Ulytau Mountains (21963)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2005

National site name: Ulytau Mountains

Central coordinates: Latitude: 48.4000, Longitude: 66.6833

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 427 to 1131

Area of KBA (km²): 1861.36209

Protected area coverage (%): 10.63

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA lies in the most western part of the Kazakhskyi Melkosopochnik (Kazakh Hilly Land). The eastern corner of the roughly rectangular polygon representing the IBA border outline rests against the large industrial settlement of Ulytau situated in the south-eastern foothills of the highest part of the Ulutau mountain massif. The site is a hilly area elongated in a north-south direction, with separate low rocky mountains. The surrounding landscape in the north is dry steppes (Festuca-Stipa and bush steppe), in the south grass-wormwood semi-desert. Along the river valleys there are some stands of isolated birch-aspen woodland with an admixture of bird cherry, and rock ledges.

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 IBA has the limited avifauna common to the vast semi-desert expanses of central Kazakhstan. Raptors are most important, numerically. The majority of these appear on the international or national Red Data Lists (Red Data Book of Kazakhstan, IUCN Red Data Book). Non-bird biodiversity: The most important mammal is the endangered Ovis ammon collium (Red Data Book of Kazakhstan).

Habitats

Land use: energy production and mining | hunting (10%) | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland (15%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	5
Grassland	74
Shrubland	3
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	14
Forest	2
Wetlands(Inland)	2

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A major impact on the wildlife comes from the local mining industry. Although activities have not resulted in the development of sprawling infrastructure, its functioning disrupts the natural systems and there is little control over pollution. During the last two decades there has been illegal trapping of Falco cherrug.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Nomadic grazing	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Utility & service lines		Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Other ecosystem modifications		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather	Droughts		Ongoing

Additional information