North-western cliff faces of the Ustyurt Plateau (20771)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: North-western cliff faces of the Ustyurt Plateau
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.8667, Longitude: 55.4667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): -56 to 152
Area of KBA (km2): 4193.91436
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is located in the north-west part of the vast Ustyurt Plateau, 30 km north-east of Beyneu (Beyneu district) and consists of a limestone-gypsum desert plateau and neighbouring plains with steep cliffs (“chinks”) in the western and northern parts of the IBA. The IBA includes the Mynsualmasy plateau with cliffs up to 200 m in height, and parts of the Bogatay-Benike tract of piedmont stony desert and of the Aschyktaypak saltmarsh at lower altitude to the west. The surface of the plateau is slightly undulating clay northern desert with fragments of semidesert and saltmarsh. The vegetation is mainly Artemisia-Salsola associations and about 10% of the area is covered with sparse saxaul (Haloxylon) woodland. Of water sources, there are only several springs and wells, small streams run in the spring but dry out in summer.
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: A typical assemblage of desert species and a high density of breeding birds of prey.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The area is almost unused. In some areas, material has been extracted for use on neighbouring roads and pipeline construction (only in the south-western part of the site).
Land use: energy production and mining | not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 10 | |
| Desert | 68 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 19 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Forest | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 1 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Moderate disturbance from the operation and taking of materials for use in the neighbouring road and pipeline constructions - south-western part only.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Nomadic grazing | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Intentional use: large scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Temperature extremes | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Karyakin I., Levin A., Novikova L., Pazhenkov A. (2004). Saker in the North-Western Kazakhstan: results of the 2003-2004 surveys. – Falco. № 24: 11-13. Karyakin I.V., Levin A.S., Novikova L.M. and Pazhenkov A.S. (2005). Saker Falcon in the North-Western Kazakhstan: results of the 2003-2004 research. - Raptors conservation. № 2: 42-55 (in Russian).