Iskrinskie Pine Forests (21985)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Iskrinskie Pine Forests
Central coordinates: Latitude: 52.1333, Longitude: 72.0167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 320 to 395
Area of KBA (km2): 630.3545
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is part of the south-eastern section of the Kokshetau uplands. It is located about 50 km to the east of another, very similar complex of pines - the Aleksevskiye Pine Forests. The largest nearby settlement is Stepnogorsk, situated 15 km to the north. There are also two major villages within the site – Pervomaika and Iskra. Slightly beyond the eastern boundary is the medium-sized settlement of Minskoye. The boundary of the area is the periphery of the dense mature pine groves in the vicinity of Iskra village. Fortunately these stands of tall pine survived the transformation by agro-industrial activity of the surrounding steppe landscapes. There are also a few vestiges of the typical Northern Kazakhstan forest-steppe zone with assemblages of dry meadow motley herbage and Fescue-Feather-Grasses between the stands of coniferous forest and occasional stands of birch and poplar.
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 site supports the typical pine forest species assemblage. The preliminary survey in 2007 found good numbers of owls and raptors including Otus scops, Asio otus, Bubo bubo, Buteo buteo, Milvus migrans, Accipiter gentilis, Falco subbuteo, Falco columbarius, Falco vespertinus and Falco tinnunculus. Typical birds on the surrounding steppe included Grus virgo, Numenius arquata, Circus pygargus and Circus aeruginosus plus the globally threatened Circus macrourus, Falco cherrug and Aquila heliaca.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: All forest areas are assigned to the local forestry facility. Part of the open land is allotted for grazing. During the last half century, at least half of plains surrounding the forest was converted to crop fields.
Land use: agriculture (30%) | forestry (30%) | rangeland/pastureland (15%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 1 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 | |
| Grassland | 49 | |
| Forest | 29 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The pines are managed on a regular basis by the facility’s staff to maintain their commercial value and this is currently considered to have only a small negative effect on the conservation interest of the site.
| 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 | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |