Delta of the Ural River (21940)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Delta of the Ural River
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.9167, Longitude: 51.6833
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -26 to -24
Area of KBA (km2): 644.06055
Protected area coverage (%): 65.74
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: In addition to the main navigable Ural-Caspian Channel, the site includes all of the secondary branches of the Delta and the multiple canals, submerged reedbeds and alluvial banks between the branches.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: More than 250 bird species occur in the area. The overall number of waterfowl is thought to exceed 20,000 but, at present, precise data are lacking. Non-bird biodiversity: The most prominent components of the local fauna are wild boar (Sus scrofa), musk-rat (Ondatra zibethica) and Caspian seal (Phoca caspica).
Delineation rationale: The Ural River Delta to the south of Atyrau city beyond the limits of suburban dwellings.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The state-organized fishing activities are compounded by regular encroachments by illicit fish-harvesting companies which aggravates the impact on wildlife.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (50%) | nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 85 | |
| Desert | 15 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Intensive fishing throughout the entire network of birds’ habitats creates substantial disturbance, especially on colonial breeding species.
Additional information
References: 1. N.N. Berezovikov, A.P. Ghistsov. On Avian fauna of North-Eastern Caspian Forelands. Russ. Ornithol. Journal, 1993, v.26, i.1. P.89-90. (in Russian) 2. N.N. Berezovikov, A.P. Ghistsov. Ornithological complexes of the river Ural’s delta. Selevinia, 1998-1999. (in Russian) 3. A.P. Ghistsov. Expeditions: The North-Eastern Caspian. Kazakhstan Ornithological Bulletin of 2002.Almaty, 2002, P.8-9. (in Russian) 4. A.P. Ghistsov, E.M. Auhezov. Quantity and distribution of the background and the rare species of water-birds of the North-Eastern Forelands of Caspian Sea. Materials of the10-th All-Union Ornithol. Conf. Minsk, 1991, B.2, D.1, P.147-148. (in Russian) 5. A.V. Kovalenko. Ornithological observations in the delta-section of Ural–river. Kazakhstan Ornithological Bulletin of 2003.Almaty, 2004, P 37-39. (in Russian) 6. G.M. Rusanov. Rare bird species of the river Ural’s delta. Rare Plant and Animal Species of Orenburg Region. Orenburg, 1992, P.56-58. (in Russian)