Basgurly-Zhazgurly Depression (20933)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Basgurly-Zhazgurly Depression
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.7667, Longitude: 53.4333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): -4 to 131
Area of KBA (km2): 407.99806
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA lies in a deep depression in the limestone-gypsum desert plateau of the Mangyshlak peninsula 50 km to the east of Kendyrli Bay in the Caspian Sea and 65 km south-south-east of Zhanaozen city (Karakiyanskiy district). It consits of clay and sandy-clay northern desert with fragments of southern desert. The vegetation on the plains is mainly Artemisia-Salsola associations. The site comprises two parts – Basgurly (about 13 x 4 km) and Zhazgurly (about 16 x 6 km), it is edged with steep cliffs (“chinks”) of limestone and chalk. The total length of the depression is about 25 km, the width up to 14 km. There are several wells in the area.
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 site supports a typical set of desert species and a high density of breeding birds of prey.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: There is almost no economic use of the area; the main use being nature conservation.
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 23 | |
| Desert | 68 | |
| Shrubland | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are: - illegal capture of Saker Falcons - development of infrastructure for petroleum (oil) production.
| 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 | Gathering terrestrial plants | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Temperature extremes | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | 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., Pazhenkov A.S. 2004. Saker in the Western Kazakhstan: results of research 2003-2004. – Raptors conservation. N 2. 42-55. (in Russian).