustable channels. The IBA is located between the river Amudarya and the border with Uzbekistan. The northern and eastern shore of Soltandag-Kyzylburun-Tajlak lakes is steep bank, the southern and western sloping.
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: The avifauna of the IBA includes 300 species, of which more than 100 are waterfowl and waterbirds. The majority of them occur during spring-autumn migration and in winter. Non-bird biodiversity: Fish: – about 40 species, amphibians – 2 species, reptiles – 30 species and mammals – about 42 species. Flora: – coastal hydrophilic vegetation: Tamarix, Karelinia caspia, Phragmites australis, Salsola.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (60%) | hunting (25%) | tourism/recreation (5%) | water management (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 95 | |
| Desert | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Disturbance of birds, overfishing and illegal hunting. Climate change, severe weather and agricultural expansion and intensification.
| 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 |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Rustamov, E.A. (1992). Wintering of a waterfowl in Turkmenistan. Biology Science.№3. Moscow. (in Russian). Shirekov R. (1994). Waterfowl and some water birds of East Turkmenistan. (PhD. Thesis).Ashgabat. (in Russian).