Saumalkol Lake (21914)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Saumalkol Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.8083, Longitude: 74.9833
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 632 to 650
Area of KBA (km2): 21.63539
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is a steppe lake 60 km to the north-west of the town of Karkaralinsk, 15 km to the north-east of the railway station of “Novy Put” (Karkaraly district), and 11 km to the west of Karasor Lake (a neighbouring IBA). The local name of the site is Baikazan. The IBA is a shallow, salty, closed waterbody of almost regular circular configuration, about 4 km in diameter, with a depth of 3-5 m, set in a typically hilly landscape. Fish are absent. A rather narrow belt of reeds runs along the shoreline. Two riverbeds, turning in summer into dried up channels, enter the lake. The most common soils are loam and rubble-loam; the hillsides are dotted with rock outcrops. Typical steppe and semi-desert faunal communities occur on the surrounding areas giving way to wetland communities in the shoreline depressions and riverbeds. Stipa, Festuca and Artemisia sps. form the predominant vegetation. Patches of Asiagrostis splendens and Karagana, frequently 1 m tall, and, in the hills, Spirea sp. are not uncommon.
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 typical assemblage of steppe and shorebird species.
Other site values: Mixed state and private (farmers own a minor part).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Two km to the south of the IBA lies a complex of crop fields. Grazing is intermittent. The site is incorporated into an area under the control of the Karaganda Society of Hunters and Fishermen (hunting area).
Land use: hunting (80%) | rangeland/pastureland (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Grassland | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Grazing is moderate, hunting is controlled. Biotope conditions look perfect, and the area under 'protection' is substantial.
| 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 | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing |