Topar Lake System (21942)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Topar Lake System
Central coordinates: Latitude: 44.9667, Longitude: 75.1500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 369 to 394
Area of KBA (km2): 323.758998
Protected area coverage (%): 2.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD’
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is in Ilyisky district. Part of the northern area is in the Tay-Kum sandy desert and lies a short distance to the south of Topar village and approximately 20 km to the south-west of Zheltoranga. The IBA consists of a collection of salty or brackish lakes occupying innumerable depressions amid the low ridges of fixed sand dunes, representing the spreading network of waterbodies at the periphery of the branch of the Topar river that forms the south-western extremity of the Ili river delta. Most of the lakes are either small or medium sized, generally shallow, and have moderate aquatic and shoreline vegetation growth. The littoral vegetation consists mainly of scattered stands of reed mixed with patches of Scirpus lacustris and Carex sp. aggregations. The exposed slopes of the hillocks and dune ridges are covered by sparse ephemeral flora and several species of typical dwarf brush. Every significant hollow on the leeward side of these hillocks and dunes sustains enough moisture to allow the growth of more robust desert plants: Lasiagrostis splendens, Halimodendron argeteum, Haloxylon sp. and Tamarix sp. In a few, widely scattered patches of lowland there are small stunted stands of Populus diversfolia.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The avifauna is typical of the desert waterbodies of Southern Kazakhstan. The site is important, though, as it supports a sizable and stable breeding population of Aythya nyroca. Several other ducks, Coot and rails also breed. Numerous spits and islets provide potential nesting sites for colonial species: Himantopus himantopus, Glareola pratincola, Chlidonias niger and others. The non-waterbird fauna includes some biome-restricted Passerines: Parus bukharensis, Hippolais rama, Sylvia nana and Emberiza bruniceps. 71 species were recorded between 15 and 17 June 2007. Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles include several species of snakes and lizards. Jerbils are prolific.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Control of the greater part of the area is the responsibility of the hunting enterprises “Karakol” and “Toparskoye” who are required to regulate all possible exploitative activities through a system of issued permits. However, their supervision of the rules is considered to be only 50% effective.
Land use: hunting (100%) | rangeland/pastureland (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 27 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Forest | 3 | |
| Desert | 69 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Illegal hunting, cattle grazing and disturbance.
| 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 | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing |