Tallymerjen (20746)
Turkmenistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Tallymerjen
Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.9915, Longitude: 65.5243
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 245 to 400
Area of KBA (km2): 1676.30257
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is situated in the Dostluk district and covers the Tallymerjen massif. The IBA consists of two parts: in the northwest from the Amudarya – Tallymerjen railway for 5 km and in the southeast from the railway for 25 km. The landscape-ecological conditions are characteristic of the subzone loessial foothill plain (the Hissar mountains). The acutely continental climate with some subtropical features is characteristic of the region. It comprises of a long hot summer and short winter with little snow.
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 IBA the includes 200 species, of which more than 30% nest. 18 species listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan (1999) occur. The IBA qualifies under criterion А1 for Tetrax tetrax. Other A1 species that occur but which do not reach qualifying levels are Aegypius monachus, Aquila heliaca, Circus macrourus, Falco naumanni, Falco cherrug, Chlamydotis undulata and Coracias garrulus. Criterion А4iii applies for the number of passage and winter waterbirds. Non-bird biodiversity: Amphibians - green toad and lake frog. Reptiles – not less than 24 species. (Turtle - 1, lizards - 15, snakes - 8 species). Mammals - 36 species. Insectivores - 4, bats - 4, lagomorphs - 1, rodents – 19, predators - 6. Ungulates are represented by 2 species: wild boar and gazelle. Vegetation - on unploughed areas, communities of Halocnemum strobilaceum with ephemerals: Malcolmia, Leptaleum, Crepis, Matricaria, Tetracme, etc.
Delineation rationale: was placed 1 degree too far north, now corrected
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Agricultural use of the IBA is predominantly grain farming and cotton-growing. The area under crops is extending and has already encompassed all central parts of the IBA. In peripheral areas sheep breeding is heavily developed and year-round grazing pressure exceeds the safe load capacity.
Land use: agriculture (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 | |
| Desert | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Overgrazing and illegal hunting are the main problems.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | 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) .